Irrigated land:50 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; dust storms
Environment - current issues:desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arableland, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation(damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resultingfrom oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oilrefineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources,groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategiclocation in Persian Gulf, which much of Western world's petroleummust transit to reach open ocean
People Bahrain
Population: 667,238 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.8% (male 97,294; female 94,930)15-64 years: 68% (male 266,351; female 187,473)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 10,807; female 10,383) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 28.7 yearsmale: 31.6 yearsfemale: 25.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:19.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.42 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.59 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.72 yearsmale: 71.28 yearsfemale: 76.24 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 1,000
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Bahraini(s)adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups:Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Religions:Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Languages:Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.1%male: 91.9%female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Bahrain
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrainconventional short form: Bahrainlocal short form: Al Bahraynformer: Dilmunlocal long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Government type:constitutional hereditary monarchy
Capital:Manama
Administrative divisions:12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, AlManamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqahash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah,Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrahnote: all municipalities administered from Manama
Independence:15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the dateof independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date ofindependence from British protection
Constitution:adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revisedconstitution calls for a partially elected legislature, aconstitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
Legal system:based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,born 21 October 1969)head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa(since NA 1971)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime ministerappointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 membersappointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directlyelected to serve four-year terms)elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (nextelection to be held NA 2006)note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral NationalAssembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter createdbicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25December 2002election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10
Judicial branch:High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demandingthe return of an elected National Assembly and an end tounemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamicfundamentalist groups are active
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL KHALIFA chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 273-300 FAX: [973] 272-594
Flag description:red with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoistside; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
Economy Bahrain
Economy - overview:In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60%of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Withits highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrainis home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf.Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil granted as aid. A largeshare of exports consists of petroleum products made from refiningimported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrialprojects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and thedepletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-termeconomic problems.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $9.91 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 35%services: 64% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:295,000note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national(1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.8 billionexpenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700million (2002 est.)
Industries:petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshorebanking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:6.257 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:5.819 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:62.28 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:46 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Exports:$5.8 billion (2002)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002)
Imports:$4.2 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 30.1%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 6.5%, UK 5.6%(2002)
Debt - external:$3.7 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each ofSaudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
Currency:Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Currency code:BHD
Exchange rates:Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38(2000), 0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bahrain
Telephones - main lines in use:152,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:58,543 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern systemdomestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital networkwith rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephonesinternational: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwaveradio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, andSaudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:338,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (1997)
Televisions:275,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:140,200 (2002)
Transportation Bahrain
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,261 km paved: 2,531 km unpaved: 730 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 234,599 GRT/336,528 DWTships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1,includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Kuwait 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 21524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Bahrain
Military branches:Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes AirDefense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards,National Guard
Military manpower - military age:15 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 222,242 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 121,739 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 6,126 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$526.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6.7% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Bahrain
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Baker Island
Introduction Baker Island
Background:The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guanodeposits were mined by US and British companies during the secondhalf of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt atcolonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby HowlandIsland - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the USDepartment of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middleof the west coast.
Geography Baker Island
Location:Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way betweenHawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 1.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 1.4 sq km
Area - comparative:about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4.8 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marinewildlife
People Baker Island
Population:uninhabitednote: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air andnaval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military duringWorld War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is byspecial-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only andgenerally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery andremnants of structures from early settlement are located near themiddle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and WildlifeService (July 2003 est.)
Government Baker Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of theInterior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Baker Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Baker Island
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boatlanding area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered withvegetation and unusable (2002)
Transportation - note:there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Military Baker Island
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the USCoast Guard
Transnational Issues Baker Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Bangladesh
Introduction Bangladesh
Background:Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistanseceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of thisextremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainyseason, hampering economic development.
Geography Bangladesh
Location:Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates:24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 144,000 sq kmland: 133,910 sq kmwater: 10,090 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries: total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:580 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 18 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (Marchto June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use: arable land: 60.7% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 36.69% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:38,440 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated duringthe summer monsoon season
Environment - current issues:many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivateflood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water;water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the useof commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturallyoccurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of fallingwater tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soildegradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowingfrom the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channelof the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually emptyinto the Bay of Bengal
People Bangladesh
Population:138,448,210 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34.1% (male 24,255,300; female 23,007,632)15-64 years: 62.5% (male 44,261,739; female 42,281,331)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,506,606; female 2,135,602) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 21.2 years male: 21.2 years female: 21.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.06% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:29.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 66.08 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 64.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 67.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.33 yearsmale: 61.46 yearsfemale: 61.2 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.17 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:650 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bangladeshi(s)adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups:Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)
Religions:Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages:Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 43.1%male: 53.9%female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
Government Bangladesh
Country name:conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladeshconventional short form: Bangladeshformer: East Pakistan
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Dhaka
Administrative divisions:5 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi; note -there may be one additional division named Sylhet
Independence:16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is thedate of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is knownas Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the stateof Bangladesh
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the dateof independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Dayand commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Constitution:4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended followingcoup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002);note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker GovernmentAmendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times whenParliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - atpresidential direction - to supervise the electionshead of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October2001)cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by thepresidentelections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-yearterm; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held sinceIajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn inon 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); followinglegislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the mostseats is usually appointed prime minister by the presidentelection results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commissionelected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote- NA%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats electedby popular vote from single territorial constituencies (theconstitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and abovethe 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members servefive-year termselections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October2006)election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliancepartners 46%, AL 42%; seats by party - BNP 191, AL 62, JI 18, JP(Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - theelection of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government alignedwith three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami OikyaJote, and Jatiya Party (Naziur)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed bythe president)
Political parties and leaders:Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party orBCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP[Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti FazlulHaq AMINI]; Jamaat-E-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; JatiyaParty or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW,SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE,UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMADconsulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 244-5366telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Ann PETERSembassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000telephone: [880] (2) 8824700 through 8824722FAX: [880] (2) 8823744
Flag description:green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieveindependence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, andsecondarily, the traditional color of Islam
Economy Bangladesh
Economy - overview:Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improveeconomic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor,overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP isgenerated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds ofBangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice asthe single-most-important product. Major impediments to growthinclude frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-ownedenterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing laborforce that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploitingenergy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, andslow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalledin many instances by political infighting and corruption at alllevels of government. Progress also has been blocked by oppositionfrom the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vestedinterest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister KhaledaZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms,but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in keyareas.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $238.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 19% services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 35.6% (FY 95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.6 (FY 95/96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:64.1 millionnote: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billionin 1998-99 (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 63%, services 26%, industry 11% (FY 95/96)
Unemployment rate:40% (includes underemployment) (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.9 billionexpenditures: $6.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY99/00 est.)
Industries:cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint,cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar
Industrial production growth rate:1.8% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:15.33 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.7% hydro: 6.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:3,581 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:71,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:28.45 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:150.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
Exports: $6.2 billion (2002)
Exports - commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood (2001)
Exports - partners:US 27.6%, Germany 10.4%, UK 9.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 4% (2002)
Imports:$8.5 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)
Imports - partners:India 14.6%, China 11.6%, Singapore 11.5%, Japan 7.6%, Hong Kong5.4%, South Korea 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$16.5 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$1.575 billion (2000 est.)
Currency:taka (BDT)
Currency code:BDT
Exchange rates:taka per US dollar - 57.89 (2002), 55.81 (2001), 52.14 (2000),49.09 (1999), 46.91 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Bangladesh
Telephones - main lines in use:500,000 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:283,000 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern countrydomestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systemsinclude VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and somefiber-optic cable in citiesinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean);international radiotelephone communications and landline service toneighboring countries (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:6.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:15 (1999)
Televisions:770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (2000)
Internet users:150,000 (2002)
Transportation Bangladesh
Railways:total: 2,706 kmbroad gauge: 884 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 207,486 kmpaved: 19,773 kmunpaved: 187,713 km (1999)
Waterways:up to 8,046 km depending on seasonnote: includes 3,058 km main cargo routes
Pipelines:gas 2,016 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj
Merchant marine:total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 314,437 GRT/436,465 DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 23, container 11, passenger 1,petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Bangladesh
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, paramilitary forces (includesBangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Village Defense Parties, ArmedPolice Battalions, National Cadet Corps)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 38,436,912 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 22,807,339 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$559 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.8% (FY96)
Transnational Issues Bangladesh
Disputes - international:discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section ofriver boundary, demarcate and fence the porous land boundary,exchange 162 miniscule enclaves, allocate divided villages, and stopillegal cross-border trade and violence; Bangladesh protests India'sattempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary;dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty Island in the Bayof Bengal prevents maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslimrefugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources
Illicit drugs:transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Barbados
Introduction Barbados
Background:The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the islanduntil 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavilydependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the20th century. The gradual introduction of social and politicalreforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from theUK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed thesugar industry in economic importance.
Geography Barbados
Location:Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast ofVenezuela
Geographic coordinates:13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 431 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 431 sq km
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:97 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 37.21% permanent crops: 2.33% other: 60.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography - note: easternmost Caribbean island
People Barbados
Population:277,264 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.2% (male 29,621; female 29,207)15-64 years: 70% (male 94,840; female 99,230)65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,355; female 15,011) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 33.3 yearsmale: 32.2 yearsfemale: 34.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.38% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:13.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.02 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.01 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.72 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 14.39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.84 yearsmale: 69.56 yearsfemale: 74.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:250 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Religions:Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Languages:English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 97.4%male: 98%female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
Government Barbados
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Barbados
Government type:parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within theCommonwealth
Capital:Bridgetown
Administrative divisions:11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, SaintJames, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, SaintPeter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown maybe given parish status
Independence:30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution:30 November 1966
Legal system:English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS(since 1 June 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May2003)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; theprime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member bodyappointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to beheld by May 2008)election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the ServiceCommissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
Political parties and leaders:Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Partyor DLP [Clyde Mascoll]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union[David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY];Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KINGconsulate(s): Los Angelesconsulate(s) general: Miami and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 332-7467telephone: [1] (202) 339-9201chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Earl N. PHILLIPS, Jr.embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetownmailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and bluewith the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; thetrident head represents independence and a break with the past (thecolonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
Economy Barbados
Economy - overview:Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcanecultivation and related activities, but production in recent yearshas diversified into manufacturing and tourism. Offshore finance andinformation services are important foreign exchange earners, andthere is also a light-manufacturing sector. The government continuesits efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreigninvestment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. Theeconomy contracted in 2002 mainly due to a 3% decline in tourism.Growth should be positive in 2003, the precise level largelydependent on economic conditions in the US and Europe.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $4.153 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-2.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6%industry: 16%services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:128,500 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:10% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $847 million (including grants)expenditures: $886 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:-3.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:780 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:725.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.254 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:70.79 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Exports:$227 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,electrical components
Exports - partners:US 14.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, UK 10.6%, Jamaica 6.2%, SaintLucia 4.7% (2002)
Imports:$987 million (2002)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:US 41.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, UK 7.3%, Japan 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$692 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$9.1 million (1995)
Currency:Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Currency code:BBD
Exchange rates:Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2(1999), 2 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use:108,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,013 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: island-wide automatic telephone systeminternational: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:237,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)
Televisions:76,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bb
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):19 (2000)
Internet users:6,000 (2000)
Transportation Barbados
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,793 km paved: 1,719 km unpaved: 74 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Merchant marine:total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 284,222 GRT/439,810 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Australia 1, The Bahamas 1, Canada 4, Germany 1, Greece2, Hong Kong 7, Norway 7, UK 18 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 1,petroleum tanker 2
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Barbados
Military branches:Royal Barbados Defense Force (including Ground Forces and CoastGuard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 77,862 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 53,282 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Barbados
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound forEurope and the US; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Bassas da India
Introduction Bassas da India
Background:This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash athigh tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under theadministration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.
Geography Bassas da India
Location:Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, aboutone-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 0.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 0.2 sq km
Area - comparative:about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:35.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical
Terrain:volcanic rock
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tideand surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:NA