Communications Bouvet Island
Internet country code:.bv
Communications - note:automatic meteorological station
Transportation Bouvet Island
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bouvet Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Bouvet Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Brazil
Introduction Brazil
Background:Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil becamean independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populouscountry in South America, Brazil has overcome more than half acentury of military intervention in the governance of the country topursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of theinterior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool,Brazil is today South America's leading economic power and aregional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains apressing problem.
Geography Brazil
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 kmnote: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e SaoPaulowater: 55,455 sq km
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 territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 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 mhighest 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: 6.3% permanent crops: 1.42% other: 92.28% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:26,560 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost insouth
Environment - current issues:deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers amultitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; thereis a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution inRio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; landdegradation and water pollution caused by improper miningactivities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:largest country in South America; shares common boundaries withevery South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People Brazil
Population:182,032,604note: Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported apopulation of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower thanprojections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the impliedunderenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for thiscountry explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortalitydue to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infantmortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, andchanges in the distribution of population by age and sex than wouldotherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.1% (male 25,151,855; female 24,196,506)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 60,667,014; female 61,683,580)65 years and over: 5.7% (male 4,232,784; female 6,100,865) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 27 years male: 26.2 years female: 27.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.15% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:17.67 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 31.74 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 27.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 35.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.13 yearsmale: 67.16 yearsfemale: 75.3 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.01 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:610,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:8,400 (2001 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) 80%
Languages:Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.4%male: 86.1%female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
Government Brazil
Country name:conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazilconventional short form: Brazillocal short form: Brasillocal long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
Government type:federative 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 do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul,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; compulsoryover 18 and under 70 years of age
Executive branch:chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentelection results: in runoff election 27 October 2002, Luiz InacioLULA DA SILVA (PT) was elected with 61.3% of the vote; Jose SERRA(PSDB) 38.7%elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 October2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); runoff election held 27October 2002cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidenthead of government: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of theFederal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from eachstate or federal district elected according to the principle ofmajority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after afour-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-yearperiod) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513seats; members are elected by proportional representation to servefour-year terms)election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3,PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PPB 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PPB49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5,other 11elections: Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirdsof the Senate (next to be held NA October 2006 for one-third of theSenate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to beheld NA October 2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed by thepresident and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice;Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life)
Political parties and leaders:Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Michel TEMER];Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Jose Carlos MARTINEZ]; BrazilianSocial Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Jose ANIBAL]; BrazilianSocialist Party or PSB [Miguel ARRAES]; Brazilian Progressive Partyor PPB [Paulo Salim MALUF]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB[Renato RABELLO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Leonel BRIZOLA];Green Party or PV [leader NA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [JorgeBORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Deputy Valdemar COSTA Neto];National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO];Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Senator Roberto FREIRE]; SocialDemocratic Party or PSD [leader NA]; Worker's Party or PT [JoseGENOINO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:left wing of the Catholic Church; Landless Worker's Movement; laborunions allied to leftist Worker's Party
International organization participation:AfDB, BIS, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOVIC, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rubens Antonio BARBOSA; note - Ambassador-Designate Roberto ABDENUR expected to arrive March 2004 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: [55] (61) 312-7000 FAX: [55] (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 bluecelestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each stateand the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the nightsky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with themotto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy Brazil
Economy - overview:Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining,manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs thatof all other South American countries and is expanding its presencein world markets. The maintenance of large current account deficitsvia capital account surpluses became problematic as investors becamemore risk averse to emerging markets as a consequence of the Asianfinancial crisis in 1997 and the Russian bond default in August1998. After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledgingprogress on structural reform, Brazil received a $41.5 billionIMF-led international support program in November 1998. In January1999, the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would nolonger be pegged to the US dollar. The consequent devaluation helpedmoderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999, and the countryposted moderate GDP growth in 2000. Economic growth slowedconsiderably in 2001-03 - to less than 2% - because of a slowdown inmajor markets and the hiking of interest rates by the Central Bankto combat inflationary pressures. New president DA SILVA, who tookoffice 1 January 2003, has given priority to reforming the complextax code, trimming the overblown civil service pension system, andcontinuing the fight against inflation.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.376 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 36% services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 48% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:60.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.3% (2002)
Labor force:79 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 53%, agriculture 23%, industry 24%
Unemployment rate:6.4% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $100.6 billionexpenditures: $91.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000)
Industries:textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel,aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate:2.3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:321.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.3% hydro: 82.7% other: 4.6% (2001) nuclear: 4.4%
Electricity - consumption:335.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:37.19 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2001)
Oil - production:1.561 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.199 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:8.507 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:221.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Exports:$59.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:US 23.8%, Argentina 8.5%, Germany 5%, China 4.3%, Netherlands 4.2%(2002)
Imports:$46.2 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electrical, and transport equipment, chemical products,oil
Imports - partners:US 23.3%, Argentina 12.6%, Germany 8.7%, France 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$222.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$30 billion IMF disbursement (2002)
Currency:real (BRL)
Currency code:BRL
Exchange rates:reals per US dollar - 2.92 (2002), 2.36 (2001), 1.83 (2000), 1.81(1999), 1.16 (1998)note: from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official ratewas determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, theofficial rate floats independently with respect to the US dollar
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:17.039 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4.4 million (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: good working systemdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domesticsatellite system with 64 earth stationsinternational: 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations- 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean regioneast), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AMstations) (1999)
Radios:71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:138 (1997)
Televisions:36.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.br
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:13.98 million (2002)
Transportation Brazil
Railways:total: 31,543 km (1,981 km electrified)broad gauge: 4,961 km 1.600-m gauge (692 km electrified)narrow gauge: 25,992 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)dual gauge: 396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 kmelectrified) (2002)standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge (630 km electrified)
Highways: total: 1,724,929 km paved: 94,871 km unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
Waterways:50,000 km
Pipelines:condensate/gas 243 km; gas 10,984 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km;oil 5,113 km; refined products 4,800 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, PortoAlegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine:total: 159 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,257,186 GRT/5,101,578 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Chile 2, Germany 6, Greece 1, Monaco 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 29, cargo 23, chemical tanker 7, combinationore/oil 7, container 12, liquefied gas 11, multi-functionallarge-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 53, rollon/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:3,590 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 665 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 155 914 to 1,523 m: 435 under 914 m: 45 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2,925 1,524 to 2,437 m: 70 914 to 1,523 m: 1,384 under 914 m: 1,471 (2002)
Military Brazil
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 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 51,381,048 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 34,347,078 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 1,744,148 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$13.408 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Brazil
Disputes - international:unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay bordersis locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking,and harbors Islamist militants; uncontested dispute with Uruguayover certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundarystreams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazonregion, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scaleeradication program to control cannabis; important transshipmentcountry for Colombian and Peruvian cocaine headed for the US andEurope; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics airtransshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-relatedviolence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian,Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds earned inBrazil are often laundered through the financial system; significantillicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@British Indian Ocean Territory
Introduction British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of theBritish Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred tothe Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently,BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising theChagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands,Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All ofthe remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers,earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily toMauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigrationorder that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld thespecial military status of Diego Garcia.
Geography British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half theway from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 60 sq kmnote: includes the entire Chagos Archipelagowater: 0 sq kmland: 60 sq km
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, sugarcane
Land use: arable land: NEGL permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest andsouthernmost island, occupies strategic location in central IndianOcean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
People British Indian Ocean Territory
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident inthe Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois,were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960's and1970's, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by aBritish High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personneland 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia(July 2003 est.)
Government British Indian Ocean Territory
Country name:conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territoryconventional short form: noneabbreviation: BIOT
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner,resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system:the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Commissioner Alan HUCKLE (since 2001);Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UKelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner andadministrator appointed by the monarchcabinet: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK isin the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palmtree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy British Indian Ocean Territory
Economy - overview:All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island ofDiego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.Construction projects and various services needed to support themilitary installations are done by military and contract employeesfrom the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are noindustrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Iloisreturn, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
Electricity - production:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Communications British Indian Ocean Territory
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: separate facilities for military and publicneeds are availabledomestic: all commercial telephone services are available, includingconnection to the Internetinternational: international telephone service is carried bysatellite (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.io
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Transportation British Indian Ocean Territory
Highways:total: NA kmpaved: short section of paved road between port and airfield onDiego Garciaunpaved: NA km
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Diego Garcia
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military British Indian Ocean Territory
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on DiegoGarcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues British Indian Ocean Territory
Disputes - international:Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and itsformer inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation sinceeviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US militarylease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@British Virgin Islands
Introduction British Virgin Islands
Background:First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger andmore populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is thelegal currency.
Geography British Virgin Islands
Location:Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 153 sq kmnote: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabitedislands; includes the island of Anegadawater: 0 sq kmland: 153 sq km
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 mhighest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 20%permanent crops: 6.67%other: 73.33% (1998 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 catchments)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
People British Virgin Islands
Population:21,730 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.9% (male 2,401; female 2,358)15-64 years: 73.1% (male 8,181; female 7,709)65 years and over: 5% (male 578; female 503) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 30.7 yearsmale: 31 yearsfemale: 30.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.1% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:10.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.8 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.06 yearsmale: 75.07 yearsfemale: 77.1 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Religions:Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%,Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Languages:English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8% (1991 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government British Virgin Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: British Virgin Islandsabbreviation: BVI
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
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 Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyappointed chief minister by the governorhead of government: Chief Minister Orlando SMITH (since 17 June 2003)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members ofthe Legislative Council
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected bydirect popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts,four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NDP 8, VIP 5
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court ofJustice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is aresident of the islands and presides over the High Court);Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; NationalDemocratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [GregoryMADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau),IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of theflag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by avertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latinword VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Economy British Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in theCaribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainlyfrom the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, thegovernment began offering offshore registration to companies wishingto incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generatesubstantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshoreregistry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurancelaw in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality withregulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses,is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractiveto international business. Livestock raising is the most importantagricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meetdomestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close linkswith the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used thedollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $320 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2002 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):2.5% (2002)
Labor force:4,911 (1980)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:3% (1995)
Budget:revenues: $121.5 millionexpenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997)
Industries:tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:38.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:35.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:420 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Exports:$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports:$187 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt - external:$36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:NA%
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:10,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: worldwide telephone servicedomestic: NAinternational: 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 country code:.vg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation British Virgin Islands
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 177 km paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Road Town
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 19,203 GRT/28,864 DWTships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military British Virgin Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues British Virgin Islands
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for theUS and Europe; large offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Brunei
Introduction Brunei
Background:The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas ofnorthwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequentlyentered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royalsuccession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence wasachieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over sixcenturies. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gasfields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in thedeveloping world.
Geography Brunei
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates:4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 5,770 sq kmwater: 500 sq kmland: 5,270 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline:161 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NM or to median lineterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 0.57% permanent crops: 0.76% other: 98.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are 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 LayerProtection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian andPacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almostan enclave of Malaysia
People Brunei
Population:358,098 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.6% (male 54,118; female 51,902)15-64 years: 67.6% (male 128,421; female 113,480)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,804; female 5,373) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.4 yearsmale: 27 yearsfemale: 25.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:19.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:3.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 17.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.3 yearsmale: 71.9 yearsfemale: 76.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Bruneian(s)adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions:Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenousbeliefs and other 10%
Languages:Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.8%male: 94.8%female: 88.5% (2003 est.)
Government Brunei
Country name:conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalamconventional short form: Brunei
Government type:constitutional sultanate
Capital:Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions:4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei andMuara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was thedate of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date ofindependence from British protection
Constitution:29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State ofEmergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1January 1984)
Legal system:based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a lawsupersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage:none
Executive branch:chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief ofstate and head of governmenthead of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief ofstate and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over bythe monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also aReligious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises onreligious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by themonarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council ofSuccession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines thesuccession to the throne if the need ariseselections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privycouncil that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats;members appointed by the monarch)elections: last held in March 1962note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body bydecree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is beingconsidered as part of constitutional reform, but elections areunlikely for several years
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarchfor three-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTAbin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; note - the PPKB is the onlylegal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985 butbecame largely inactive after 1988; it was revived in 1995 and againin 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; otherparties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) andBrunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965,deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Anak Dato Haji PUTEHFAX: [1] (202) 885-0560telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTYembassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar SeriBegawanmailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507telephone: [673] (2) 229670FAX: [673] (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 inred is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes aswallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturnedcrescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy Brunei
Economy - overview:This small, wealthy economy encompasses a mixture of foreign anddomestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures,and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production accountfor nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other ThirdWorld countries, and substantial income from overseas investmentsupplements income from domestic production. The government providesfor all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei'sleaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in theworld economy will undermine internal social cohesion, although itbecame a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for thefuture include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment,strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general,further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $18,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5%industry: 45%services: 50% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:143,400note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporaryresidents make up about 40% of labor force (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:10% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.5 billionexpenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35billion (1997 est.)
Industries:petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:2.497 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:2.322 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:217,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.255 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:315 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Exports:$3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, natural gas, refined products