Oil - consumption:20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-2.195 billion (2003)
Exports:$1.28 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:metals, clothing, wood products
Exports - partners:Italy 28.7%, Croatia 18.3%, Germany 17.1%, Austria 9.2%, Slovenia7.1% (2003)
Imports:$4.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Croatia 24.5%, Slovenia 14.7%, Germany 13.7%, Italy 12.2%, Hungary7.8%, Austria 6.7% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.796 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$3.5 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$650 million (2001 est.)
Currency:marka (BAM)
Currency code:BAM
Exchange rates:marka per US dollar - 1.7329 (2003), 1.7329 (2002), 2.1857 (2001),2.1244 (2000), 1.8371 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephones - main lines in use:938,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.05 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone and telegraph network needsmodernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average ascontrasted with services in other former Yugoslav republicsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.ba
Internet hosts:6,994 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2002)
Transportation Bosnia and Herzegovina
Railways:total: 1,021 km (795 km electrified)standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 21,846 kmpaved: 11,424 kmunpaved: 10,422 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limitedbecause of no agreement with neighboring countries (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (allinland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje
Merchant marine:none
Airports:27 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 19under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)1,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 7
Heliports:5 (2003 est.)
Military Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military branches:VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commandswithin the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces aresubordinate commands within the Army)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of age in times of war; 18 years of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years of age for voluntary military service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; by law, military obligations cover all healthy men between the ages of 18 and 60, and all women between the ages of 18 and 55; service obligation is 4 months (July 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,133,847 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 898,451 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 30,130 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$234.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bosnia and Herzegovina
Disputes - international:Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro have delimitedmost of their boundary, but sections along the Drina River remain indispute; discussions continue with Croatia on problem sectionsaround Kostajnica on the Una River and villages at the base of MountPljesevica
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 327,200 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in1992-1995 war) (2004)
Illicit drugs:minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes toWestern Europe; remains highly vulnerable to money launderingactivity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weaklaw enforcement and instances of corruption
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@Botswana
Introduction Botswana
Background:Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adoptedits new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades ofuninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, andsignificant capital investment have created one of the most dynamiceconomies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector dueto the country's conservation practices and extensive naturepreserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates ofHIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive andcomprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Geography Botswana
Location:Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 600,370 sq kmwater: 15,000 sq kmland: 585,370 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 4,013 kmborder countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe813 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain:predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert insouthwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 mhighest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural resources:diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore,silver
Land use: arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34% (2001)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west,carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscurevisibility
Environment - current issues:overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
People Botswana
Population:1,561,973note: 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 (July2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39.2% (male 310,282; female 302,452)15-64 years: 56.2% (male 424,613; female 452,801)65 years and over: 4.6% (male 30,896; female 40,929) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 19.2 yearsmale: 18.5 yearsfemale: 19.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.89% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:24.71 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:33.63 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 69.98 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 70.96 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 30.76 yearsmale: 30.99 yearsfemale: 30.53 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.17 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:37.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:350,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:33,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malariaoverall degree of risk: high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups:Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, includingKgalagadi and white 7%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 85%, Christian 15%
Languages:English (official), Setswana
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 79.8%male: 76.9%female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Government Botswana
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Botswanaconventional short form: Botswanaformer: Bechuanaland
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:Gaborone
Administrative divisions:9 districts and four town councils*; Central, Francistown*,Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*,Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Independence:30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Constitution:March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial reviewlimited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) andVice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) andVice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be heldNA October 2004); vice president appointed by the presidentelection results: Festus MOGAE elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - 54.3%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largelyadvisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eightprincipal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selectedby the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (44 seats, 40members are directly elected by popular vote and 4 are appointed bythe majority party; members serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004(next to be held NA October 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1
Judicial branch:High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in eachdistrict)
Political parties and leaders:Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Seretse Ian KHAMA]; BotswanaNational Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress Party orBCP [Mokgweetsi KGOSIPULA]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM[Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form theBAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM partiesare: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO], theIndependence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO], and the BotswanaProgressive Union [D. K. KWELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM,OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOAchancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 353982 FAX: [267] 312782
Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
Economy Botswana
Economy - overview:Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest growth ratessince independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and soundmanagement, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorestcountries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capitaGDP of $8,800 in 2003. Two major investment services rank Botswanaas the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much ofthe expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDPand for nine-tenths of export earnings. Tourism, subsistencefarming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside,the government must deal with high rates of unemployment andpoverty. Unemployment officially is 21%, but unofficial estimatesplace it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the highest inthe world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains.Long-term prospects are overshadowed by the expected leveling off indiamond mining production.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $14.2 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 48.7% (including 36% mining) services: 52% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:47% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:40% (official rate is 21%) (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.263 billionexpenditures: $3.283 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestockprocessing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:7.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:409.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.564 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$539 million (2003)
Exports:$2.544 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Exports - partners:European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern AfricanCustoms Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)
Imports:$1.753 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment,textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products,metal and metal products
Imports - partners:Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4%(2000)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$5.25 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$392 million (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$73 million (1995)
Currency:pula (BWP)
Currency code:BWP
Exchange rates:pulas per US dollar - 4.9499 (2003), 6.3278 (2002), 5.8412 (2001),5.1018 (2000), 4.6244 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Botswana
Telephones - main lines in use:142,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:435,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth ofmobile cellular service and participation in regional developmentdomestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relaylinks, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobilecellular service is growing fastinternational: country code - 267; two international exchanges;digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:252,720 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bw
Internet hosts:1,920 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2001)
Internet users:60,000 (2002)
Transportation Botswana
Railways: total: 888 km narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 10,217 km paved: 5,619 km unpaved: 4,598 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:85 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 751,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 54under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)
Military Botswana
Military branches:Botswana Defense Force (including an Air Wing)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 381,801 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 202,176 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 20,651 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$298.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Botswana
Disputes - international:established a commission with Namibia to resolve small residualdisputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlandsalong the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents protestNamibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam atPopavalle (Popa Falls); Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabweboundary convergence is not clearly defined or delimited
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bouvet Island
Introduction Bouvet Island
Background:This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered byglaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 bya French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim wasmade until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UKwaived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the islandthe previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacentterritorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977,Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.
Geography Bouvet Island
Location:island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of GoodHope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 58.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 58.5 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:29.6 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate:antarctic
Terrain:volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Olav Peak 935 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
People Bouvet Island
Population: uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
Government Bouvet Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bouvet Island
Dependency status:territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of theMinistry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Legal system:the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of Norway is used
Economy Bouvet Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications Bouvet Island
Internet country code:.bv
Communications - note:automatic meteorological station
Transportation Bouvet Island
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bouvet Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Bouvet Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Brazil
Introduction Brazil
Background:Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil becamean independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populouscountry in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a centuryof military intervention in the governance of the country when in1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers.Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth anddevelopment of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and alarge labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic powerand a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains apressing problem.
Geography Brazil
Location:Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates:10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 8,511,965 sq kmland: 8,456,510 sq kmnote: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e SaoPaulowater: 55,455 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:total: 14,691 kmborder countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline:7,491 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Natural resources:bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum,tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use: arable land: 6.96% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 92.15% (2001)
Irrigated land:26,560 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost insouth
Environment - current issues:deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers amultitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; thereis a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution inRio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; landdegradation and water pollution caused by improper miningactivities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:largest country in South America; shares common boundaries withevery South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People Brazil
Population:184,101,109note: Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported apopulation of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower thanprojections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the impliedunderenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for thiscountry explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortalitydue to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infantmortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, andchanges in the distribution of population by age and sex than wouldotherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.6% (male 24,915,902; female 23,966,713)15-64 years: 67.6% (male 61,739,012; female 62,770,480)65 years and over: 5.8% (male 4,389,659; female 6,319,343) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 27.4 years male: 26.7 years female: 28.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.11% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:17.25 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.14 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.03 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 26.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 34.47 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.41 yearsmale: 67.45 yearsfemale: 75.57 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.97 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:660,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:15,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Brazilian(s)adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups:white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%,mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab,Amerindian) 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%
Languages:Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.4%male: 86.1%female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
Government Brazil
Country name:conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazilconventional short form: Brazillocal short form: Brasillocal long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
Government type:federative republic
Capital:Brasilia
Administrative divisions:26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*(distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara,Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso,Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco,Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul,Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence:7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday:Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution:5 October 1988
Legal system:based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsoryover 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do notvote
Executive branch:chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentelection results: in runoff election 27 October 2002, Luiz InacioLULA DA SILVA (PT) was elected with 61.3% of the vote; Jose SERRA(PSDB) 38.7%elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 October2002 (next to be held 1 October 2006, with a runoff on 29 October2006 if necessary); runoff election held 27 October 2002cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidenthead of government: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of theFederal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from eachstate and federal district elected according to the principle ofmajority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after afour-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-yearperiod) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513seats; members are elected by proportional representation to servefour-year terms)election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3,PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PP49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5,other 11; note - many congressmen have changed party affiliationsince the most recent electionelections: Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirdsof the Senate (next to be held NA October 2006 for one-third of theSenate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to beheld NA October 2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed for life bythe president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal ofJustice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life);note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federalemployees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70
Political parties and leaders:Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy MichelTEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Federal Deputy RobertoJEFFERSON]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [SenatorEduardo AZAREDO]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal DeputyMiguel ARRAES]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELO];Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos LUPI]; Green Party or PV [JoseLuiz de Franca PENNA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Senator JorgeBORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTANeto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal DeputyDr. Eneas CARNEIRO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Federal DeputyRoberto FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Federal Deputy PedroCORREA]; Worker's Party or PT [Jose GENOINO]; Social Christian Partyor PSC [Vitor Jorge ABDALA NOSSEIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Landless Worker's Movement; large farmers' associations; laborunions and federations; religious groups including evangelicalchristian churches and the Catholic Church
International organization participation:AfDB, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH,NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN SecurityCouncil (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto ABDENUR FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John DANILOVICH embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: [55] (61) 312-7000 FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Recife
Flag description:green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a bluecelestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each stateand the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the nightsky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with themotto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy Brazil
Economy - overview:Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining,manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs thatof all other South American countries and is expanding its presencein world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economygrew, on average, only 1.1% per year, as the country absorbed aseries of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazilabsorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to theresiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put inplace by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LulaDA SILVA. The three pillars of the economic program are a floatingexchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscalpolicy, which have been reinforced by a series of IMF programs. Thecurrency depreciated sharply in 2001 and 2002, which contributed toa dramatic current account adjustment: in 2003, Brazil ran a recordtrade surplus and recorded the first current account surplus since1992. While economic management has been good, there remainimportant economic vulnerabilities. The most significant aredebt-related: the government's largely domestic debt increasedsteadily from 1994 to 2003, straining government finances, whileBrazil's foreign debt (a mix of private and public debt) is large inrelation to Brazil's modest (but growing) export base. Anotherchallenge is maintaining economic growth over a period of time togenerate employment and make the government debt burden moremanageable.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.375 trillion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.2% industry: 38.7% services: 51.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:22% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 48% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:60.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):14.7% (2003)
Labor force:82.59 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 23%, industry 24%, services 53%
Unemployment rate:12.3% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $147.2 billionexpenditures: $172.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:58.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Industries:textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel,aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:321.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:335.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:37.19 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2001)
Oil - production:1.561 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.199 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:8.507 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:221.7 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$3.52 billion (2003)
Exports:$73.28 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:US 23%, Argentina 6.1%, China 6%, Netherlands 5.8%, Germany 4.2%(2003)
Imports:$48.25 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products,oil
Imports - partners:US 20%, Argentina 9.8%, Germany 8.7%, Japan 5.2%, China 4.4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$49.3 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$214.9 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$30 billion IMF disbursement (2002)
Currency:real (BRL)
Currency code:BRL
Exchange rates:reals per US dollar - 3.0771 (2003), 2.9208 (2002), 2.3577 (2001),1.8301 (2000), 1.8147 (1999)note: from October 1994 through 14 January 1999, the official ratewas determined by a managed float; since 15 January 1999, theofficial rate floats independently with respect to the US dollar
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:38.81 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:46,373,300 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: good working systemdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domesticsatellite system with 64 earth stationsinternational: country code - 55; 3 coaxial submarine cables;satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat(Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system toMercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AMstations) (1999)
Radios:71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:138 (1997)
Televisions:36.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.br
Internet hosts:3,163,349 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:14.3 million (2002)
Transportation Brazil
Railways:total: 29,412 km (1,610 km electrified)broad gauge: 4,907 km 1.600-m gauge (942 km electrified)standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gaugedual gauge: 396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 kmelectrified) (2003)narrow gauge: 23,915 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)
Highways: total: 1,724,929 km paved: 94,871 km unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
Waterways:50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 244 km; gas 10,739 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km;oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Belem, Fortaleza, Ilheus, Imbituba, Manaus, Paranagua, PortoAlegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Salvador, Santos, Vitoria
Merchant marine:total: 151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,961,431 GRT/4,725,267 DWTby type: bulk 29, cargo 22, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil6, container 12, liquefied gas 12, multi-functional large loadcarrier 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off8, short-sea/passenger 1foreign-owned: Chile 2, Germany 7, Monaco 9, Panama 1, Spain 7registered in other countries: 11 (2004 est.)
Airports:3,803 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 698 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 461 under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 158
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3,438 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 78 under 914 m: 1,780 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 1,579
Heliports: 417 (2003 est.)
Military Brazil
Military branches:Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (including Naval Air and Marines),Brazilian Air Force (FAB)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript serviceobligation - 12 months; 17 years of age for voluntary service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 52,100,042 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 34,799,098 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 1,788,495 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$10,439.4 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (2003)
Transnational Issues Brazil
Disputes - international:unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay bordersis locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking,and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested disputewith Uruguay over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim andInvernada boundary streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazonregion, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scaleeradication program to control cannabis; important transshipmentcountry for Bolivian, Colombian and Peruvian cocaine headed forEurope and the US; also used by traffickers as a way station fornarcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge indrug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market forColombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcoticsproceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financialsystem; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@British Indian Ocean Territory
Introduction British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of theBritish Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred tothe Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently,BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising theChagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands,Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All ofthe remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers,earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily toMauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigrationorder that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld thespecial military status of Diego Garcia.
Geography British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half theway from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 60 sq kmnote: includes the entire Chagos Archipelagowater: 0 sq kmland: 60 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:698 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest andsouthernmost island, occupies strategic location in central IndianOcean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
People British Indian Ocean Territory
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident inthe Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois,were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and1970s, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by aBritish High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personneland 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia(July 2004 est.)
Government British Indian Ocean Territory
Country name:conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territoryconventional short form: noneabbreviation: BIOT
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner,resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system:the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Commissioner Tony CROMBIE (since January 2004);Administrator Charles A. HAMILTON (since 2002); note - both residein the UKelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner andadministrator appointed by the monarchcabinet: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK isin the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palmtree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy British Indian Ocean Territory
Economy - overview:All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island ofDiego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.Construction projects and various services needed to support themilitary installations are done by military and contract employeesfrom the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are noindustrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Iloisreturn, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
Electricity - production:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Communications British Indian Ocean Territory
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: separate facilities for military and publicneeds are availabledomestic: all commercial telephone services are available, includingconnection to the Internetinternational: international telephone service is carried bysatellite (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.io
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Transportation British Indian Ocean Territory
Highways:total: NA kmpaved: short section of paved road between port and airfield onDiego Garciaunpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Diego Garcia
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)