Currency code:BMD
Exchange rates:Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to theUS dollar)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use:56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:37,873 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: gooddomestic: modern, fully automatic telephone systeminternational: country code - 1-441; 3 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (2003)
Televisions:66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bm
Internet hosts:5,161 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):20 (2000)
Internet users:34,500 (2003)
Transportation Bermuda
Highways:total: 450 kmpaved: 450 kmnote: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors:Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard
Merchant marine:total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWTforeign-owned: Croatia 5, Germany 2, Greece 21, Hong Kong 9,Indonesia 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 33, UnitedStates 12registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 25, cargo 4, container 17, liquefied gas 9, passenger6, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 10,short-sea/passenger 3
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bermuda
Military branches:Bermuda Regiment
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.03 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Bermuda
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bhutan
Introduction Bhutan
Background:In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, underwhich Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for cedingsome border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the Britishagreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutanallowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumedby independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formalIndo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by theBritish, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, anddefined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Arefugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved;90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of theHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.
Geography Bhutan
Location:Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 47,000 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 47,000 sq km
Area - comparative:about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summersin central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrain:mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use: arable land: 3.09% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.48% (2001)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country'sname which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequentlandslides during the rainy season
Environment - current issues:soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastessigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controlsseveral key Himalayan mountain passes
People Bhutan
Population: 2,185,569 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39.3% (male 445,548; female 414,338)15-64 years: 56.6% (male 637,637; female 600,253)65 years and over: 4% (male 44,298; female 43,495) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 20.2 yearsmale: 20 yearsfemale: 20.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.12% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:34.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 102.56 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 53.99 yearsmale: 54.27 yearsfemale: 53.68 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.87 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups:Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one ofseveral Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religions:Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages:Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects,Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 42.2%male: 56.2%female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Government Bhutan
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutanconventional short form: Bhutan
Government type:monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital:Thimphu
Administrative divisions:18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel,Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu,Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrangnote: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse
Independence:8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday:National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17December (1907)
Constitution:no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the Kingcommissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004presented a draft to the Council of Ministers
Legal system:based on Indian law and English common law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law
Executive branch:chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reformsin July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove themonarch with two-thirds votehead of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers LyonpoYeshey ZIMBA (since 20 August 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by themonarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed,five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council(Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 electedfrom village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35are designated by the monarch to represent government and othersecular interests; members serve three-year terms)elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be heldNA 2005)election results: NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointedby the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militantantigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front forDemocracy (exiled)
International organization participation:AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Flag description:divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the uppertriangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered alongthe dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away fromthe hoist side
Economy Bhutan
Economy - overview:The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, isbased on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihoodfor more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely ofsubsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominatethe terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructuredifficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India'sthrough strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India'sfinancial assistance. The industrial sector is technologicallybackward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Mostdevelopment projects, such as road construction, rely on Indianmigrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction fortourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environmentprograms are underway with support from multilateral developmentorganizations. Each economic program takes into account thegovernment's desire to protect the country's environment andcultural traditions. For example, the government in its cautiousexpansion of the tourist sector encourages the visits of upscale,environmentally conscientious visitors. Detailed controls anduncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 45%industry: 10%services: 45% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:NAnote: massive lack of skilled labor (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5%
Unemployment rate:NA
Budget:revenues: $146 millionnote: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths ofBhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Industries:cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate:9.3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:1.896 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:379.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:16 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners:Bangladesh 60.5%, US 11.7%, Malaysia 5.7% (2003)
Imports:$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics,rice
Imports - partners:Japan 36.6%, Austria 14.2%, Sweden 8.3%, China 7.5%, Thailand 6%,Bangladesh 6%, Germany 5.5%, Italy 4% (2003)
Debt - external:$245 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:substantial aid from India and other nations
Currency:ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:BTN; INR
Exchange rates:ngultrum per US dollar - 46.5806 (2003), 48.6103 (2002), 47.1864(2001), 44.9416 (2000), 43.0554 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Bhutan
Telephones - main lines in use:25,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with fewtelephones in useinternational: country code - 975; international telephone andtelegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earthstation was planned (1990)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:0 (1997)
Televisions:11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bt
Internet hosts:985 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:15,000 (2003)
Transportation Bhutan
Highways: total: 3,690 km paved: 2,240 km unpaved: 1,450 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bhutan
Military branches:Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard, National Militia
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 544,560 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 290,843 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 23,379 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$11.2 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bhutan
Disputes - international:approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal, 90% ofwhom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugeescamps, place decades-long strains on Nepal
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bolivia
Introduction Bolivia
Background:Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke awayfrom Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history hasconsisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups.Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, butleaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, socialunrest, and drug production. Current goals include attractingforeign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolvingdisputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts, andwaging an anticorruption campaign.
Geography Bolivia
Location:Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates:17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,098,580 sq kmwater: 14,190 sq kmland: 1,084,390 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:total: 6,743 kmborder countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km,Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Terrain:rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills,lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 mhighest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Natural resources:tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver,iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.67% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 97.54% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,280 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding in the northeast (March-April)
Environment - current issues:the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and theinternational demand for tropical timber are contributing todeforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivationmethods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification;loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies usedfor drinking and irrigation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography - note:landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highestnavigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People Bolivia
Population:8,724,156 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.4% (male 1,619,950; female 1,557,883)15-64 years: 59.1% (male 2,522,086; female 2,631,944)65 years and over: 4.5% (male 175,193; female 217,100) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 21.1 yearsmale: 20.4 yearsfemale: 21.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.56% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:24.65 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 50.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 58.23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.14 yearsmale: 62.54 yearsfemale: 67.86 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.08 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:4,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bolivian(s)adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic groups:Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%,Aymara 25%, white 15%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Languages:Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 87.2%male: 93.1%female: 81.6% (2003 est.)
Government Bolivia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Boliviaconventional short form: Bolivialocal short form: Bolivialocal long form: Republica de Bolivia
Government type:republic
Capital:La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat ofjudiciary)
Administrative divisions:9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca,Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence:6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution:2 February 1967; revised in August 1994
Legal system:based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years ofage, universal and compulsory (single)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (since 17October 2003); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is boththe chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (since 17October 2003); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is boththe chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 30 June 2002(next to be held NA June 2007)election results: as a result of no candidate winning a majority inthe 30 June 2002 election, Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamante waschosen president by Congress; Congressional votes - Gonzalo SANCHEZDE LOZADA Bustamante 84, Evo MORALES 43; note - following theresignation of the elected president on 17 October 2003, VicePresident Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert assumed the presidency
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists ofChamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members areelected by proportional representation from party lists to servefive-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130seats; 68 are directly elected from their districts and 62 areelected by proportional representation from party lists to servefive-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held30 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - MNR 11, MAS 8, MIR 5, NFR 2, other 1; Chamberof Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MNR36, MAS 27, MIR 26, NFR 25, others 16
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year termsby National Congress); District Courts (one in each department);provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)
Political parties and leaders:Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic SolidarityUnion or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [FranzBARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA [FreddyZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZZamora]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Evo MORALES]; MovementWithout Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; Nationalist DemocraticAction or ADN [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; NationalistRevolutionary Movement or MNR [leader NA]; New Republican Force orNFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous Movement or MIP[Felipe QUISPE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jeres JUSTINIANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Cocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions; SoleConfederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [RomanLOAYZA]
International organization participation:CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS,ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime APARICIO Oteroconsulate(s): Washington, DCconsulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 328-3712telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David N. GREENLEE embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032 telephone: [591] (2) 2430120, 2430251 FAX: [591] (2) 2433900
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green withthe coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag ofGhana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in theyellow band
Economy Bolivia
Economy - overview:Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin Americancountries, made considerable progress in the 1990s toward thedevelopment of a market-oriented economy. Successes under PresidentSANCHEZ DE LOZADA (1993-97) included the signing of a free tradeagreement with Mexico and becoming an associate member of theSouthern Cone Common Market (Mercosur), as well as the privatizationof the state airline, telephone company, railroad, electric powercompany, and oil company. Growth slowed in 1999, in part due totight government budget policies, which limited neededappropriations for anti-poverty programs, and the fallout from theAsian financial crisis. In 2000, major civil disturbances held downgrowth to 2.5%. Bolivia's GDP failed to grow in 2001 due to theglobal slowdown and laggard domestic activity. Growth picked upslightly in 2002, but the first quarter of 2003 saw extensive civilriots and looting and loss of confidence in the government. Boliviawill remain highly dependent on foreign aid unless and until it candevelop its substantial natural resources.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $21.01 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 33.2% services: 51.9% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):12.4% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:70% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 32% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44.7 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.1 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:11.7%note: widespread underemployment (2003)
Budget:revenues: $2.346 billionexpenditures: $2.957 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003)
Agriculture - products:soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes;timber
Industries:mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco,handicrafts, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:3.9% (1998)
Electricity - production:3.901 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.634 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:9 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:44,340 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:458.8 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:4.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:2.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:727.2 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$50 million (2003)
Exports:$1.495 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:soybeans, natural gas, zinc, gold, wood (2000)
Exports - partners:Brazil 37%, Venezuela 12.9%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.5%, Peru 5.1%(2003)
Imports:$1.505 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, raw materials and semi-manufactures, chemicals,petroleum, food
Imports - partners:Brazil 25.2%, Argentina 22.3%, US 12%, Chile 9.3%, Peru 5.8% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.096 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$5.332 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$588 million (1997)
Currency:boliviano (BOB)
Currency code:BOB
Exchange rates:bolivianos per US dollar - 7.6592 (2003), 7.17 (2002), 6.6069(2001), 6.1835 (2000), 5.8124 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bolivia
Telephones - main lines in use:600,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,401,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties;most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobilecellular telephone use expanding rapidlydomestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employsdigital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-opticcable; mobile cellular systems are being expandedinternational: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)
Radios:5.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:48 (1997)
Televisions:900,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bo
Internet hosts:7,080 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2000)
Internet users:270,000 (2002)
Transportation Bolivia
Railways: total: 3,519 km narrow gauge: 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 53,790 kmpaved: 3,496 km (including 13 km of expressways)unpaved: 50,294 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,457 km; refinedproducts 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at theBolivia/Brazil border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges inmaritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
Merchant marine:total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 413,407 GRT/699,901 DWTby type: bulk 3, cargo 26, chemical tanker 4, container 3, livestockcarrier 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker10, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 3,specialized tanker 2registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Argentina 1, British Virgin Islands 1, Cambodia 1,China 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Eritrea 1, Germany 2, Greece 1, HongKong 1, Indonesia 1, Iran 1, Italy 2, Latvia 2, Panama 3, Romania 1,Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 3, Syria 1, Turkey 1, United Kingdom 1,United States 3, Yemen 2
Airports:1,067 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,049 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 60 914 to 1,523 m: 207 under 914 m: 778 (2004 est.)
Military Bolivia
Military branches:Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval, includes Marines),Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; one estimate holds that 40% of the armed forces are under the age of 18, with 50% of those under the age of 16; conscript tour of duty - 12 months (2002)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,175,384 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,417,804 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 98,155 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$127 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bolivia
Disputes - international:has reactivated its claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded toChile in 1884, to secure sovereign maritime access for Boliviannatural gas
Illicit drugs:world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru)with an estimated 28,450 hectares under cultivation in June 2003, a23% increase from June 2002; intermediate coca products and cocaineexported mostly to or through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile toEuropean and US drug markets; eradication and alternative cropprograms under the MESA administration have been unable to keep pacewith farmers' attempts to increase cultivation; money-launderingactivity related to narcotics trade, especially along the borderswith Brazil and Paraguay
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction Bosnia and Herzegovina
Background:Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October1991, was followed by a declaration of independence from the formerYugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnicSerbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia andMontenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioningthe republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to forma "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced thenumber of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreementcreating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialeda peace agreement that brought to a halt three years of interethniccivil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December1995). The Dayton Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina'sinternational boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic anddemocratic government. This national government was charged withconducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognizedwas a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughlyequal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). TheFederation and RS governments were charged with overseeing mostgovernment functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR)was established to oversee the implementation of the civilianaspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led internationalpeacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia toimplement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFORwas succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR)whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Unionpeacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; theirmission was to maintain peace and stability throughout the country.
Geography Bosnia and Herzegovina
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
Geographic coordinates:44 00 N, 18 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 51,129 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 51,129 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,459 km border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km
Coastline:20 km
Maritime claims:No data available
Climate:hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short,cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters alongcoast
Terrain:mountains and valleys
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Maglic 2,386 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt,manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.6% permanent crops: 2.96% other: 83.44% (2001)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing ofurban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction ofinfrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country isdivided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of theterritory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguousto Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro (Montenegro), and traditionallyhas been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and anethnic Serb majority in the east
People Bosnia and Herzegovina
Population:4,007,608 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.9% (male 389,062; female 368,721)15-64 years: 70.6% (male 1,447,725; female 1,379,729)65 years and over: 10.5% (male 180,801; female 241,570) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 35.9 yearsmale: 35.5 yearsfemale: 36.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.45% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:12.56 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.33 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 21.88 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 24.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.57 yearsmale: 69.82 yearsfemale: 75.51 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.71 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic groups:Serb 37.1%, Bosniak 48%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000)note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoidconfusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam
Religions:Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%
Languages:Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovinalocal long form: noneformer: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SocialistRepublic of Bosnia and Herzegovinalocal short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
Government type:emerging federal democratic republic
Capital:Sarajevo
Administrative divisions:2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationallysupervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, theBosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosnai Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note -Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an administrativeunit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the districtremains under international supervision
Independence:1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence wascompleted 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)
National holiday:National Day, 25 November (1943)
Constitution:the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a newconstitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has itsown constitution
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Borislav PARAVAC(chairman since 28 October 2004; presidency member since 10 April2003 - Serb) other members of the three-member rotating (every eightmonths) presidency: Dragan COVIC (since 5 October 2002 - Croat) andSulejman TIHIC (since 5 October 2002 - Bosniak); note - MirkoSAROVIC resigned 2 April 2003elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, oneCroat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term;the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or shewas the incumbent chairman at the time of the election, but thechairmanship rotates every eight months; election last held 5October 2002 (next to be held NA 2006); the chairman of the Councilof Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by theNational House of Representativeshead of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers AdnanTERZIC (since 20 December 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman;approved by the National House of Representativeselection results: percent of vote - Mirko SAROVIC with 35.5% of theSerb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for thefirst eight months; Dragan COVIC received 61.5% of the Croat vote;Sulejman TIHIC received 37% of the Bosniak votenote: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: NikoLOZANCIC (since 27 January 2003); Vice Presidents Sahbaz DZIHANOVIC(since NA 2003) and Desnica RADIVOJEVIC (since NA 2003); Presidentof the Republika Srpska: Dragan CAVIC (since 28 November 2002)
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of theNational House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats -elected by proportional representation, 28 seats allocated from theFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats from the RepublikaSrpska; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation'sHouse of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's NationalAssembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election lawspecifies four-year terms for the state and first-orderadministrative division entity legislatureselection results: National House of Representatives - percent ofvote by party/coalition - SDA 21.9%, SDS 14.0%, SBiH 10.5%, SDP10.4%, SNSD 9.8%, HDZ 9.5%, PDP 4.6%, others 19.3%; seats byparty/coalition - SDA 10, SDS 5, SBiH 6, SDP 4, SNSD 3, HDZ 5, PDP2, others 7; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition -NA; seats by party/coalition - NAelections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 5October 2002 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Peoples - lastconstituted NA January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature thatconsists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 32, HDZ-BiH 16, SDP 15,SBiH 15, other 20; and a House of Peoples (60 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30Croat); last constituted December 2002; the Republika Srpska has aNational Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next tobe held in the fall of 2006); percent of vote by party - NA; seatsby party/coalition - SDS 26, SNSD 19, PDP 9, SDA 6, SRS 4, SPRS 3,DNZ 3, SBiH 4, SDP 3, others 6; as a result of the 2002constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Councilof Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska NationalAssembly; each constituent nation and "others" will have eightdelegates
Judicial branch:BiH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members: four membersare selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House ofRepresentatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's NationalAssembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of theEuropean Court of Human Rights); BiH State Court (consists of ninejudges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and Criminal- having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law andappellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities; note -a War Crimes Chamber may be added at a future date)note: the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has anumber of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in theFederation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpskahas five municipal courts
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK];Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party orGDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia andHerzegovina or HDZ-BH [Barisa COLAK]; Croat Christian DemocraticUnion of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Mijo IVANIC-LONIC]; CroatParty of Rights or HSP [Zdravko HRISTIC]; Croat Peasants Party orHSS [Marko TADIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ [Fikret ABDIC];Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croat Initiativeor NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBiH[Safet HALILOVIC]; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [SulejmanTIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; SerbDemocratic Party or SDS [Dragan CAVIC - acting]; Serb Radical Partyof the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb RadicalParty-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; SocialDemocratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; SocialDemocratic Union or SDU [Miro LAZOVIC]; Socialist Party of RepublikaSrpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:BIS, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW,OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Igor DAVIDOVICchancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502consulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 337-1500
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas L. McELHANEY embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: use street address telephone: [387] (33) 445-700 FAX: [387] (33) 659-722 branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar
Flag description:a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellowisosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; theremainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointedwhite stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuseof the triangle
Economy Bosnia and Herzegovina
Economy - overview:Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to The Former Yugoslav Republicof Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation.Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are smalland inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer offood. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of thesocialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed thedevelopment of military industries in the republic with the resultthat Bosnia hosted a number of Yugoslavia's defense plants. Theinterethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80%from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace inplace, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from alow base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag inoutput was made up in 2003-04. National-level statistics arelimited. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share ofblack market activity. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark orBAM)- the national currency introduced in 1998 - is now pegged tothe euro, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina hasdramatically increased its reserve holdings. Implementation ofprivatization, however, has been slow, and local entities onlyreluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reformaccelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus wereshut down. The country receives substantial amounts ofreconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from theinternational community but will have to prepare for an era ofdeclining assistance.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $24.31 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 13%industry: 40.9%services: 46.1% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.9% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.026 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:40% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.271 billionexpenditures: $3.242 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicleassembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank andaircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (2001)
Industrial production growth rate:5.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:9.979 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:8.116 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:2.569 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1.405 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)