Map references: Asia
Area:total area: 144,000 sq kmland area: 133,910 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries: total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: a portion of the boundary with India in dispute; water-sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges
Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Reng Tlang 957 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber
Land use:arable land: 67%permanent crops: 2%meadows and pastures: 4%forest and woodland: 16%other: 11%
Irrigated land: 27,380 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on andcultivate flood-prone land; limited access to potable water;water-borne diseases prevalent; water pollution especially offishing areas results from the use of commercial pesticides;intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in thenorthern and central parts of the country; soil degradation;deforestation; severe overpopulationnatural hazards: droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinelyflooded during the summer monsoon seasoninternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but notratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
People ———
Population: 123,062,800 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39% (male 24,434,219; female 23,436,359)15-64 years: 58% (male 36,607,942; female 34,603,628)65 years and over: 3% (male 2,175,017; female 1,805,635) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 1.85% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 30.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.78 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: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 102.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.86 years male: 56.02 years female: 55.69 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.57 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bangladeshi(s) adjective: Bangladesh
Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, tribals less than 1 million
Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, other
Languages: Bangla (official), English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 38.1%male: 49.4%female: 26.1%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladeshconventional short form: Bangladeshformer: East Pakistan
Data code: BG
Type of government: republic
Capital: Dhaka
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions; Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,Rajshahinote: there may be two new divisions named Barisal and Sylhet
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971)
Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991)was elected for a five-year term by National Parliament; electionlast held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996);results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary votehead of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammad Habibur RAHMAN(since 31 March 1996) was appointed by the president (see note underLegislative branch entry)cabinet: Advisory Council was appointed by the president on 3 April1996
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad): elections last held 15February 1996 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote byparty NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved forwomen) seats by party NA; note - the election was held despite thefact that it was boycotted by the major opposition parties; PrimeMinister Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN's party won a landslide victory, but,under continuing pressure from the opposition, who called for anannulment of the results, National Parliament passed a bill thatestablished a caretaker government to oversee new elections on adate yet to be determined; President BISWAS then dissolvedParliament and named a caretaker prime minister to replace PrimeMinister ZIAur RAHMAN
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the Chief Justices and otherjudges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),Khaleda ZIAur RAHMAN; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAJED; JatiyoParty (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD (in jail); Jamaat-E-Islami (JI),Motiur Rahman NIZAMI; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), SaifuddinAhmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, RashidKhan MENON; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (JSD), Serajul ALAM KHAN;Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; NationalDemocratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR;Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party,Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH, UNMOT, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Humayun KABIR chancery: 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-8372 through 8376 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David N. MERRILL embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka mailing address: G.P.O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000; Dhaka 1212 telephone: [880] (2) 884700 through 884722 FAX: [880] (2) 883-744
Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side ofcenter; green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains one of the world's poorest, most densely populated, and least developed nations. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 4% in recent years from a low base. Its economy is overwhelmingly agricultural, with the cultivation of rice the single most important activity in the economy. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, the inefficiency of state-owned enterprises, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), inadequate power supplies, and, most recently, political disturbances. In 1995, progress on Bangladesh's development agenda has been slowed by frequent political unrest before and after national elections in early 1996. Opposition parties have challenged the government's authority by resigning from Parliament and sponsoring numerous countrywide strikes that have crippled transport, hindered business activity, and threatened to slow economic growth in 1996.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $144.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,130 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 50.1 millionby occupation: agriculture 65%, services 21%, industry and mining14% (1989)note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $2.8 billionexpenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8billion (FY92/93)
Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,steel, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 8.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 2,740,000 kW production: 9.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; beef,milk, poultry
Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced inneighboring countries
Exports: $2.7 billion (1995 est.)commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimppartners: US 33%, Western Europe 39% (Germany 8.4%, Italy 6%)(FY91/92 est.)
Imports: $4.7 billion (1995 est.)commodities: capital goods, petroleum, food, textilespartners: Hong Kong 7.5%, Singapore 7.4%, China 7.4%, Japan 7.1%(FY91/92 est.)
External debt: $15.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $1.099 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poiska
Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 40.933 (January 19965), 40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994), 39.567 (1993), 38.951 (1992), 36.596 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 2,892 kmbroad gauge: 978 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,914 km 1.000-m gauge (1992)
Highways:total: 13,627 kmpaved: 8,546 kmunpaved: 5,081 km (1992)
Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)
Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km
Ports: Chittagong, Dhaka, Chalna Port (Mongla)
Merchant marine:total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 296,503 GRT/423,274 DWTships by type: bulk 3, cargo 29, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 3(1995 est.)
Airports:total: 15with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 249,800 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: poor domestic telephone serviceinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);international radiotelephone communications and landline service toneighboring countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 11
Televisions: 350,000 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includesBangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, VillageDefense Parties, National Cadet Corps)
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: 31,795,848males fit for military service: 18,814,818 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $481 million,1.7% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Barbados ————
Map —-
Location: 13 10 N, 59 32 W — Caribbean, island between theCaribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Flag ——
Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
Geography ————-
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 430 sq kmland area: 430 sq kmcomparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 97 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 77%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 9%forest and woodland: 0%other: 14%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal byships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatenscontamination of aquifersnatural hazards: hurricanes (especially June to October); periodiclandslidesinternational agreements: party to - Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,Hazardous Wastes
Geographic note: easternmost Caribbean island
People ———
Population: 257,030 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)15-64 years: 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)65 years and over: 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.26% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 15.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.35 years male: 71.65 years female: 77.25 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Barbadian(s) adjective: Barbadian
Ethnic divisions: African 80%, European 4%, other 16%
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)total population: 97.4%male: 98%female: 96.8%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados
Data code: BB
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Bridgetown
Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, SaintAndrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, SaintLucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomasnote: the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution: 30 November 1966
Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is ahereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General DenysWILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queenhead of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6September 1994) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy PrimeMinister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice ofthe prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral ParliamentSenate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governorgeneralHouse of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to beheld by January 1999); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats- (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointedby the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP), DavidTHOMPSON; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; NationalDemocratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES
Other political or pressure groups: Barbados Workers Union, LeroyTROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Partyof Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, DavidCOMMISSIONG
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMANchancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467consulate(s) general: Miami and New Yorkconsulate(s): Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDEembassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,Bridgetownmailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055telephone: [1] (809) 436-4950FAX: [1] (809) 429-5246
Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy has been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in recent years the production has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. Sluggish performances in the sugar and tourism sectors - which declined by 25% and 8% respectively - tempered economic expansion in 1995; output increased by 2% for the year, down from nearly 4% in 1994. Improved weather conditions in 1995 are expected to boost agriculture output in 1996. Since taking office in 1994, Prime Minister ARTHUR has aggressively moved to promote foreign direct investment as part of a policy designed to reduce nagging unemployment. The government has also been active in promoting regional integration initiatives.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $9,800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.4% industry: 39.3% services: 54.3% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 126,000 (1993) by occupation: services and government 41%, commerce 15%, manufacturing and construction 18%, transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%, utilities 2% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 19.9% (September 1995)
Budget:revenues: $550 millionexpenditures: $710 million, including capital expenditures of $86million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, componentassembly for export
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 152,100 kW production: 510 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,841 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Exports: $158.6 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,chemicals, electrical components, clothingpartners: US 13%, UK 10%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 8%
Imports: $693 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, constructionmaterials, chemicals, fuel, electrical componentspartners: US 36%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%
External debt: $408 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,550 km paved: 1,550 km
Ports: Bridgetown
Merchant marine:total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,937 GRT/271,707 DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 21, combination bulk 3, oil tanker 3,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 87,343 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: island wide automatic telephone systeminternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1 pay)
Televisions: 69,350 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces andCoast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 71,667 males fit for military service: 49,726 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Bassas da India ———————-
(possession of France)
Map —-
Location: 21 30 S, 39 50 E — Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Flag ——
Description: the flag of France is used
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern MozambiqueChannel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 0.2 sq kmland area: 0.2 sq kmcomparative area: about one-third the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 35.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
Climate: tropical
Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 meters high lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100% (all rock)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under waterduring high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodiccyclonesinternational agreements: NA
People ———
Population: uninhabited
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India
Data code: BS
Type of government: French possession administered by aCommissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation ———————
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@Belarus ———-
Map —-
Location: 53 00 N, 28 00 E — Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Flag ——
Description: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe of white on the hoist side bears in red the Belarusian national ornament
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total area: 207,600 sq kmland area: 207,600 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:total: 3,098 kmborder countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km,Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources: forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oiland natural gas
Land use:arable land: 29%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 15%forest and woodland: 0%other: 55%
Irrigated land: 1,490 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part ofthe country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactoraccident at Chornobyl'natural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity,Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law ofthe Sea
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 10,415,973 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 1,136,499; female 1,090,101)15-64 years: 66% (male 3,334,077; female 3,536,982)65 years and over: 13% (male 429,574; female 888,740) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 12.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.64 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.51 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: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.57 years male: 63.2 years female: 74.21 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic divisions: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 60%, other (including Roman Catholicand Muslim) 40% (early 1990's)
Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)total population: 98%male: 99%female: 97%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' local short form: none former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: BO
Type of government: republic
Capital: Minsk
Administrative divisions: 6 voblastsi (singular - voblasts') and one municipality* (harady, singular - horad); Brestskaya (Brest), Homyel'skaya (Homyel'), Horad Minsk*, Hrodzyenskaya (Hrodna), Mahilyowskaya (Mahilyow), Minskaya, Vitsyebskaya (Vitsyebsk) note: the administrative centers of the voblastsi are included in parentheses
Independence: 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union); the Belarussian Supreme Soviet issued a proclamation of independence; on 17 July 1990 Belarus issued a declaration of sovereignty
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 July (1990)
Constitution: adopted 15 March 1994; replaces constitution ofApril 1978
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results -Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail CHIGIR (since NA July1994) was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime MinistersVladimir GARKUN (since NA), Sergey LING (since NA), Leonid SINITSYN(since NA), Valeriy KOKAREV (since NA), Vladimir RUSAKEVICH (sinceNA)cabinet: Council of Ministersnote: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994
Legislative branch: unicameralSupreme Soviet: elections last held May, Nov-Dec 1995 (two rounds,each with a run-off; next to be held NA 2000); results - percent ofvote by party NA; seats - (260 total) KPB 42, Agrarian 33, CAB 9,Party of People's Concord 8, UPNAZ 2, SDPB 2, BPR 1, Green Party 1,Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1, BSP 1, NFB 1, Social andSports Party 1, Ecological Party 1, independents 95, vacant 62
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by thepresident; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Belarusian Communist Party (KPB),Vasiliy NOVIKOV, Viktor CHIKIN, chairmen; Agrarian Party, SemenSHARETSKIY; Civic Accord Bloc (CAB); Party of People's Concord,Gennadiy KARPENKO; Party of All-Belarusian Unity and Concord(UPNAZ), Dmitriy BULAKOV; Belarusian Social-Democrat Hramada (SDBP),Alex TRUSOV; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (BPR), AnatolBARANKEVICH; Green Party of Belarus, Mikalay KARTASH; RepublicanParty of Labor and Justice, Anatol NETSILKIN; Belarus Peasants(BSP), Yevgeniy LUGIN, chairman; Belarusian Popular Front (NFB),Zenon POZNYAK, chairman; Belarusian Social Sports Party, VladimirALEKSANDROVICH; Ecological Party, Aleksiy MIKULICH; NationalDemocratic Party of Belarus (NDPB), Victor NAVUMENKA; UnitedDemocratic Party of Belarus (ADPB), Aleksandr DOBROVOLSKIY;Belarusian Socialist Party (SPB), Vyacheslav KUZNETSOV; SlavicAssembly (SAB), Nikolai SYARECHEV; Liberal-Democratic Party (LDPB),Vasil KRIVENKA; Belarusian Christian-Democratic Unity (BKDZ), PetrSILKO; Polish Democratic Union (PDZ), Konstantin TARASEVICH; Partyof Beer Lovers, Yuriy GONCHAR; Belarusian Labor Party (BPP),Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV
International organization participation: CCC, CE (guest), CIS, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sergey Nikolayevich MARTYNOVchancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth Spencer YALOWITZembassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minskmailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [375] (172) 31-50-00FAX: [375] (172) 34-78-53
Flag: red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe of white on the hoist side bears in red the Belarusian national ornament
Economy ———-
Economic overview: At the time of independence in late 1991, Belarus was one of the most developed of the former Soviet states, inheriting a modern - by Soviet standards - machine building sector and robust agricultural sector. However, the breakup of the Soviet Union and its traditional trade ties, as well as the government's failure to embrace market reforms, has resulted in a sharp economic decline. Privatization is virtually nonexistent and the system of state orders and distribution persists. Although President LUKASHENKO pronounces his 1995 macro stabilization policies a success - annual inflation dropped from 2,220% in 1994 to 244% in 1995 - the IMF has criticized his insistence on maintaining the steady exchange rate for Belarusian rubel, which has traded at 11,500 to the dollar since late 1994. The IMF suspended Minsk's $300 million standby program in November 1995 until the government would agree to a devaluation of the rubel. The overvalued rubel has especially hurt Belarusian exporters, most of which now operate at a loss. In addition, the January 1995 Customs Union agreement with Russia - which required Minsk to adjust its foreign trade practices to mirror Moscow's - has resulted in higher import tariffs for Belarusian consumers; tariffs have risen from 5%-20% to 20%-40%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $49.2 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -10% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 49% services: 30% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 244% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 4.259 million by occupation: industry and construction 40%, agriculture and forestry 21%, other 39% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% officially registered unemployed (December1994); large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:revenues: $4.95 billionexpenditures: $5.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1996 est.)
Industries: tractors, metal-cutting machine tools, off-highway dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity, wheel-type earth movers for construction and mining, eight-wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use in tundra and roadless areas, equipment for animal husbandry and livestock feeding, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, linen fabric, wool fabric, radios, refrigerators, other consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: -11% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 7,010,000 kW production: 24.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,300 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture: grain, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis;mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicitdrugs to Western Europe
Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffspartners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany
Imports: $4.6 billion (c.i.f., 1995)commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles,sugarpartners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany
External debt: $2 billion (September 1995 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $186 million (1993)note: commitments, $3,930 million ($1,845 million disbursements),1992-95
Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR)
Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1 - 11,500 (yearend 1995), 10,600 (yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 5,488 km broad gauge: 5,488 km 1.520-m gauge (873 km electrified) (1993)
Highways:total: 92,200 kmpaved: 61,000 km (including graveled)unpaved: 31,200 km (1994 est.)
Waterways: NA km; note - Belarus has extensive and widely usedcanal and river systems
Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; naturalgas 1,980 km (1992)
Ports: Mazyr
Merchant marine:note: claims 5% of former Soviet fleet (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 118with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 18with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5with paved runways under 914 m: 11with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9with unpaved runways under 914 m: 62 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 1.849 million (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telephone service inadequate for the purposes ofeither business or the population; about 70% of the telephones arein homes; over 750,000 applications from households for telephonesremain unsatisfied (1992 est.); new investment centers oninternational connections and business needsdomestic: the new NMT-450 analog cellular system is now operating inMinskinternational: international traffic is carried by the Moscowinternational gateway switch and also by satellite; satellite earthstations - 1 Intelsat (through Canada) and 1 Eutelsat (through theUK)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 35, FM 18, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.17 million (1991 est.) (5,615,000 with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (one national and one private; the license of the private station was suspended during the parliamentary elections of 1994)
Televisions: 3.5 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Republic SecurityForces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,635,570 males fit for military service: 2,067,676 males reach military age (18) annually: 76,006 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 892 billion rubels, 1% of GDP (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
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@Belgium ———-
Map —-
Location: 50 50 N, 4 00 E — Western Europe, bordering the NorthSea, between France and the Netherlands
Flag ——
Description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side),yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
Geography ————-
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Franceand the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 30,510 sq kmland area: 30,230 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 1,385 kmborder countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,Netherlands 450 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: median line with neighborsexclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68km from coast)territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast lowest point: North Sea 0 m highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources: coal, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 20%forest and woodland: 21%other: 34%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: Meuse River, a major source of drinking water,polluted from steel production wastes; other rivers polluted byanimal wastes and fertilizers; industrial air pollution contributesto acid rain in neighboring countriesnatural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastalland, protected from the sea by concrete dikesinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of WestEuropean capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat ofthe EU
People ———
Population: 10,170,241 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 930,919; female 886,632)15-64 years: 66% (male 3,380,105; female 3,326,853)65 years and over: 16% (male 663,760; female 981,972) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.33% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.3 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.09 years male: 73.86 years female: 80.51 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian
Ethnic divisions: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages: Dutch 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual 11%(divided along ethnic lines)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgiumconventional short form: Belgiumlocal long form: Royaume de Belgiquelocal short form: Belgique
Data code: BE
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Brussels
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Flemish: provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen note: constitutional reforms passed by Parliament in 1993 increased the number of provinces to 10 by splitting the province of Brabant into two new provinces, Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant
Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King LEOPOLDto the throne in 1831)
Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993;parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state
Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993) is aconstitutional monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March1992) was appointed by the king and then approved by Parliamentcabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the king and approved by Parliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate (Flemish - Senaat French - Senat): elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (71 total, 40 directly elected; 31 will be indirectly elected at a later date) CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV 1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3, ECOLO 2; note - before the 1995 elections, there were 184 seats Chamber of Deputies(Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordig: elections last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held by the end of 1999); results - CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP 12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL 10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%, AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%; seats - (150 total) CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21, PRL 18, PSC 12, VB 11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2; note - before the 1995 elections, there were 212 seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation), judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
Political parties and leaders: Flemish Christian Democrats (CVP - Christian People's Party), Johan VAN HECKE, president; Francophone Christian Democrats (PSC - Social Christian Party), Gerard DEPREZ, president; Flemish Socialist Party (SP), Louis TOBBACK, president; Francophone Socialist Party (PS), Philippe BUSQUIN, president; Flemish Liberal Democrats (VLD), Herman DE CROO, president; Francophone Liberal Reformation Party (PRL), Louis MICHEL, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Olivier MAINGAIN, president; Volksunie (VU), Bert ANCIAUX, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman; National Front (FN), Daniel FERET, president; AGALEV (Flemish Greens), no president; ECOLO (Francophone Greens), no president; other minor parties
Other political or pressure groups: Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG(observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN,EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA,UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Andre ADAMchancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. BLINKENembassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brusselsmailing address: APO AE 09724, PSC 82, Box 002, Brusselstelephone: [32] (2) 508-2111FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow,and red; the design was based on the flag of France
Economy ———-
Economic overview: This small private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of Walloon. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. The economy grew at a strong 4% annual pace during the period 1988-90, slowed to 1% in 1991-92, dropped by 1.5% in 1993, and recovered with moderate 2.3% growth in 1994 and 1995. Belgium's public debt has risen to 140% of GDP, and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $197 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $19,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 28% services: 70% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 4.126 million by occupation: services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicleassembly, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals,textiles, glass, petroleum, coal
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 14,040,000 kW production: 66 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,334 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South Americancocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine entering theEuropean market
Exports: $108 billion (f.o.b., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg EconomicUnion (BLEU)commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors,diamonds, petroleum productspartners: EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8%, former Communistcountries 1.4% (1994)
Imports: $140 billion (c.i.f., 1994) Belgium-Luxembourg EconomicUnioncommodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffspartners: EU 68% (Germany 22.1%), US 8.8%, former Communistcountries 0.8% (1994)
External debt: $31.3 billion (1992 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $808 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 30.036 (January 1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992), 34.148 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 3,396 km (2,363 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)standard gauge: 3,396 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways:total: 137,876 kmpaved: 129,603 km (including 1,667 km of expressways)unpaved: 8,273 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use)
Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; naturalgas 3,300 km
Ports: Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur,Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 64,220 GRT/83,360 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gastanker 3, oil tanker 6 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 42with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 21with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 (1995 est.)