Currency: 1 pula (P) = 100 thebe
Exchange rates: pulas (P) per US$1 - 4.6168 (January 2000), 4.6244 (1999), 4.2259 (1998), 3.6508 (1997), 3.3242 (1996), 2.7722 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Botswana:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 78,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: sparse system domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations international: two international exchanges; digital 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: 237,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 31,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Botswana: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 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 82 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)
@Botswana: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: 373,990 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 196,572 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 19,132 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $61 million (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY99/00)
@Botswana:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: dispute with Namibia over uninhabitedKasikili (Sidudu) Island in Linyanti (Chobe) River resolved by the ICJin favor of Botswana (13 December 1999); at least one other island inLinyanti River is contested
______________________________________________________________________
@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: 58.5 sq km land: 58.5 sq km water: 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: Southern 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% (93% ice)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
@Bouvet Island:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Bouvet Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Data code: BV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the PolarDepartment of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
@Bouvet Island:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
@Bouvet Island:Communications
Communications - note: automatic meteorological station
@Bouvet Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
@Bouvet Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
@Bouvet Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Brazil:Introduction
Background: Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of the interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, Brazil became Latin America's leading economic power by the 1970s. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
@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 km land: 8,456,510 sq km water: 55,455 sq km note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries: total: 14,691 km border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 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 note: President CARDOSO in September 1999 signed into force an environmental crime bill which for the first time defines pollution and deforestation as crimes punishable by stiff fines and jail sentences
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
@Brazil:People
Population: 172,860,370 note: Brazil took an intercensal count in August 1996 which reported a population of 157,079,573; that figure was about 5% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, which is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 25,607,074; female 24,670,960) 15-64 years: 66% (male 55,793,005; female 57,598,489) 65 years and over: 5% (male 3,727,912; female 5,462,930) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 18.84 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 9.37 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.94 years male: 58.54 years female: 67.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2000 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 (includesJapanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.3% male: 83.3% female: 83.2% (1995 est.)
@Brazil:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil local short form: Brasil
Data code: BR
Government type: federative republic
Capital: Brasilia
Administrative divisions: 26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas,Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, MatoGrosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana,Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande doSul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, 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 compulsory ICJ 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 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president; percent of vote - 53%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each state or federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Federal Senate - last held 4 October 1998 for one-third of Senate (next to be held NA October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 27, PFL 20, PSDB 16, PT 7, PPB 5, PSB 3, PDT 2, PPS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PFL 106, PSDB 99, PMDB 82, PPB 60, PT 58, PTB 31, PDT 25, PSB 19, PL 12, PCdoB 7, other 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Federal Tribunal, 11 judges are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate
Political parties and leaders: Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB ; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Jose Carlos MARTINEZ, president]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB ; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB ; Brazilian Progressive Party or PPB [Paulo MALUF, president]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Joao AMAZONAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT ; Liberal Front Party or PFL ; Liberal Party or PL ; Popular Socialist Party or PPS ; Worker's Party or PT [Jose DIRCEU, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders: left wing of the CatholicChurch, Landless Worker's Movement, and labor unions allied to leftistWorker's Party are critical of government's social and economicpolicies
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, NAM(observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOP, UNTAET, 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 telephone: (202) 238-2700 FAX: (202) 238-2827 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 Anthony S. HARRINGTON embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Brasilia, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900 Brazil mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: (61) 321-7272 FAX: (61) 225-9136 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)
@Brazil: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. In the late eighties and early nineties, high inflation hindered economic activity and investment. The Real Plan, instituted in the spring of 1994, sought to break inflationary expectations by pegging the real to the US dollar. Inflation was brought down to single digit annual figures, but not fast enough to avoid substantial real exchange rate appreciation during the transition phase of the Real Plan. This appreciation meant that Brazilian goods were now more expensive relative to goods from other countries, which contributed to large current account deficits. However, no shortage of foreign currency ensued because of the financial community's renewed interest in Brazilian markets as inflation rates stabilized and the debt crisis of the eighties faded from memory. The maintenance of large current account deficits via capital account surpluses became problematic as investors became more risk averse to emerging market exposure as a consequence of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August 1998. 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. In January 1999, the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would no longer be pegged to the US dollar. This devaluation helped moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999 that investors had expressed concerns about over the summer of 1998. Brazil's debt to GDP ratio of 48% for 1999 beat the IMF target and helped reassure investors that Brazil will maintain tight fiscal and monetary policy even with a floating currency. The economy is expected to push growth up to 3% in 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.057 trillion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,150 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 36% services: 50% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 17.4% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 47.9% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999)
Labor force: 74 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 42%, agriculture 31%, industry 27%
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $151 billion expenditures: $149 billion, including capital expenditures of $36 billion (1998)
Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate: -2.6% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 316.927 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 4.92% hydro: 91.02% nuclear: 0.99% other: 3.07% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 336.242 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 41.5 billion kWh note: imports electricity from Paraguay (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Exports: $46.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: manufactures, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee
Exports - partners: US 18%, Argentina 13%, Germany 5%, Netherlands 5%,Japan 4% (1999)
Imports: $48.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemical products, oil, electricity
Imports - partners: US 23%, Argentina 12%, Germany 10%, Japan 5%,Italy 5% (1999)
Debt - external: $200 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $1.012 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 real (R$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: reals (R$) per US$1 - 1.804 (January 2000), 1.815 (1999), 1.161 (1998), 1.078 (1997), 1.005 (1996), 0.918 (1995) note: from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official rate was determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, the official rate floats independently with respect to the US$
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Brazil:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 19 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4 million (1997)
Telephone system: good working system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations international: 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to MERCOSUR Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999)
Radios: 71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 138 (1997)
Televisions: 36.5 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 197 (1999)
@Brazil:Transportation
Railways: total: 27,882 km (1,122 km electrified); note - excludes urban rail broad gauge: 4,057 km 1.600-m gauge narrow gauge: 23,489 km 1.000-m gauge dual gauge: 336 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1999 est.)
Highways: total: 1.98 million km paved: 184,140 km unpaved: 1,795,860 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 50,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 2,980 km; petroleum products 4,762 km; natural gas 4,246 km (1998)
Ports and harbors: Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus,Paranagua, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador,Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine: total: 174 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,964,808 GRT/6,403,284 DWT ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 28, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 9, container 10, liquified gas 10, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 59, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 11, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 3,277 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 541 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 138 914 to 1,523 m: 346 under 914 m: 32 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2,736 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 1,306 under 914 m: 1,357 (1999 est.)
@Brazil:Military
Military branches: Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes naval air and marines), Brazilian Air Force, Federal Police (paramilitary)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 47,732,285 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 32,029,873 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 1,830,195 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $13.408 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY99)
@Brazil:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: two short sections of boundary with Uruguayare in dispute - Arroio Invernada (Arroyo de la Invernada) area of theRio Quarai (Rio Cuareim) and the islands at the confluence of the RioQuarai and the Uruguay River
Illicit drugs: limited illicit producer of cannabis, minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, mostly used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US and Europe; increasingly used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling
______________________________________________________________________
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references: World
Area: total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
@British Indian Ocean Territory:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities; in 1995, there were approximately 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors living on the island (July 2000 est.)
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Government
Country name: conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT
Data code: IO
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system: NA
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA 1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note - both reside in the UK cabinet: NA elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of theUK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of theUK)
Flag description: white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Economy
Economy - overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
Electricity - production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephone system: separate facilities for military and public needs are available domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Transportation
Highways: total: NA km paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Diego Garcia
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
@British Indian Ocean Territory:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: the Chagos Archipelago is claimed byMauritius and Seychelles
______________________________________________________________________
@British Virgin Islands:Introduction
Background: First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were soon after (1672) annexed by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
@British Virgin Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 150 sq km land: 150 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the island of Anegada
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 33% forests and woodland: 7% other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchment)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and PuertoRico
@British Virgin Islands:People
Population: 19,615 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 2,022; female 1,975) 15-64 years: 75% (male 7,517; female 7,102) 65 years and over: 5% (male 545; female 454) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.34% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 15.86 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.59 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.44 years male: 74.57 years female: 76.35 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 90%, white, Asian
Religions: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@British Virgin Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Data code: VI
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Road Town
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution: 1 June 1977
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA) head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995; appointed after the death of former Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 February 1995 (next to be held NA February 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VIP 6, CCM 2, UP 2, independents 3
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of theHigh Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal; (one judge of theSupreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the HighCourt); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of SummaryJurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [E.Walwyn BREWLEY]; Independent People's Movement or IPM [Omar HODGE andAllen O'NEAL]; United Party or UP ; Virgin IslandsParty or VIP
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of theUK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of theUK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
@British Virgin Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1997. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $287 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.8% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1998)
Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, servicesNA%
Unemployment rate: 3% (1995)
Budget: revenues: $121.5 million expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1985)
Electricity - production: 42 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 39 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports: $6 million (1998)
Exports - commodities: rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports: $175 million (1998)
Imports - commodities: building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners: Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt - external: $36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@British Virgin Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 9,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 9,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Televisions: 4,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@British Virgin Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 113 km (1995 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Road Town
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@British Virgin Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@British Virgin Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Brunei:Introduction
Background: Although greatly reduced in size since its heyday of the 16th century, the Sultanate of Brunei sits atop extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the less developed countries.
@Brunei:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea andMalaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 85% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare
Environment - current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
@Brunei:People
Population: 336,376 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 53,812; female 51,628) 15-64 years: 66% (male 118,207; female 103,819) 65 years and over: 3% (male 4,317; female 4,593) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.17% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 20.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.58 years male: 71.23 years female: 76.06 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 62%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 17%
Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4% (1995 est.)
@Brunei:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei
Data code: BX
Government type: constitutional sultanate
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under aState of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1January 1984)
Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, IslamicShari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay ; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)
International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP,G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 342-0159 FAX: (202) 342-0158
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sylvia Gaye STANFIELD embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507 telephone: (2) 229670 FAX: (2) 225293
Flag description: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
@Brunei:Economy
Economy - overview: This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government has shown progress in its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it has taken steps to become a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Growth in 1999 is estimated at 2.5% due to higher oil prices in the second half.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 144,000 (1995 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)
Labor force - by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.56 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.381 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo
Exports: $2.04 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products
Exports - partners: Japan 51%, UK 14%, US 10%, Singapore 8%, Thailand 3% (1998)
Imports: $1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: Singapore 32%, UK 17%, Malaysia 12%, France 12%,US 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - recipient: $4.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.6733 (January 2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Brunei:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 68,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 57,000 (1998)
Telephone system: service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 319,408 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 196,009 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Brunei:Transportation
Railways: total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge
Highways: total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km
Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria,Tutong
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT ships by type: liquified gas 7 (1999 est.)
Airports: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@Brunei:Military
Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 104,447 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 60,395 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 2,957 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $343 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.1% (FY98)
@Brunei:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island
______________________________________________________________________
@Bulgaria:Introduction
Background: Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, and Bulgaria began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into the EU and NATO.
@Bulgaria:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, betweenRomania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 110,910 sq km land: 110,550 sq km water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,808 km border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km (all with Serbia), Turkey 240 km
Coastline: 354 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 43% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 38% other: 3% (1999 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,370 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
@Bulgaria:People
Population: 7,796,694 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 623,285; female 591,655) 15-64 years: 68% (male 2,610,573; female 2,685,190) 65 years and over: 16% (male 546,029; female 739,962) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.16% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 8.06 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 14.63 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.91 years male: 67.45 years female: 74.56 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 83%, Turk 8.5%, Roma 2.6%, Macedonia,Armenian, Tatar, Gagauz, Circassian, others (1998)
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.5%, Muslim 13%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Jewish 0.8%, Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 1% (1998)
Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1999)
@Bulgaria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria
Data code: BU
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Sofia
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast);Burgas, Grad Sofiya, Khaskovo, Lovech, Montana, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sofiya,Varna
Independence: 22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal