Data code: BL
Government type: republic
Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular—departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution: 2 February 1967; revised in August 1994
Legal system: based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21years of age, universal and compulsory (single)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997);Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997);note—the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August1997); note—the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from a panel ofcandidates proposed by the Senateelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 1 June 1997(next to be held June 2002)election results: Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; percent ofvote—Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, JuanCarlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA(CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote;Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on 5 August1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR andPDC
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or CongresoNacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies—last held 1June 1997 (next to be held June 2002)election results: Chamber of Senators—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—ADN 11, MIR 7, MNR 4, CONDEPA 3, UCS 2; Chamber ofDeputies—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—ADN 32, MNR 26,MIR 23, UCS 21, CONDEPA 19, MBL 5, IU 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointedfor a 10-year term by National Congress
Political parties and leaders:Center-Left Parties: Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIRSANCHEZ DE LOZADA]FERNANDEZ, Hugo VILLEGAS]Indigenous Parties: Tupac Katari Revolutionary Liberation Movement
International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES,LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Marcelo PEREZ Monasterioschancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAKembassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Pazmailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band;similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointedstar centered in the yellow band
Economy
Economy—overview: With its long history of semifeudal social controls, dependence on mineral exports, and bouts of hyperinflation, Bolivia has remained one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries. However, Bolivia has experienced generally improving economic conditions since the PAZ Estenssoro administration (1985-89) introduced market-oriented policies which reduced inflation from 11,700% in 1985 to about 20% in 1988. PAZ Estenssoro was followed as president by Jaime PAZ Zamora (1989-93) who continued the free-market policies of his predecessor, despite opposition from his own party and from Bolivia's once powerful labor movement. President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-1997) vowed to advance the market-oriented economic reforms he helped launch as PAZ Estenssoro's planning minister. His successes included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) as well as the privatization of the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric power company, and oil company. Hugo BANZER Suarez has tried to further improve the country's investment climate with an anticorruption campaign. With the scheduled completion of a $2 billion natural gas pipeline to Brazil in 1999, Bolivia hopes to become an energy hub in the region.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$23.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 26% services: 57% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: 66%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.7% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.5 million
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture NA%, services and utilities NA%, manufacturing, mining and construction NA%
Unemployment rate: 11.4% (1997) with widespread underemployment
Budget:revenues: $2.7 billionexpenditures: $2.7 billion (1998)
Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages,tobacco, handicrafts, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)
Electricity—production: 2.95 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 40.68% hydro: 59.32% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 2.948 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 2 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber
Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: metals 34%, natural gas 9.4%, soybeans 8.4%,jewelry 11%, wood 6.9%
Exports—partners: US 22%, UK 9.3%, Colombia 8.7%, Peru 7.4%,Argentina 7.2%
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f. 1998)
Imports—commodities: capital goods 48%, chemicals 11%, petroleum 5%, food 5% (1993 est.)
Imports—partners: US 20%, Japan 13%, Brazil 12, Chile 7.5% (1996)
Debt—external: $4.1 billion (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $588 million (1997)
Currency: 1 boliviano ($B) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: bolivianos ($B) per US$1—5.6491 (January 1999), 5.5101 (1998), 5.2543 (1997), 5.0746 (1996), 4.8003 (1995), 4.6205 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 144,300 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities domestic: microwave radio relay system being expanded international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 177, FM 68, shortwave 112 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 48 (1997)
Televisions: 500,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 3,691 km (single track)narrow gauge: 3,652 km 1.000-m gauge; 39 km 0.760-m gauge (13 kmelectrified) (1995)
Highways:total: 52,216 kmpaved: 2,872 km (including 27 km of expressways)unpaved: 49,344 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 10,000 km of commercially navigable waterways
Pipelines: crude oil 1,800 km; petroleum products 580 km; natural gas 1,495 km
Ports and harbors: none; however, Bolivia has free portprivileges in the maritime ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, andParaguay
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,948 GRT/58,472 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 5 (1998 est.)
Airports: 1,130 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 12over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1,1182,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 70914 to 1,523 m: 224under 914 m: 821 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza NavalBoliviana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana),National Police Force (Policia Nacional de Bolivia)
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,908,454 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,241,311 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 84,481 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $154 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.8% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights
Illicit drugs: world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Peru and Colombia) with an estimated 46,900 hectares under cultivation in 1997, a 2.5% decrease in overall cultivation of coca from 1996 levels; Bolivia, however, is the second-largest producer of coca leaf; even so, farmer abandonment and voluntary and forced eradication programs resulted in leaf production dropping from 75,100 metric tons in 1996 to 73,000 tons in 1997, a 3% decrease from 1996; government considers all but 12,000 hectares illicit; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported to or through Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to the US and other international drug markets; alternative crop program aims to reduce illicit coca cultivation
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@Bosnia and Herzegovina ———————————
Introduction
Background: On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the former Yugoslavia's three warring parties signed a peace agreement that brought to a halt over three years of interethnic civil strife in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement, signed then by Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and Serbian President MILOSEVIC, divides Bosnia and Herzegovina roughly equally between the Muslim/Croat Federation and the Republika Srpska while maintaining Bosnia's currently recognized borders. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission is to deter renewed hostilities. SFOR remains in place. A High Representative appointed by the UN Security Council is responsible for civilian implementation of the accord, including monitoring implementation, facilitating any difficulties arising in connection with civilian implementation, and coordinating activities of the civilian organizations and agencies in Bosnia. The Bosnian conflict began in the spring of 1992 when the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence and the Bosnian Serbs—supported by neighboring Serbia—responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosnia's Muslims and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement in Washington creating their joint Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Federation, formed by the Muslims and Croats in March 1994, is one of two entities (the other being the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska) that comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea andCroatia
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 18 00 E
Map references: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe
Area:total: 51,233 sq kmland: 51,233 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,459 kmborder countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km (312km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro)
Coastline: 20 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
Terrain: mountains and valleys
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maglic 2,386 m
Natural resources: coal, iron, bauxite, manganese, forests,copper, chromium, lead, zinc
Land use:arable land: 14%permanent crops: 5%permanent pastures: 20%forests and woodland: 39%other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
Environment—current issues: air pollution from metallurgicalplants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; widespreadcasualties, water shortages, and destruction of infrastructurebecause of the 1992-95 civil strife
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Muslim/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority
People
Population: 3,482,495 (July 1999 est.)note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerableerror because of the dislocations caused by military action andethnic cleansing
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 310,430; female 294,298)15-64 years: 71% (male 1,221,791; female 1,240,097)65 years and over: 12% (male 166,876; female 249,003) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.36 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.81 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.98 years male: 62.55 years female: 71.71 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s) adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic groups: Serb 40%, Muslim 38%, Croat 22% (est.); note—theCroats claim they now make up only 17% of the total population
Religions: Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Catholic 15%, Protestant 4%,other 10%
Languages: Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovinalocal long form: nonelocal short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
Data code: BK
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Sarajevo
Administrative divisions: there are two first-orderadministrative divisions—the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the BosnianSerb-led Republika Srpska; note—the status of Brcko in north easternBosnia is to be determined by arbitration
Independence: NA April 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Republika Srpska—"Republic Day," 9 January;Independence Day, 1 March; Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina—"Republic Day," 25 November
Constitution: the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995,included a new constitution now in force
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Zivko RADISIC (since 13October 1998—Serb); other members of the three-member rotating(every 8 months) presidency: Ante JELAVIC (since NA September1998—Croat) and Alija IZETBEGOVIC (since 14 March 1996—Muslim)head of government: Cochairman of the Council of Ministers HarisSILAJDZIC (since NA January 1997); Cochairman of the Council ofMinisters Suetozar MIHAJLOVIC (since 3 February 1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairmennote: President of the Muslim/Croat Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina: Ivo ANDRIC-LUZANIC (since 1 January 1999); VicePresident is Ejup GANIC; note—president and vice president rotateevery 3 months; President of the Republika Srpska: Nikola POPLASEN(since 29 October 1998)elections: the three-person presidency members (one Muslim, oneCroat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term;the president with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he wasthe incumbent chairman at the time of the election; election lastheld 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held September 2002); thecochairmen of the Council of Ministers are appointed by thepresidencyelection results: percent of vote—Zivko RADISIC with 52% of the Serbvote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first8 months; Ante JELAVIC with 52% of the Croat vote will followRADISIC in the rotation; Alija IZEBEGOVIC with 87% of the Muslimvote won the highest number of votes in the election but wasineligible to serve consecutive terms as chairman
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstinaconsists of the National House of Representatives or Vijece Opcina(42 seats—14 Serb, 14 Croat, and 14 Muslim; members elected bypopular vote to serve two-year terms) and the House of Peoples orVijece Gradanstvo (15 seats—5 Muslim, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; memberselected by the Muslim/Croat Federation's House of Representativesand the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve two-year terms)elections: National House of Representatives—elections last held12-13 September 1998 (next to be held in the fall 2000); House ofPeoples—last held NA (next to be held NA)election results: National House of Representatives—percent of voteby party/coalition—NA; seats by party/coalition—KCD 17, HDZ-BiH 6,SDP 4, Sloga 4, SDS 4, SDBIH 2, SRS-RS 2, DNZ 1, NHI 1, RSRS 1;House of Peoples—percent of vote by party/coalition—NA; seats byparty/coalition—NAnote: the Muslim/Croat Federation has a House of Representatives(140 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve NA year terms);elections last held NA (next to be held NA); percent of vote byparty—NA; seats by party/coalition—KCD 68, HDZ-BiH 28, SDP 19, SDBIH6, NHI 4, DNZ 3, DSP 2, BPS 2, HSP 2, SPRS 2, BSP 1, KC 1, BOSS 1,HSS 1; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve NA year terms); electionslast held NA (next to be held NA); percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party/coalition—SDS 19, KCD 15, SNS 12, SRS-RS 11, SPRS 10,SNSD 6, RSRS 3, SKRS 2, SDP 2, KKO 1, HDZ-BiH 1, NHI 1
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of nine members:four members are selected by the Muslim/Croat Federation's House ofRepresentatives, two members by the Republika Srpska NationalAssembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of theEuropean Court of Human Rights
Political parties and leaders: Bosnian Party of Rights or BSPIZETBEGOVIC; includes SDA, SBH, GDS, LS]; Croatian Democratic UnionBIH or SDP (formerly the Democratic Party of Socialists or DSS)note: note—SDP and SDBIH announced a merger in 1999
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: CE (guest), CEI, EBRD,ECE, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), OAS(observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Dragan BOZANICchancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICHembassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevomailing address: use street address
Flag description: a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle
Government—note: Until declaring independence in spring 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina existed as a republic in the former Yugoslavia. Bosnia was partitioned by fighting during 1992-95 and governed by competing ethnic factions. Bosnia's current governing structures were created by the Dayton Agreement, the 1995 peace agreement which was officially signed in Paris on 14 December 1995 by then Bosnian President IZETBEGOVIC, Croatian President TUDJMAN, and then Serbian President MILOSEVIC. This agreement retained Bosnia's exterior border and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government—based on proportional representation similar to that which existed in the former socialist regime—is charged with conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. The Dayton Agreement also recognized a second tier of government, comprised of two entities—a joint Muslim/Croat Federation and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska (RS)—each presiding over roughly one-half the territory. The Federation and RS governments are charged with overseeing internal functions.
Economy
Economy—overview: Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture has been almost all in private hands, farms have been small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally has been a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the rigidities of communist central planning and management. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a large share of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The bitter interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1990 to 1995, unemployment to soar, and human misery to multiply. With an uneasy peace in place, output has recovered in 1996-98 at high percentage rates on a low base, but remains far below the 1990 level. Key achievements in 1998 included approval of privatization legislation, the introduction of a national currency—the convertible mark, agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule official debt, and the conclusion of a Standby Agreement with the IMF. Economic data are of limited use because, although both entities issue figures, national-level statistics are not available. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share of activity that occurs on the black market. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community. Wide regional differences in war damage and access to the outside world have resulted in substantial variations in living conditions among local areas and individual families. In 1999, Bosnia's major goals are to implement privatization and make progress in fiscal reform and management. In addition, Bosnia will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance from the international community.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$5.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 30% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,720 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 23% services: 58% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 1,026,254
Labor force—by occupation: NA%
Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (much of capacity damaged or shut down) (1995)
Industrial production growth rate: 35% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 2.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 34.78% hydro: 65.22% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 2.504 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 182 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 386 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $152 million (1995 est.)
Exports—commodities: NA
Exports—partners: NA
Imports: $1.1 billion (1995 est.)
Imports—commodities: NA
Imports—partners: NA
Debt—external: $3.5 billion (yearend 1995 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $1.2 billion (1997 pledged)
Currency: 1 convertible marka (KM) = 100 convertible pfenniga
Exchange rates: NA
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 727,000
Telephone system: telephone and telegraph network is in need ofmodernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average whencompared with services in other former Yugoslav republicsdomestic: NAinternational: no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 840,000
Television broadcast stations: 21 (1997)
Televisions: 1,012,094
Transportation
Railways:total: 1,021 km (electrified 795 km; operating as diesel or steamuntil grids are repaired)standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (1995); note—some segmentsstill need repair and/or reconstruction
Highways:total: 21,846 kmpaved: 11,425 kmunpaved: 10,421 km (1996 est.)note: roads need maintenance and repair
Waterways: NA km; large sections of Sava blocked by downedbridges, silt, and debris
Pipelines: crude oil 174 km; natural gas 90 km (1992);note—pipelines now disrupted
Ports and harbors: Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, BosanskiSamac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava none ofwhich are fully operational), Orasje
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 25 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Federation Army or VF (composed of both Croatian and Bosnian Muslim elements), Army of the Serb Republic (composed of Bosnian Serb elements); note—within both of these forces air and air defense are subordinate commands
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 951,541 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 764,992 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 28,438 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: disputes with Serbia over Serbianpopulated areas
Illicit drugs: minor transit point for marijuana and opiatetrafficking routes to Western Europe
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@Botswana ————
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 600,370 sq kmland: 585,370 sq kmwater: 15,000 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 4,013 kmborder countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe813 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; KalahariDesert in southwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 mhighest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash,potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use:arable land: 1%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 46%forests and woodland: 47%other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Environment—current issues: overgrazing; desertification; limitedfresh water resources
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: landlocked; population concentrated in easternpart of the country
People
Population: 1,464,167 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42% (male 310,578; female 303,495)15-64 years: 54% (male 379,836; female 416,073)65 years and over: 4% (male 20,224; female 33,961) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 31.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.08 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 39.89 years male: 39.42 years female: 40.37 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.91 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups: Batswana 95%, Kalanga, Basarwa, and Kgalagadi 4%,white 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 50%
Languages: English (official), Setswana
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 69.8%male: 80.5%female: 59.9% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Botswanaconventional short form: Botswanaformer: Bechuanaland
Data code: BC
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Gaborone
Administrative divisions: 10 districts and four town councils*;Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi,Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Ngamiland, North-East, Selebi-Pikwe*,South-East, Southern
Independence: 30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 September (1966)
Constitution: March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and VicePresident Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) andVice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since NA April 1998); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 15 October 1994 (next to be heldNA October 1999); vice president appointed by the presidentelection results: Sir Ketumile MASIRE elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote—NAnote: President MASIRE resigned on 31 March 1998; Vice PresidentMOGAE assumed the presidency pending elections to be held in 1999;on 2 April 1998, Festus MOGAE, then president, designated SeretseIan KHAMA to be vice president
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40 members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly—elections last held 15 October 1994 (next to be held NA October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—BDP 27, BNF 13
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Botswana Democratic Party or BDP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Archibald Mooketsa MOGWE chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. KRUEGER embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
Economy
Economy—overview: Agriculture still provides a livelihood for more than 80% of the population but supplies only about 50% of food needs and accounts for only 4% of GDP. Subsistence farming and cattle raising predominate. Diamond mining and tourism also are important to the economy. The sector is plagued by erratic rainfall and poor soils. Substantial mineral deposits were found in the 1970s and the mining sector grew from 25% of GDP in 1980 to 35% in 1997. Unemployment officially is 21% but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$5.25 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,600 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 45% (including 35% mining) services: 51% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 235,000 formal sector employees (1995)
Labor force—by occupation: 100,000 public sector; 135,000 private sector, including 14,300 who are employed in various mines in South Africa; most others engaged in cattle raising and subsistence agriculture (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20-40% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.6 billionexpenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $560million (FY96/97)
Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, coal, salt, soda ash,potash; livestock processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (FY92/93)
Electricity—production: 990 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.675 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 685 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sorghum, maize, millet, pulses, groundnuts (peanuts), beans, cowpeas, sunflower seed; livestock
Exports: $2.25 billion (f.o.b. 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: diamonds 76%, copper, nickel 4%, meat (1997)
Exports—partners: EU 74%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 21%, Zimbabwe 3% (1996)
Imports: $2.43 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, vehicles and transportequipment, textiles, petroleum products
Imports—partners: Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 78%,Europe 8%, Zimbabwe 6% (1996)
Debt—external: $610 million (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $73 million (1995)
Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates: pulas (P) per US$1—4.5725 (January 1999), 4.2258 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996), 2.7722 (1995), 2.6846 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 19,109 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: sparse system domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations international: microwave radio relay links to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 15, shortwave 5 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 13,800 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 971 km narrow gauge: 971 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 18,482 km paved: 4,343 km unpaved: 14,139 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 92 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Botswana Defense Force (includes Army and AirWing), Botswana National Police
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 344,587 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 182,279 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 18,654 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $61 million (FY99/00)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: quadripoint with Namibia, Zambia, andZimbabwe is in disagreement; dispute with Namibia over uninhabitedKasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River is presently atthe ICJ; at least one other island in Linyanti River is contested
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@Bouvet Island ——————-
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:total: 58 sq kmland: 58 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 29.6 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 m; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 780 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100% (all ice)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: covered by glacial ice
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Data code: BV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered from Oslo
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Norway)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Norway)
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy—overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications
Communications—note: automatic meteorological station
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Brazil ———
Geography
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:total: 8,511,965 sq kmland: 8,456,510 sq kmwater: 55,455 sq kmnote: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e SaoPaulo
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:total: 14,691 kmborder countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline: 7,491 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel,phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use:arable land: 5%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 22%forests and woodland: 58%other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 28,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
Environment—current issues: deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers the existence of a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities
Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People
Population: 171,853,126 (July 1999 est.) note: Brazil took a census in August 1996 which reported a population of 157,079,573; that figure was about 5% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for 1991; the Factbook's demographic statistics for Brazil do not take into consideration the results of the1996 census since the full results have not been released for analysis
Age structure:0-14 years: 30% (male 26,059,687; female 25,095,236)15-64 years: 65% (male 55,037,161; female 56,727,196)65 years and over: 5% (male 3,626,893; female 5,306,953) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.79 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.03 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 35.37 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.06 years male: 59.35 years female: 69.01 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Brazilian(s)adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups: white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian,Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other(includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 70%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.3%male: 83.3%female: 83.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazilconventional short form: Brazillocal long form: Republica Federativa do Brasillocal short form: Brasil
Data code: BR
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Brasilia
Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular—estado)and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa,Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias,Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para,Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande doNorte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, SaoPaulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution: 5 October 1988
Legal system: based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70;compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age
Executive branch:chief of state: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995);note—the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 4 October1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)election results: Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president;percent of vote—53%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or CongressoNacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats;three members from each state or federal district elected accordingto the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-thirdelected after a four year period, two-thirds elected after the nextfour-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dosDeputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportionalrepresentation to serve four-year terms)elections: Federal Senate—last held 4 October 1998 for one-third ofSenate (next to be held NA October 2002 for two-thirds of theSenate); Chamber of Deputies—last held 4 October 1998 (next to beheld NA October 2002)election results: Federal Senate—percent of vote by party—NA%; seatsby party—PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5; Chamber ofDeputies—percent of vote by party—NA%; seats by party—PFL 106, PSDB99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58
Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal, 11 judges areappointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate
Political parties and leaders: Brazilian Democratic Movement
Political pressure groups and leaders: left wing of the Catholic Church, Landless Worker's Movement, and labor unions allied to leftist Workers' Party are critical of government's social and economic policies
International organization participation: AfDB, BIS, CCC, ECLAC,FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,Mercosur, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate J. Brian ATWOOD embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900 Brazil mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Recife
Flag description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy
Economy—overview: Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. Prior to the institution of a stabilization plan—the Plano Real (Real Plan) in mid-1994, stratospheric inflation rates had disrupted economic activity and discouraged foreign investment. Since then, tight monetary policy has brought inflation under control—consumer prices increased by 2% in 1998 compared to more than 1,000% in 1994. At the same time, GDP growth slowed from 5.7% in 1994 to about 3.0% in 1997 due to tighter credit. The Real Plan faced its strongest challenge in 1998, as the world financial crisis caused investors to more closely examine the country's structural weaknesses. The most severe spillover for Brazil—after Russia's debt default in August 1998—created unrelenting pressure on the currency which forced the country to hike annual interest rates to 50%. Approximately $30 billion in capital left the country in August and September. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging progress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international support program in November 1998. Capital continued to leach out of the country, and investors, concerned about the rising mountain of debt and currency widely-viewed as overvalued, stayed on the sidelines. In January 1999, Brazil made an abrupt shift of course in exchange rate policy, abandoning the strong currency anti-inflation anchor of the Real Plan. On 13 January 1999, Central Bank officials announced a one-time 8% devaluation of the real, and on 15 January 1999, the currency was declared to be freely floating. President CARDOSO remains committed to limiting inflation and weathering the financial crisis through austerity and sacrifice as the country rides out a deep recession. He hopes the country will resume economic growth in the second half of 1999, so that he can once again focus on his longer-term goal of reducing poverty and income inequality. CARDOSO still hopes to address mandated revenue sharing with the states and cumbersome procedures to amend the constitution before the end of his second term.