Unemployment rate: 35.2% (1996)
Budget:revenues: $3.8 billionexpenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997)
Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing,steel, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (1997)
Electricity—production: 11.5 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 97.35% hydro: 2.65% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 11.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes; beef, milk, poultry
Exports: $4.4 billion (1997)
Exports—commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather,frozen fish and seafood
Exports—partners: Western Europe 42%, US 30%, Hong Kong 4%, Japan3% (FY95/96 est.)
Imports: $7.1 billion (1997)
Imports—commodities: capital goods, textiles, food, petroleumproducts
Imports—partners: India 21%, China 10%, Western Europe 8%, HongKong 7%, Singapore 6% (FY95/96 est.)
Debt—external: $16.7 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $1.475 billion (FY96/97)
Currency: 1 taka (Tk) = 100 poisha
Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1—48.500 (January 1999), 46.906 (1998), 43.892 (1997), 41.794 (1996), 40.278 (1995), 40.212 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
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 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (one ofBangladesh's two shortwave stations, Bangladesh Betar or RadioBangladesh, transmits its programs to the world in six languages onfour frequencies) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 11 (1997)
Televisions: 350,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 2,745 kmbroad gauge: 923 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (1998 est.)
Highways:total: 204,022 kmpaved: 25,095 kmunpaved: 178,927 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes)
Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km
Ports and harbors: Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port
Merchant marine:total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 315,855 GRT/453,002 DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 33, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1,roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces (includes Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, National Cadet Corps)
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 33,374,195 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 19,772,013 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $559 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: a portion of the boundary with India isindefinite; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island
Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced inneighboring countries
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@Barbados ————
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: 430 sq kmland: 430 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: 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
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 37%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 5%forests and woodland: 12%other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography—note: easternmost Caribbean island
People
Population: 259,191 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23% (male 30,132; female 29,359)15-64 years: 67% (male 85,437; female 88,131)65 years and over: 10% (male 9,862; female 16,270) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.98 years male: 72.22 years female: 77.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Barbadian(s) adjective: Barbadian
Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 4%, other 16%
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%,Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Languages: English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 97.4%male: 98%female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados
Data code: BB
Government type: 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),represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS(since 1 June 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6September 1994)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary monarch; governor generalappointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governorgeneral
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate(21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House ofAssembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: House of Assembly—last held 20 January 1999 (next to beheld by January 2004)election results: House of Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—BLP 26, DLP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges areappointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and LegalService)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party or DLP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Barbados Workers Union
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, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMANchancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Coral Gables (Florida), Miami, and New Yorkconsulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador E. William CROTTYembassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,Bridgetownmailing address: P.O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoistside), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered onthe gold band; the trident head represents independence and a breakwith the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a completetrident)
Economy
Economy—overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-98. Offshore finance and informatics are important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce the unacceptably high unemployment rate, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 15% services: 79% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1997)
Labor force: 136,000 (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $725.5 millionexpenditures: $750.6 million, including capital expenditures of$126.3 million (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, componentassembly for export
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1996)
Electricity—production: 600 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 600 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Exports: $280 million (1997)
Exports—commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods andbeverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing
Exports—partners: Caricom 34.8%, US 18.4%, UK 16.6%, Canada 4.4%(1996)
Imports: $982 million (1997)
Imports—commodities: consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs,construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports—partners: US 40.5%, Caricom 14.7%, UK 8.4%, Canada 5%(1996)
Debt—external: $581.4 million (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $9.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1—2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 87,343 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: island wide automatic telephone systeminternational: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are two cable channels) (1997)
Televisions: 69,350 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,650 km paved: 1,582 km unpaved: 68 km (1998 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Merchant marine:total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 641,550 GRT/1,087,042DWTships by type: bulk 11, cargo 26, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 4,refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:Canada owns 2 ships, Hong Kong 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes GroundForces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 72,111 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 49,600 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
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@Bassas da India ———————-
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: 0.2 sq kmland: 0.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: 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
Climate: tropical
Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 m high
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100% (all rock)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India
Data code: BS
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy—overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claimed by Madagascar
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@Belarus ———-
Introduction
Background: For centuries Byelorussia has been fought over, devastated, and partitioned among Russia, Poland, Lithuania, and, in World Wars I and II, Germany. After seven decades as a Soviet republic, the newly named Belarus declared its independence in August 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. On 25 December 1998, Russian President Boris YEL'TSIN and Belarusian President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO signed several agreements intended to provide greater political, economic, and social integration while preserving both states' sovereignty.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total: 207,600 sq kmland: 207,600 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: 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)
Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources: forests, peat deposits, small quantities ofoil and natural gas
Land use:arable land: 29%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 15%forests and woodland: 34%other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: landlocked
People
Population: 10,401,784 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19% (male 1,027,974; female 985,342)15-64 years: 67% (male 3,390,552; female 3,591,245)65 years and over: 14% (male 463,369; female 943,302) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.7 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.71 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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: 0.49 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.13 years male: 62.04 years female: 74.52 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.32 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%,Ukrainian 2.9%, other 1.9%
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic,Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages: Byelorussian, Russian, other
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 99%female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Belarusconventional short form: Belaruslocal long form: Respublika Byelarus'local short form: noneformer: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: BO
Government type: 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: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 25 August 1991 (Belarusian Supreme Soviet declaration of independence from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note—date setby referendum of 24 November 1996; represents Minsk liberation fromGerman occupation
Constitution: 30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers andbecame effective 27 November 1996
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)head of government: Prime Minister Sergey LING (acting since 18November 1996, confirmed 19 February 1997); First Deputy PrimeMinisters Petr PROKOPOVICH (since 23 December 1996) and VasiliyDOLGOLEV (since 2 December 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers ValeriyKOKOREV (since 23 August 1994), Vladimir ZAMETALIN (since 15 July1997), Ural LATYPOV (since 30 December 1997), Gennadiy NOVITSKIY(since 11 February 1997), Leonid KOZIK (since 4 February 1997),Aleksandr POPKOV (since 10 November 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 24 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA;according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should be in1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via the November1996 referendum); prime minister and deputy prime ministersappointed by the presidentelection results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent ofvote—Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%note: first presidential elections took place in June-July 1994
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or NatsionalnoyeSobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or SovietRespubliki (64 seats; eight appointed by the president and 56indirectly elected by deputies of local councils for four-yearterms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Pretsaviteley(110 seats; note—present members came from the former Supreme Sovietwhich LUKASHENKO disbanded in November 1996)elections: last held May and November-December 1995 (two rounds,each with a run-off; disbanded after the November 1996 referendum;next to be held NA)election results: after the November 1996 referendum, seats for theChamber of Representatives were filled by former Supreme Sovietmembers as follows: PKB 24, Agrarian 14, Party of Peoples Concord 5,LDPB 1, UPNAZ 1, Green World Party 1, Belarusian Social Sports Party1, Ecological Party 1, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1,independents 61; 58 of the 64 seats in the Council of the Republichave been appointed/elected
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives
Political parties and leaders: Party of Communists Belarusian orchairman]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic
International organization participation: CCC, CEI, CIS, EAPC,EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires CHEREPANSKY chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD (recalled to Washington in June 1998; Charge d'Affaires Randall LE COCQ) embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk mailing address: use embassy street address
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 the Belarusian national ornament in red
Economy
Economy—overview: Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism". In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO re-imposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprise. This produced a climate hostile to private business, inhibiting domestic and foreign investment. The Government of Belarus has artificially revived economic output since mid-1996 by pursuing a policy of rapid credit expansion. In a vain attempt to keep the rapidly rising inflation in check, the government placed strict price controls on food and consumer products, which resulted in food shortages. Long lines for dairy products, chicken, and pork became common in the closing months of 1998. With the goal of slowing down the devaluation of the Belarusian ruble, LUKASHENKO in 1997 introduced a new, complex system of legal buying/selling hard currencies. The new "command" system proved to be totally unworkable and resulted in galloping devaluation. In addition to the burdens imposed on businesses by high inflation and an artificial currency regime, businesses have also been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and retroactive application of new business regulations prohibiting practices that had been legal. A further economic problem is the sizable trade deficit.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$53.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 43% services: 37% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 77% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.9% highest 10%: 19.4% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 182% (1998)
Labor force: 4.3 million (1998)
Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 40%,agriculture and forestry 19%, services 41% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.3% officially registered unemployed(December 1998); large number of underemployed workers
Budget:revenues: $4 billionexpenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180million (1997 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% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 26.1 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.92% hydro: 0.08% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1997)
Electricity—consumption: 33.7 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—imports: 10.3 billion kWh (1997)
Agriculture—products: grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Exports: $7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Exports—partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany
Imports: $8.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials, textiles, sugar, foodstuffs
Imports—partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany
Debt—external: $1.03 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $194.3 million (1995)
Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR)
Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1—139,000 (25 January 1999 official Belarusian exchange rate), 46,080 (2nd qtr 1998), 25,964 (1997), 15,500 (yearend 1996), 11,500 (yearend 1995), 10,600 (yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.55 million (October 1998)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls alltelecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company)Beltelcom which is a monopolydomestic: local—Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and acellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long;local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity—Belarushas a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently servingat least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics formsynchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries'systems; an inadequate analog system remains operationalinternational: Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL),Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE) and has access to theTrans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provideconnectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwideservice is available to Belarus due to this infrastructure;additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat andIntersputnik earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11
Radios: 3.17 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 17 (1997); note—Belarus has a state-run television broadcasting network; independent local television stations exist
Televisions: 9,686,854 (1996)
Transportation
Railways: total: 5,563 km broad gauge: 5,563 km 1.520-m gauge (894 km electrified)
Highways: total: 53,407 km paved: 52,446 km unpaved: 961 km (1997 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 and harbors: Mazyr
Airports: 118 (1996 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 11 (1996 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 62 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, InteriorMinistry Troops, Border Guards
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 2,700,034 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,115,121 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 79,905 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $100 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe
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@Belgium ———-
Introduction
Background: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. In the half century following, it has prospered as a small, modern, technologically advanced European state and member of the European Union. Its unique political circumstance is the long-standing differences between the wealthier Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the poorer French-speaking Walloons of the south, differences that are becoming increasingly acute.
Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 30,510 sq kmland: 30,230 sq kmwater: 280 sq km
Area—comparative: about the size of 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
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
Elevation extremes: 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%permanent pastures: 20%forests and woodland: 21%other: 34%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km including Luxembourg (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Environment—current issues: the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, intense animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have impeded progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol
Geography—note: crossroads of Western Europe; majority of WestEuropean capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels which is the seat ofboth the EU and NATO
People
Population: 10,182,034 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 895,987; female 853,494)15-64 years: 66% (male 3,389,572; female 3,318,266)65 years and over: 17% (male 703,933; female 1,020,782) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.06% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.53 years male: 74.31 years female: 80.9 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belgian(s) adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages: Flemish 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual11%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgiumconventional short form: Belgiumlocal long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgielocal short form: Belgique/Belgie
Data code: BE
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
Capital: Brussels
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces, singular—province; Flemish: provincien, singular—provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen note: the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10 provinces
Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of KingLEOPOLD I to 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); Heir ApparentPrince PHILIPPE, son of the monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March1992)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approvedby Parliamentelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch and then approved by Parliament
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Flemish, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Flemish, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies—last held 21 May 1995 (next to be held in June 1999) election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—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—percent of vote by party—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 by party—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 note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life by the Belgian monarch
Political parties and leaders: Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP
Political pressure groups and leaders: 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, AsDB,Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB,EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYNchancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJASembassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brusselsmailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of black (hoistside), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy—overview: This highly developed 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 Wallonia. 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. Belgium's public debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$236 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.8% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.9% industry: 27.2% services: 70.9% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.283 million (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: services 69.7%, industry 27.7%, agriculture 2.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 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: 9.7% (1995)
Electricity—production: 71.066 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 41.73% hydro: 0.33% nuclear: 57.93% other: 0.01% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 75.266 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 5.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 9.6 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk
Exports: $145.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products
Exports—partners: EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8% (1994)
Imports: $137.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports—partners: EU 75% (Germany 22.1%), US 5% (1997)
Debt—external: $22.3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1—34.77 (January1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995),33.456 (1994)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a commoncurrency that is now being used by financial institutions in somemember countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixedrate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace thelocal currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5.691 million (1992 est.); 1.7 million cellulartelephone subscribers (1998)
Telephone system: highly developed, technologically advanced, andcompletely automated domestic and international telephone andtelegraph facilitiesdomestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cablenetwork; limited microwave radio relay networkinternational: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 77, shortwave 1 (Belgium's single shortwave station, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, transmits its programs internationally in Dutch, English, French, and German, using 21 shortwave frequencies)
Radios: 100,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 24 (in addition, there are Dutch programs on cable, TV-5 Europe by satellite relay, and American Forces Network by relay from Germany) (1997)
Televisions: 3,315,662 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 3,380 km (2,459 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)standard gauge: 3,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)
Highways:total: 143,175 kmpaved: 143,175 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (1996 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 and harbors: Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports),Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,668 GRT/56,412 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 8, oil tanker 6(1998 est.)
Airports: 42 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 2,537,544 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,098,883 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 64,180 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $4.6 billion (1995)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.7% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe
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@Belize ———
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, betweenGuatemala and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 22,960 sq kmland: 22,800 sq kmwater: 160 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note—fromthe mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize'sterritorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework forthe negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differenceswith Guatemala
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May toFebruary)
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 2%forests and woodland: 92%other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September toDecember) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Environment—current issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; Hurricane Mitch damage