Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is ahereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Sir WilliamDEANE (since 16 February 1996) who was appointed by the queenhead of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11March 1996) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy PrimeMinister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11 March 1996)cabinet: Cabinet was selected from among the members of FederalParliament by the governor general on the advice of the primeminister
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal ParliamentSenate: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next to be held NA 1999);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)Liberal-National 37, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 8, Greens 1,independent 1House of Representatives: elections last held 2 March 1996 (next tobe held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(148 total) Liberal-National 94, Labor 49, independent 5
Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six otherjustices are appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:government: coalition of Liberal Party, John Winston HOWARD andNational Party, Timothy Andrew FISCHERopposition: Australian Labor Party, Kim BEAZLEY; AustralianDemocratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, Bob BROWN
Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic LaborParty (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and NuclearDisarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)
International organization participation: AG (observer), ANZUS,APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMIR,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador John Phillip MCCARTHYchancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, NewYork, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINSembassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian CapitalTerritory 2600mailing address: APO AP 96549telephone: [61] (6) 270-5000FAX: [61] (6) 270-5970consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydneyconsulate(s): Brisbane
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in highly industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for more than 80% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weak world demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so strongly in 1994 that the government felt the need for fiscal and monetary tightening by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994, largely due to increases in industrial output and business investment. A severe drought in 1994 reduced the value of Australia's net farm production, but rising world commodity prices are likely to boost commodity exports by 15% to $42.4 billion in 1995/96, according to government statistics. Short-term economic problems include a balancing of output growth and inflationary pressures and the stimulation of exports to offset rising imports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $405.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $22,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 27.7% services: 69.2% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.75% (1995)
Labor force: 8.63 million (September 1991) by occupation: finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 8.1% (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $95.69 billionexpenditures: $95.15 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY95/96 est.)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, foodprocessing, chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (FY93/94)
Electricity: capacity: 34,540,000 kW production: 155 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,021 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
Exports: $51.57 billion (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery andtransport equipmentpartners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan,Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)
Imports: $57.41 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oil and petroleum products partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)
External debt: $147.2 billion (1994)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $953 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January 1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3668 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified; 172 km dual gauge)broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gaugestandard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:total: 810,264 kmpaved: 283,592 km (including 1,200 km of expressways)unpaved: 526,672 km (1989 est.)
Waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; naturalgas 5,600 km
Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle,Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceton (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne,Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,547,869 GRT/3,679,534DWTships by type: bulk 30, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18,roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 442with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 13with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 106with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 116with paved runways under 914 m: 30with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 146 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 8.7 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: good domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 258, FM 67, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 134 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 9.2 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal AustralianAir Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 4,848,777 males fit for military service: 4,192,250 males reach military age (17) annually: 127,569 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion, 2.0% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Austria ———-
Map —-
Location: 47 20 N, 13 20 E — Central Europe, north of Italy
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, andred
Geography ————-
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 83,850 sq kmland area: 82,730 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,558 kmborder countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 324km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m
Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal,lignite, copper, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 17%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 24%forest and woodland: 39%other: 19%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soilpollution; soil pollution results from the use of agriculturalchemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- andoil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from truckstransiting Austria between northern and southern Europenatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
People ———
Population: 8,023,244 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 720,696; female 685,179)15-64 years: 67% (male 2,726,122; female 2,659,162)65 years and over: 15% (male 451,231; female 780,854) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.41% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 11.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.53 years male: 73.38 years female: 79.84 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian
Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
Languages: German
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Austriaconventional short form: Austrialocal long form: Republik Oesterreichlocal short form: Oesterreich
Data code: AU
Type of government: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidentialelections
Executive branch:chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) waselected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 24May 1992 (next to be held 1998); results of second ballot - ThomasKLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986)was chosen by the president from the majority party in the NationalCouncil; Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)was chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellorcabinet: Council of Ministers was chosen by the president on theadvice of the chancellor
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing each of the provinces on the basis of population, but with each province having at least three representatives National Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held Fall 1999); results - SPOE 38.3%, OEVP 28.3%, FPOE 22.1%, Greens 4.6%, LF 5.3%, other 1.4%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 71, OEVP 53, FPOE 40, Greens 9, LF 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) forcivil and criminal cases; Administrative Court(Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases; ConstitutionalCourt (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria(SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),Wolfgang SCHUESSEL, chairman; Freedom Movement (F, formerly theFreedom Party of Austria or FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; CommunistParty (KPOE), Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, MadeleinePETROVIC; Liberal Forum (LF), Heide SCHMIDT
Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerceand Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist);three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OEVP)representing business, labor, and farmers; OEVP-oriented League ofAustrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chieflay organization, Catholic Action
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA,EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERKchancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNTchancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Viennamailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [43] (1) 313-39FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy with a sizable - but falling - proportion of nationalized industry, an extensive social system, and a high standard of living. Austria's economy is closely integrated with Germany and other EU members - Austria joined the EU on 1 January 1995. Since the early 1980s, the Austrian economy has experienced stable growth. Following a mild recession in 1993, Austria's economy - driven by strong exports, investment, and private consumption - expanded 2.7% in 1994 and about 2.4% in 1995. The slowdown in 1995 was largely due to an appreciation of the Austrian schilling and its negative effect on exports and tourism. EU membership has had a positive impact on foreign investment and has helped to lower inflation. Despite Austria's generally favorable economic prospects, the government faces a number of economic challenges, especially budget consolidation. Smaller than expected revenues and rising welfare payments caused the budget deficit to climb to 7.1% of GDP in 1995. Austria also faces a growing unemployment problem. Although low by European standards, Austria's unemployment rate has risen gradually during the 1990s as companies restructured to meet competition from the EU single market and Eastern Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $152 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $19,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 34% services: 64% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 3.47 million (1989) by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry 8.1% note: an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% of labor force (1988)
Unemployment rate: 4.6% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $65 billionexpenditures: $75.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: food, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals,electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.7% (first half 1995)
Electricity: capacity: 17,230,000 kW production: 50.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,824 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets; cattle, pigs,poultry; sawn wood
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian herointransiting the Balkan route and Eastern Europe
Exports: $45.2 billion (1994)commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber,textiles, paper products, chemicalspartners: EU 64.8% (Germany 38.1%, Italy 8.1%), Eastern Europe11.8%, Japan 1.6%, US 3.5% (1994)
Imports: $55.3 billion (1994)commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment,vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticalspartners: EU 68.4% (Germany 40%, Italy 8.8%), Eastern Europe 6.55%,Japan 4.3%, US 4.4% (1994)
External debt: $28.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $544 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 10.314 (January 1996), 10.081 (1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 5,624 kmstandard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,263 km electrified)narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (86 km electrified)(1995)
Highways:total: 108,000 kmpaved: 22,000 km (including 1,800 km of expressways)unpaved: 86,000 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 446 km
Pipelines: crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas 2,611 km
Ports: Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine:total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 88,617 GRT/122,475 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 23, combination bulk 2, container 1,refrigerated cargo 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 55with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 41with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 3.47 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: highly developed and efficientinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 21 (repeaters 545), shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 47 (repeaters 870)
Televisions: 2,418,584 (1984 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,084,827 males fit for military service: 1,741,068 males reach military age (19) annually: 45,628 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 1.0% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Azerbaijan —————
Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved eight-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azeri refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fifth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh region) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement remain dim.
Map —-
Location: 40 30 N, 47 30 E — Southwestern Asia, bordering theCaspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
Geography ————-
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, betweenIran and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total area: 86,600 sq kmland area: 86,100 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Mainenote: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and theNagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished byAzerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Land boundaries:total: 2,013 kmborder countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivanexclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level)with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh)Upland in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that jutsinto Caspian Sealowest point: Caspian Sea -28 mhighest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrousmetals, alumina
Land use:arable land: 18%permanent crops: 4%meadows and pastures: 25%forest and woodland: 0%other: 53%
Irrigated land: 14,010 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron)Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to bethe ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severeair, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the useof DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in theproduction of cottonnatural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by risinglevels of the Caspian Seainternational agreements: party to - Climate Change; signed, but notratified - Biodiversity
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 7,676,953 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32% (male 1,270,812; female 1,215,781)15-64 years: 61% (male 2,293,688; female 2,423,222)65 years and over: 7% (male 179,048; female 294,402) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.78% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 22.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.84 years male: 60.13 years female: 69.78 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic divisions: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%,Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.)note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakhregion
Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actualpracticing adherents are much lower
Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)total population: 97%male: 99%female: 96%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republicconventional short form: Azerbaijanlocal long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasilocal short form: noneformer: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: AJ
Type of government: republic
Capital: Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular),11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic**(muxtar respublika); Abscron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu,Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli Sahari*,Astara Rayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, BeylaqanRayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu,Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, GancaSahari*, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, ImisliRayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, LacinRayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, MasalliRayonu, Mingacevir Sahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan MuxtarRespublikasi**, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, QaxRayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu,Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, SakiSahari*, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu,Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*, Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, TartarRayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*,Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, YardimbRayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Yevlax Sahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, ZaqatalaRayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May
Constitution: adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993) waselected by popular vote; election last held 3 October 1993 (next tobe held 1997 or 1998); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of votehead of government: Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9 October1994), First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV (since NA), SamedSADYKOV (since NA), Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA), Elchin EFENDIYEV(since NA) were appointed by the president and confirmed by theMilli Mejliscabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president andconfirmed by the Mejlis
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Assembly (Milli Mejlis): elections last held 12 and 26November 1995 (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party NA;seats - (125 total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF),Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman;National Independence Party, Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman; SocialDemocratic Party (SDP), Araz ALIZADE, chairman; Communist Party,Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman; People's Freedom Party, Yunus OGUZ,chairman; Independent Social Democratic Party, Arif YUNUSOV andLeila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen; New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar ALIYEV,chairman; Boz Gurd Party, Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman; AzerbaijanDemocratic Independence Party, Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman; IslamicParty of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram, chairman; Ana Veten Party, FazailAGAMALIYEV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV;Azerbaijan Democratic Party of Proprietors (DPOP), Makhmud MAMEDOV;Azerbaijan Patriotic Solidarity Party, Sabir RUSTAMHANLI; AzerbaijanRepublic Reform Party, Fuad ASADOV; Communist Party of Azerbaijan(unregistered), Sayad SAYADOV; Equality of the Peoples Party,Faukhraddin AYDAYEV; Independent Azerbaijan Party, NizamiSULEYMANOV; Labor Party of Azerbaijan, Sabutai HAJIYEV;Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, Lyudmila NIKOLAYEVNA;National Enlightenment Party, Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV; NationalLiberation Party, Panak SHAKHSEVEV; Peasant Party, Firuz MUSTAFAYEV;Radical Party of Azerbaijan, Malik SHARIFOV; United AzerbaijanParty, Kerrar ABILOV; Vetan Adzhagy Party, Zakir TAGIYEV
Other political or pressure groups: self-proclaimed ArmenianNagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD,ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), OIC, OSCE,PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEVchancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC20005telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICHembassy: Azadliq Prospekti 83, Bakumailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [9] (9412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37, 98-03-36, 93-64-80,96-36-21FAX: [9] (9412) 98-37-55
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green;a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5 billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures have yet to be replaced. Whereas the economies of most of the former Soviet republics had begun to bottom out in 1995, Azerbaijan's economy continued to plummet because of its late start on economic reform.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -17% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,480 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 85% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 2.789 millionby occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry andconstruction 26%, other 42% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 2.3% includes officially registered unemployed;also large numbers of unregistered unemployed and underemployedworkers (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $465 millionexpenditures: $488 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -21% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 4,900,000 kW production: 17 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,200 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Exports: $549.9 million (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles,cottonpartners: mostly CIS and European countries
Imports: $681.5 million (c.i.f., 1995)commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs,textilespartners: European countries
External debt: $100 million (of which $75 million to Russia)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $14 million (1993)note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,000 million ($185 million indisbursements); wheat from Turkey
Currency: 1 manat = 100 gopik
Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4,375 (April 1996), 4,500 (April 1995), 4,168 (end of December 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 2,125 km in common carrier service; does not includeindustrial linesbroad gauge: 2,125 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (1993)
Highways:total: 36,700 kmpaved: 31,800 km (includes graveled)unpaved: 4,900 km (1990 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; naturalgas 1,240 km
Ports: Baku (Baki)
Airports:total: 69with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7with unpaved runways under 914 m: 33 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 710,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: 202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991 est.) domestic: telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system in the Baku area was supposed to become operational in 1994 international: cable and microwave radio relay connections to former Soviet republics; connection through Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Intelsat provides service to Turkey and through Turkey to 200 more countries; Intersputnik provides direct service to New York)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (1 state-owned radio broadcast station)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 note: domestic and Russian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an Intelsat satellite through a receive-only earth station
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Maritime Border Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,952,390 males fit for military service: 1,574,813 males reach military age (18) annually: 68,006 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 33.5 billion manats, NA% of GDP (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
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@Bahrain ———-
Map —-
Location: 26 00 N, 50 33 E — Middle East, archipelago in thePersian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Flag ——
Description: red with a white serrated band (eight white points)on the hoist side
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east ofSaudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 620 sq kmland area: 620 sq kmcomparative area: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determinedterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over theHawar Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low centralescarpmentlowest point: Persian Gulf 0 mhighest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas,fish
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: 2%meadows and pastures: 6%forest and woodland: 0%other: 90%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: desertification resulting from the degradation oflimited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastaldegradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation)resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers,oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh waterresources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources forall water needsnatural hazards: periodic droughts; dust stormsinternational agreements: party to - Climate Change, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but notratified - Biodiversity
Geographic note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
People ———
Population: 590,042 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (male 92,455; female 89,554)15-64 years: 67% (male 236,048; female 156,556)65 years and over: 2% (male 7,956; female 7,473) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.27% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23.58 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 3.29 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.33 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.27 years male: 71.78 years female: 76.83 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic divisions: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 85.2%male: 89.1%female: 79.4%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn
Data code: BA
Type of government: traditional monarchy
Capital: Manama
Administrative divisions: 12 municipalites (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah; note - all municipalities administered from Manama
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1971)
Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:chief of state: Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November1961) is a traditional Arab monarch; Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa binSalman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1949)head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa(since 19 January 1970) was appointed by the amircabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the amir
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet;appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited
Other political or pressure groups: several small, clandestineleftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following thearrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists fomented unrestsporadically from late 1994 to September 1995, demanding the returnof an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR al-Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David M. RANSOM embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama mailing address: FPO AE 09834-5100; P.O. Box 26431, Manama (International Mail) telephone: [973] 273-300 FAX: [973] 272-594
Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on thehoist side
Economy ———-
Economic overview: In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $12,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 140,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982) note: 42% of labor force is Bahraini
Unemployment rate: 25% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.38 billionexpenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,offshore banking, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: 13% (1992)
Electricity: capacity: 1,050,000 kW production: 3.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,453 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7% partners: India 20%, Japan 14%, Saudi Arabia 7%, US 6%, UAE 5% (1994)
Imports: $3.29 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41% partners: Saudi Arabia 37%, US 12%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1994)
External debt: $2.6 billion (1993)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,671 km paved: 2,011 km unpaved: 660 km (1991 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Ports: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 117,060 GRT/194,061 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1(1995 est.)
Airports:total: 3with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 73,552 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern system; good domestic services andexcellent international connectionsdomestic: NAinternational: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwaveradio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, andSaudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 320,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 270,000 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Coast Guard,Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 213,792 males fit for military service: 118,702 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $247 million, 5.5% of GDP (1994)
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@Baker Island ——————
(territory of the US)
Map —-
Location: 0 13 N, 176 31 W — Oceania, atoll in the North PacificOcean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Flag ——
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, aboutone-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 1.4 sq kmland area: 1.4 sq kmcomparative area: about 2.5 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4.8 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrowfringing reeflowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891)
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: no natural fresh water resourcesnatural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island canbe a maritime hazardinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People ———
Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and cemetery ruins are located near the middle of the west coast
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Data code: FQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag: the flag of the US is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation ———————
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boatlanding area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m
Transportation note: there is a day beacon near the middle of thewest coast
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visitedannually by the US Coast Guard
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@Bangladesh —————
Map —-
Location: 24 00 N, 90 00 E — Southern Asia, bordering the Bay ofBengal, between Burma and India
Flag ——
Description: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoistside of center; green is the traditional color of Islam
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, betweenBurma and India
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E