Exports - partners:Japan 40.3%, South Korea 12.3%, Thailand 12.1%, Australia 9.2%, US8.1%, China 6.4%, Singapore 5.7% (2002)
Imports:$1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,chemicals
Imports - partners:Singapore 30.6%, Japan 21.5%, Malaysia 17.4%, UK 6.1%, Hong Kong 4%(2002)
Debt - external:$0
Economic aid - recipient:$4.3 million (1995)
Currency:Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code:BND
Exchange rates:Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.72(2000), 1.69 (1999), 1.67 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:79,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:43,524 (1996)
Telephone system:general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the USdomestic: every service availableinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Oceanand 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, thePhilippines, and Singapore (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:201,900 (1998)
Internet country code:.bn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:35,000 (2002)
Transportation Brunei
Railways:total: 13 km (private line)narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge (2001 est.)
Highways: total: 2,525 km paved: 2,525 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
Pipelines:gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWTships by type: liquefied gas 8note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: UK 7 (2002 est.)
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:3 (2002)
Military Brunei
Military branches:Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 110,888 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 63,966 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 3,277 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$329.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Brunei
Disputes - international:Involved in dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia,Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; Brunei established an exclusiveeconomic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern SpratlyIslands in 1984 but makes no public territorial claim to theoffshore reefs; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declarationon the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism toease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code ofconduct"
Illicit drugs:drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances areserious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Bulgaria
Introduction Bulgaria
Background:The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the localSlavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the firstBulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled withthe Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by theend of the 14th century the country was overrun by the OttomanTurks. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878, but having foughton the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Sovietsphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946.Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its firstmultiparty election since World War II and began the contentiousprocess of moving toward political democracy and a market economywhile combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime.Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path towardeventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it beganaccession negotiations in 2000.
Geography Bulgaria
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 110,910 sq kmwater: 360 sq kmland: 110,550 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,808 kmborder countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km,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: 39% permanent crops: 1.8% other: 59.2% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:8,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, landslides
Environment - current issues:air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from rawsewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage fromair pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavymetals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routesfrom Europe to Middle East and Asia
People Bulgaria
Population:7,537,929 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.2% (male 549,142; female 520,057)15-64 years: 68.8% (male 2,551,548; female 2,632,978)65 years and over: 17% (male 535,165; female 749,039) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 40.5 yearsmale: 38.4 yearsfemale: 42.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-1.09% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:8.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:14.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 15.43 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.8 yearsmale: 68.26 yearsfemale: 75.56 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.13 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:346 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bulgarian(s)adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups:Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3% (includingMacedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (1998)
Religions:Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3% (1998)
Languages:Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnicbreakdown
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.1%female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Bulgaria
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Bulgariaconventional short form: Bulgaria
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Sofia
Administrative divisions:28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas,Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana,Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Independence:3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution:adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system:civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002);Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (PrimeMinister) Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA (since 24 July 2001); DeputyPrime Ministers Nikolay VASILEV (since 24 July 2001), and LidiyaSHULEVA (since 24 July 2001), Plamen PANAYOTOV (since 17 July 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assemblyelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11 Novemberand 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman of theCouncil of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president;deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime ministerelection results: Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent of vote- Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NMS2 42.74%, UtdDF18.18%, CfB 17.15%, MRF 7.45%; seats by party - NMS2 120, UtdDF 51,CfB 48, MRF 21; note - seating as of March 2003 - NMS2 110, UtdDF50, CfB 48, MRF 20, independents 12
Judicial branch:Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation;Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-yearterms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of thetwo Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members;responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, andinvestigating magistrates in the justice system; members of theSupreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected bythe National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition forBulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [SergeiSTANISHEV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or VMRO[Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF[Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [SimeonSAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [NadezhdaMIKHAYLOVA]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI];United Democratic Forces or UtdDF (a coalition between the UDF andother center-right parties)
Political pressure groups and leaders:agrarian movement; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions ofBulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional,ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation:ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNSecurity Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH,UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA consulate(s): New York FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174 chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEWembassy: 1 Suborna Street, Sofia 1000mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100FAX: [359] (2) 981-89-77
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; thenational emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe hasbeen removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheatears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing thedates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberationfrom Nazi control)
Economy Bulgaria
Economy - overview:Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the EuropeanUnion, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growthsince a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the thensocialist government. As a result, the government became committedto economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. A $300 millionstand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 hassupported government efforts to overcome high rates of poverty andunemployment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $49.23 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.7% industry: 28.5% services: 57.9% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 12.6% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.5% highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:26.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:3.83 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:18% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.57 billionexpenditures: $5.68 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machineryand equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refinedpetroleum, nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:41.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.8% hydro: 8.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 44.1%
Electricity - consumption:32.52 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:6.79 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:830 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:603 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:94,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:8.1 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.804 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:5.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.724 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets
Exports:$5.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:Italy 15.5%, Germany 9.6%, Turkey 9.4%, Greece 9.2%, France 5.3%,US 4.8% (2002)
Imports:$6.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metalsand ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles
Imports - partners:Russia 14.6%, Germany 14.4%, Italy 11.4%, Greece 6.1%, France 5.7%,Turkey 5% (2002)
Debt - external:$10.3 billion (yearend 2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$300 million (2000 est.)
Currency:lev (BGL)
Currency code:BGN
Exchange rates:leva per US dollar - 2.08 (2002), 2.18 (2001), 2.12 (2000), 1.84(1999), 1.76 (1998)note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:3,186,731 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.054 million (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: extensive but antiquateddomestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential;telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly moderndigital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most ofthe regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radiorelayinternational: direct dialing to 58 countries; satellite earthstations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2 Intelsat(Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:4.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.bg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):200 (2001)
Internet users:585,000 (2001)
Transportation Bulgaria
Railways:total: 4,294 kmstandard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 37,286 kmpaved: 35,049 km (including 324 km of expressways)unpaved: 2,237 km (2000)
Waterways:470 km (1987)
Pipelines:gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine:total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 829,421 GRT/1,252,496 DWTships by type: bulk 42, cargo 10, chemical tanker 4, container 2,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, railcar carrier 2, rollon/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (2002est.)
Airports:216 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 128 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 92 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 88 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 74 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Bulgaria
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (subordinate to Ministry ofDefense), Internal Forces (subordinate to Ministry of Interior),Civil Defense Forces (subordinate to the president)
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,854,049 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,551,485 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 54,107 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$356 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bulgaria
Disputes - international: joint boundary commission is rectifying boundary with Romania based on shifts in Danube since last delimitation in 1920
Illicit drugs:major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and,to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market;limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering ofdrug-related proceeds through financial institutions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Burkina Faso
Introduction Burkina Faso
Background:Independence from France came to Burkina Faso (formerly UpperVolta) in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980swere followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. BurkinaFaso's high population density and limited natural resources resultin poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Everyyear, several hundred thousand seasonal farm workers seek employmentin Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana and are adversely affected by instabilityin those regions.
Geography Burkina Faso
Location:Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 274,200 sq kmwater: 400 sq kmland: 273,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 3,193 kmborder countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km,Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west andsoutheast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 mhighest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources:manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony,copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land use: arable land: 12.43% permanent crops: 0.18% other: 87.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agriculturalactivities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing;soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black,Red, and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
Population:13,228,460note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.1% (male 3,057,855; female 3,036,705)15-64 years: 51% (male 3,296,726; female 3,455,817)65 years and over: 2.9% (male 161,914; female 219,443) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 16.8 yearsmale: 16.4 yearsfemale: 17.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.6% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:44.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:18.76 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 99.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 91.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 107.87 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 44.46 yearsmale: 43.02 yearsfemale: 45.94 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.34 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:6.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:440,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:44,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly RomanCatholic) 10%
Languages:French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanicfamily spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 26.6%male: 36.9%female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government Burkina Faso
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Burkina Fasoformer: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions:45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala,Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence:5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution:2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6November 2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); inApril 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidentialterm from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowingthe president to be reelected only once; it is unclear whether thisamendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime ministerappointed by the president with the consent of the legislaturenote: President COMPAORE faces an increasingly well-coordinatedopposition; recent charges against a former member of hisPresidential Guard in the 1998 assassination of a newspaper editorsignify an attempt to defuse chronic areas of dissatisfactionelection results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5%percent of the vote
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next tobe held NA May 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation orRDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracyor CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progressor CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance andProgress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for AfricanIndependence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy andProgress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for theDevelopment of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; BurkinabeMovement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; NationalConfederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization ofFree Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout thecountry in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGOchancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMESembassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S.Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC20521-2440telephone: [226] 306723FAX: [226] 303890
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellowfive-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colorsof Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Fasohas few natural resources, a fragile soil, and a highly unequaldistribution of income. About 90% of the population is engaged in(mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is vulnerable to variationsin rainfall. Industry remains dominated by unprofitablegovernment-controlled corporations. Following the African franccurrency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated itsdevelopment program in conjunction with international agencies, andexports and economic growth have increased. Maintenance ofmacroeconomic progress depends on continued low inflation, reductionin the trade deficit, and reforms designed to encourage privateinvestment. The internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoirecontinues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens theneed for international assistance.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $14.51 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 17% services: 48% (2001)
Population below poverty line:45% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:48.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:5 millionnote: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually toneighboring countries for seasonal employment (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $316 millionexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)
Industries:cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:279.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.9% hydro: 30.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:259.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock
Exports:$250 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:Singapore 14.7%, Italy 11.3%, Colombia 8.6%, France 7.7%, India6.9%, Ghana 6%, Japan 4.4%, Thailand 4.3% (2002)
Imports:$525 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:France 27.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 23%, Togo 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$1.3 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$484.1 million (1995)
Currency:Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:53,200 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:25,200 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: all services only fairdomestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephonecommunication stationsinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:131,340 (2002)
Internet country code:.bf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:25,000 (2002)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Railways:total: 622 kmnarrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gaugenote:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire(2002)
Highways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:33 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches:Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, People'sMilitia
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,957,710 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,506,944 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$45.83 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; BurkinaFaso border regions have become a staging area for Liberia and Coted'Ivoire rebels and an asylum for refugees caught in regionalfighting; the Ivorian Government accuses Burkina Faso of supportingIvorian rebels
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Burma
Introduction Burma
Background:Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) andincorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as aprovince of India until 1937 when it became a separate,self-governing colony; independence outside of the Commonwealth wasattained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to1988, first as military ruler, then as president, and later aspolitical kingmaker. Despite multiparty elections in 1990 thatresulted in the main opposition party winning a decisive victory,the ruling military junta refused to hand over power. Key oppositionleader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, under housearrest from 1989 to 1995, was again placed under house detentionfrom September 2000 to May 2002 and again in May 2003; hersupporters are routinely harassed or jailed.
Geography Burma
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal,between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates:22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 678,500 sq kmland: 657,740 sq kmwater: 20,760 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,876 kmborder countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:1,930 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwestmonsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mildtemperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,December to April)
Terrain:central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 mhighest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources:petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead,coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 14.53%permanent crops: 0.9%other: 84.57% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:15,920 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslidescommon during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
People Burma
Population:42,510,537note: estimates for this country take into account the effects ofexcess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower lifeexpectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.1% (male 6,091,220; female 5,840,968)15-64 years: 67% (male 14,162,190; female 14,347,751)65 years and over: 4.9% (male 916,702; female 1,151,706) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 25.3 yearsmale: 24.8 yearsfemale: 25.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.52% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:19.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:12.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.81 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 70.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 63.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 76.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 55.79 yearsmale: 54.12 yearsfemale: 57.56 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.15 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.99% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:530,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:65,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Burmese (singular and plural)adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups:Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,Mon 2%, other 5%
Religions:Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages:Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.1%male: 88.7%female: 77.7% (1995 est.)note: these are official statistics; estimates of functionalliteracy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.)
Government Burma
Country name:conventional long form: Union of Burmaconventional short form: Burmalocal short form: Myanma Naingngandawlocal long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by theUS Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union ofMyanmar)former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burmanote: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted thename Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decisionwas not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the USGovernment did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of theBurmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw
Government type:military regime
Capital:Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions:7 divisions* (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyine-myar, singular - pyi ne); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*, Bago*, KachinState, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*, Mon State,Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*
Independence:4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 January (1948)
Constitution:3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); nationalconvention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution;progress has since been stalled
Legal system:has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development CouncilSr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)head of government: Chairman of the State Peace and DevelopmentCouncil Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - theappointed Prime Minister, Gen. KNIN NYUNT (since 25 August 2003), isnot the head of governmentcabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta,so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18September 1988 under the name State Law and Order RestorationCouncil; the SPDC oversees the cabinetelections: none
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never convenedelection results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NLD 392, SNLD 23, NUP 10, other 60
Judicial branch:remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there isno guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is notindependent of the executive
Political parties and leaders:National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SANSUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (proregime)[THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [KHUNTUN OO]; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA(proregime, a social and political organization) [THAN AUNG, generalsecretary]; and other smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: All Burma Student Democratic Front or ABSDF; Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB [Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals legitimately elected to the People's Assembly but not recognized by the military regime (the group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December 1990 to form a parallel government); several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA
International organization participation:ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador LINN MYAINGconsulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 332-9046telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Permanent Charge d'Affaires Carmen M. MARTINEZembassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546telephone: [95] (1) 379 880, 379 881FAX: [95] (1) 256 018
Flag description:red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containinga stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14 administrativedivisions
Economy Burma
Economy - overview:Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from abject ruralpoverty. The military regime took steps in the early 1990s toliberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "BurmeseWay to Socialism", but those efforts have since stalled. Burma hasbeen unable to achieve monetary or fiscal stability, resulting in aneconomy that suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances -including a steep inflation rate and an official exchange rate thatovervalues the Burmese kyat by more than 100 times the market rate.In addition, most overseas development assistance ceased after thejunta suppressed the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequentlyignored the results of the 1990 election. Burma is data poor, andofficial statistics are often dated and inaccurate. Publishedestimates of Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated becauseof the size of the black market and border trade - often estimatedto be one to two times the official economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $73.69 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 60% industry: 9% services: 31% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):53.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:23.7 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.1% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $7.9 billionexpenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7billion (FY96/97)
Industries:agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and woodproducts; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;pharmaceuticals; fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:6.139 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.4% hydro: 55.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:5.709 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:14,170 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:142.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:7.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:314.4 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish and fish products
Exports:$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Exports - partners:Thailand 31.4%, US 13%, India 7.4%, China 4.7% (2002)
Imports:$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, crude oil;food products
Imports - partners:China 27%, Singapore 19.5%, Thailand 12%, Malaysia 9.1%, Taiwan6.3%, South Korea 5.3%, Japan 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$6.1 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$99 million (FY98/99)
Currency:kyat (MMK)
Currency code:MMK
Exchange rates:kyats per US dollar - 6.64 (2002), 6.75 (2001), 6.52 (2000), 6.29(1999), 6.34 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:250,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,492 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: meets minimum requirements for local andintercity service for business and government; international serviceis gooddomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)