GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.0352 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 0.5% (1998)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 36% services: 50% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 17.4% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 47.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998)
Labor force: 57 million (1989 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
Unemployment rate: 8.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $151 billionexpenditures: $149 billion, including capital expenditures of $36billion (1998)
Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 291.63 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 4.38% hydro: 92.09% nuclear: 0.8% other: 2.73% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 323.215 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 8 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 37.5 billion kWh (1996)note: imported electricity from Paraguay
Agriculture—products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn,sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Exports: $51 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: iron ore, soybean bran, orange juice,footwear, coffee, motor vehicle parts
Exports—partners: EU 28%, Latin America (excluding Argentina)23%, US 20%, Argentina 12% (1996)
Imports: $57.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: crude oil, capital goods, chemical products, foodstuffs, coal
Imports—partners: EU 26%, US 22%, Argentina 13%, Japan 5% (1996)
Debt—external: $258.1 billion (December 1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $1.012 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 real (R$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: reals (R$) per US$1—1.501 (January 1999), 1.161 (1998), 1.078 (1997), 1.005 (1996), 0.918 (1995), 0.639 (1994); CR$ per US$1—390.845 (January 1994) note: the real (R$) was introduced on 1 July 1994, equal to 2,750 cruzeiro reais; from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US$
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 14,426,673 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: good working system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations international: 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean Region East)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1,627, FM 251, shortwave 114 (of which 91 are associated with AM stations) (1998)
Radios: 60 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 138 (1997)
Televisions: 30 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 28,862 km (1,187 km electrified)broad gauge: 4,123 km 1.600-m gaugenarrow gauge: 24,390 km 1.000-m gauge; 13 km 0.760-m gaugedual gauge: 336 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails)
Highways: total: 1.98 million km paved: 184,140 km unpaved: 1,795,860 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 50,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 2,980 km; petroleum products 4,762 km;natural gas 4,246 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus,Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande,Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine:total: 179 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,132,037GRT/6,642,442 DWTships by type: bulk 35, cargo 28, chemical tanker 6, combinationore/oil 10, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 10, multifunctionlarge-load carrier 1, oil tanker 61, passenger-cargo 5, refrigeratedcargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3,265 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 514 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 134 914 to 1,523 m: 325 under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 2,751 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 1,312 under 914 m: 1,366 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 47,230,426 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 31,723,597 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 1,841,858 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $14.7 billion (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.9% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: two short sections of boundary with Uruguay are in dispute—Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of the Rio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Quarai and the Uruguay River
Illicit drugs: limited illicit producer of cannabis, minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, mostly used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and Europe; increasingly used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia
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@British Indian Ocean Territory ———————————————
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references: World
Area:total: 60 sq kmland: 60 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area—comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (up to four meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: NA%other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements:party to: NAsigned, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia,largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location incentral Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities; now there are UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island
Government
Country name:conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territoryconventional short form: noneabbreviation: BIOT
Data code: IO
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note—both reside in theUKcabinet: NAelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner andadministrator appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofthe UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territoryof the UK)
Flag description: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy
Economy—overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity—production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: facilities for military needs onlydomestic: NAinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Highways:total: NA kmpaved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port andairfield on Diego Garciaunpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Diego Garcia
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: the Chagos Archipelago is claimed byMauritius and Seychelles
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@British Virgin Islands ———————————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 150 sq kmland: 150 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes the island of Anegada
Area—comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:arable land: 20%permanent crops: 7%permanent pastures: 33%forests and woodland: 7%other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources(except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most ofthe islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
Environment—international agreements:party to: NAsigned, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands andPuerto Rico
People
Population: 19,156 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 2,012; female 1,965)15-64 years: 74% (male 7,300; female 6,896)65 years and over: 5% (male 539; female 444) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.37% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.65 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.13 years male: 74.37 years female: 75.92 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 90%, white, Asian
Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8% (1991 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: British Virgin Islandsabbreviation: BVI
Data code: VI
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Road Town
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution: 1 June 1977
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor David MACKILLIGIN (since NA June 1995)head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. LavitySTOUTT)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members ofthe Legislative Councilelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among themembers of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members servefive-year terms)elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February2000)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VIP 6,CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting ofthe High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal; (one judge of theSupreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over theHigh Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of SummaryJurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: United Party or UP [Conrad
International organization participation: Caricom (associate),CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate),UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofthe UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territoryof the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$183 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.7% (1997)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$10,000 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 1.4% services: 97.6% (1991-95 average)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1997)
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
Labor force—by occupation: tourism NA%
Unemployment rate: 3% (1995)
Budget:revenues: $121.5 millionexpenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997)
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concreteblock, offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)
Electricity—production: 42 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 42 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports: $23.9 million (1996)
Exports—commodities: rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports—partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports: $121.5 million (1996)
Imports—commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports—partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt—external: $34.8 million (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $2.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 6,291 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: worldwide telephone servicedomestic: NAinternational: submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 9,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there is one cable company) (1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 113 km (1995 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Road Town
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Brunei ———
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea andMalaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 5,770 sq kmland: 5,270 sq kmwater: 500 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median lineterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:arable land: 1%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 1%forests and woodland: 85%other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding arevery rare
Environment—current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting fromforest fires in Indonesia
Environment—international agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
People
Population: 322,982 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33% (male 54,154; female 51,766)15-64 years: 63% (male 106,492; female 95,921)65 years and over: 4% (male 7,945; female 6,704) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.38% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 24.69 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.09 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.84 years male: 70.35 years female: 73.42 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.33 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%
Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.2%male: 92.6%female: 83.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalamconventional short form: Brunei
Data code: BX
Government type: constitutional sultanate
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular—daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, IslamicShari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka SeriBaginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5October 1967); note—the monarch is both the chief of state and headof governmenthead of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty PadukaSeri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah(since 5 October 1967); note—the monarch is both the chief of stateand head of governmentcabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over bythe monarch; deals with executive mattersnote: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by themonarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (membersappointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters,and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch)that determines the succession to the throne if the need ariseselections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1985, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)
International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC,ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH IbniMohammad Alamchancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW,Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Glen Robert RASEembassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar SeriBegawanmailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96534-0001
Flag description: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top,almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side;the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblemincludes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within anupturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy
Economy—overview: This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government is beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. Because of low world oil prices and the Asian crisis, growth in 1999 is expected to be moderate.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$5.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -1% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$17,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 144,000 (1995 est.); note—includes foreign workersand military personnelnote: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)
Labor force—by occupation: government 48%, production of oil,natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry,and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.5 billionexpenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768million (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas,construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 1.48 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.48 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo
Exports: $2.62 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports—commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleumproducts
Exports—partners: ASEAN 31%, Japan 27%, South Korea 26%, UK,Taiwan (1996 est.)
Imports: $2.65 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports—partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%,Japan 5% (1994 est.)
Debt—external: $0
Economic aid—recipient: $4.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1—1.6781 (January 1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994); note—the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 90,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: service throughout country is excellent;international service good to Europe, US, and East Asiadomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Oceanand 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 284,000 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 173,000 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 13 km (private line)narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge
Highways: total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; naturalgas 920 km
Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara,Seria, Tutong
Merchant marine:total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476GRT/340,635 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal BruneiPolice
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 88,628 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 51,270 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 3,078 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $343 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 6% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island
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@Bulgaria ————
Introduction
Background: A Slavic state, Bulgaria achieved independence in 1908 after 500 years of Ottoman rule. Bulgaria fought on the losing side in both World Wars. After World War II it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. Communist domination ended in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, and Bulgaria began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy. In addition to the problems of structural economic reform, particularly privatization, Bulgaria faces the serious issues of keeping inflation under control and unemployment, combatting corruption, and curbing black-market and mafia-style crime.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, betweenRomania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 110,910 sq kmland: 110,550 sq kmwater: 360 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,808 kmborder countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (allwith Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline: 354 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber,arable land
Land use:arable land: 37%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 16%forests and woodland: 35%other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,370 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
Environment—current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controlskey land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People
Population: 8,194,772 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16% (male 674,643; female 641,943)15-64 years: 68% (male 2,744,634; female 2,800,816)65 years and over: 16% (male 570,766; female 761,970) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.52% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.71 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.37 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.27 years male: 68.72 years female: 76.03 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.23 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 85%, Turk 9%, other 6%
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%
Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond toethnic breakdown
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 99%female: 97% (1992 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Bulgariaconventional short form: Bulgaria
Data code: BU
Government type: republic
Capital: Sofia
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular—oblast);Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse,Sofiya, Varna
Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Petar STOYANOV (since 22 January 1997);Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January 1997)head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (PrimeMinister) Ivan Kostov (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime MinistersAleksandur BOZHKOV (since 12 February 1997), Evgeniy BAKURDZHIEV(since 21 May 1997), Veselin METODIEV (since 21 May 1997)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assemblyelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 Octoberand 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); chairman of theCouncil of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president;deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime ministerelection results: Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent ofvote—Petar STOYANOV 59.73%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or NarodnoSobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 19 April 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)election results: percent of vote by party—UDF 52%, BSP 22%, ANS 7%,Euro-left 5.5%, BBB 4.95%; seats by party—UDF 137, BSP 58, ANS 19,Euro-left 14, BBB 12
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for aseven-year term by the president; Constitutional Court, 12 justicesappointed or elected for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP(coalition led mainly by Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPScochairmen]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Democratic Alliance forthe Republic or DAR; New Union for Democracy or NUD; Podkrepa LaborConfederation; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgariaor CITUB; Bulgarian Agrarian National Union—United or BZNS;Bulgarian Democratic Center; "Nikola Petkov" Bulgarian AgrarianNational Union; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization orIMRO; agrarian movement; numerous regional, ethnic, and nationalinterest groups with various agendas
International organization participation: ACCT, BIS, BSEC, CCC,CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member),ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,MONUA, NAM (guest), NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Philip DIMITROV chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Avis T. BOHLEN embassy: 1 Saborna Street, Sofia mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5740
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has been removed—it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)
Economy
Economy—overview: In April 1997, the current ruling Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) government won pre-term parliamentary elections and introduced an IMF currency board system which succeeded in stabilizing the economy. The triple digit inflation of 1996 and 1997 has given way to an official consumer price increase of 1% in 1998. Following declines in GDP in both 1996 and 1997, the economy grew an officially estimated 4% in 1998. In September 1998, the IMF approved a three-year Extended Fund Facility, which provides credits worth approximately $864 million, designed to support Bulgaria's reform efforts. The government's structural reform program includes: (a) privatization and, where appropriate, liquidation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs); (b) liberalization of agricultural policies, including creating conditions for the development of a land market; (c) reform of the country's social insurance programs; and, (d) reforms to strengthen contract enforcement and fight crime and corruption.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$33.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 29% services: 45% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 24.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.57 million (1996 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 12.2% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.1 billionexpenditures: $3.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: machine building and metal working, food processing, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, ferrous and nonferrous metals
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 41.575 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 51.17% hydro: 6.1% nuclear: 42.73% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 41.08 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 2.045 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 1.55 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: grain, oilseed, vegetables, fruits, tobacco; livestock
Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment; metals, minerals,and fuels; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles (1997)
Exports—partners: Italy 12%, Germany 10%, Turkey, Greece, Russia(1997)
Imports: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles (1997)
Imports—partners: Russia 28%, Germany 11%, Italy, Greece, US (1997)
Debt—external: $9.3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki
Exchange rates: leva (Lv) per US$1—1,685.10 (January 1999),1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997), 177.89 (1996), 67.17 (1995), 54.13(1994)note: the official rate is pegged to the euro as of 1 January 1999
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,773,293 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: almost two-thirds of the lines are residentialdomestic: extensive but antiquated transmission system of coaxialcable and microwave radio relay; telephone service is available inmost villagesinternational: direct dialing to 36 countries; satellite earthstations—1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); Intelsat availablethrough a Greek earth station
Radio broadcast stations: AM 24, FM 93, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 33 (in addition, there are two relays of Russian program OK-1 and two relays of TV-5 Europe) (1997)
Televisions: 2.1 million (May 1990 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 4,292 kmstandard gauge: 4,047 km 1.435-m gauge (2,650 km electrified; 917 kmdouble track)narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (1995)
Highways:total: 36,724 kmpaved: 33,786 km (including 314 km of expressways)unpaved: 2,938 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 470 km (1987)
Pipelines: crude oil 193 km; petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine:total: 89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,005,092 GRT/1,508,614DWTships by type: bulk 44, cargo 20, chemical tanker 4, container 2,oil tanker 8, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, refrigeratedcargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 61 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 56 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, BorderTroops, Internal Troops
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 2,028,930 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,693,597 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 59,887 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $226.8 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.2% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: twenty bilateral agreements remain unsigned in a dispute over Bulgarian nonrecognition of Macedonian as a language distinct from Bulgarian
Illicit drugs: major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; significant producer of amphetamines, much of which are consumed in the Middle East
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@Burkina Faso ——————
Geography
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 274,200 sq kmland: 273,800 sq kmwater: 400 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 3,192 kmborder countries: Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km,Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 mhighest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources: manganese, limestone, marble; small depositsof gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc,silver
Land use:arable land: 13%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 22%forests and woodland: 50%other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 200 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment—current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography—note: landlocked
People
Population: 11,575,898 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (male 2,792,895; female 2,759,072)15-64 years: 49% (male 2,700,253; female 2,978,168)65 years and over: 3% (male 147,017; female 198,493) (1999 est.)