Military British Indian Ocean Territory
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on DiegoGarcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues British Indian Ocean Territory
Disputes - international:Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and itsformer inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation sinceeviction in 1965; the UK resists the Chagossians' demand for animmediate return to the islands; repatriation is complicated by theexclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricted accessto the largest island in the chain
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@British Virgin Islands
Introduction British Virgin Islands
Background:First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger andmore populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is thelegal currency.
Geography British Virgin Islands
Location:Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 153 sq kmnote: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabitedislands; includes the island of Anegadawater: 0 sq kmland: 153 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain:coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 20%permanent crops: 6.67%other: 73.33% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
People British Virgin Islands
Population:22,187 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.5% (male 2,402; female 2,361)15-64 years: 73.5% (male 8,395; female 7,911)65 years and over: 5% (male 594; female 524) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 30.9 yearsmale: 31.1 yearsfemale: 30.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.06% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:14.96 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:10.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 21.02 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.27 yearsmale: 75.24 yearsfemale: 77.36 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.72 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Religions:Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%,Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Languages:English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8% (1991 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government British Virgin Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: British Virgin Islandsabbreviation: BVI
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Government type:NA
Capital:Road Town
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution:1 June 1977
Legal system:English law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyappointed chief minister by the governorhead of government: Chief Minister Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June2003)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members ofthe Legislative Council
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected bydirect popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts,four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NDP 8, VIP 5
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court ofJustice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is aresident of the islands and presides over the High Court);Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; NationalDemocratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [GregoryMADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS(associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of theflag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by avertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latinword VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Economy British Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in theCaribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainlyfrom the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, thegovernment began offering offshore registration to companies wishingto incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generatesubstantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshoreregistry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurancelaw in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality withregulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses,is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractiveto international business. Livestock raising is the most importantagricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meetdomestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close linkswith the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used thedollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $320 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1.8%industry: 6.2%services: 92% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2002)
Labor force:4,911 (1980)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:3% (1995)
Budget:revenues: $121.5 millionexpenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1997)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries:tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:38.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:35.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:420 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports:$187 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt - external:$36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:11,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: worldwide telephone servicedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:9,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.vg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation British Virgin Islands
Highways: total: 177 km paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Road Town
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,825 GRT/155,909 DWTregistered in other countries: 32 (2004 est.)by type: cargo 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1foreign-owned: Norway 1
Airports:3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military British Virgin Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues British Virgin Islands
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for theUS and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerableto money laundering
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Brunei
Introduction Brunei
Background:The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas ofnorthwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequentlyentered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royalsuccession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence wasachieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over sixcenturies. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gasfields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in thedeveloping world.
Geography Brunei
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates:4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 5,770 sq kmwater: 500 sq kmland: 5,270 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Climate:tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 0.57% permanent crops: 0.76% other: 98.67% (2001)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues:seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:party to: Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian andPacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almostan enclave of Malaysia
People Brunei
Population:365,251 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.1% (male 54,243; female 52,013)15-64 years: 68% (male 131,682; female 116,631)65 years and over: 2.9% (male 5,035; female 5,647) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 26.7 yearsmale: 27.3 yearsfemale: 26 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.95% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:19.33 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:3.4 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:3.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.54 yearsmale: 72.13 yearsfemale: 77.09 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.33 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bruneian(s)adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions:Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenousbeliefs and other 10%
Languages:Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.9%male: 96.3%female: 91.4% (2002)
Government Brunei
Country name:conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalamconventional short form: Brunei
Government type:constitutional sultanate
Capital:Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions:4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei andMuara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was thedate of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date ofindependence from British protection
Constitution:29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State ofEmergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1January 1984)
Legal system:based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a lawsupersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage:none
Executive branch:chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief ofstate and head of governmenthead of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief ofstate and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over bythe monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also aReligious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises onreligious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by themonarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council ofSuccession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines thesuccession to the throne if the need ariseselections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutionalamendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected memberselections: last held in March 1962; date of next election NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarchfor three-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962)and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965,deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEHtelephone: [1] (202) 237-1838FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTYembassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar SeriBegawanmailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507telephone: [673] (2) 229670FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Flag description:yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width)and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem inred is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes aswallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturnedcrescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy Brunei
Economy - overview:This small, wealthy economy encompasses a mixture of foreign anddomestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures,and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production accountfor nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other ThirdWorld countries, and substantial income from overseas investmentsupplements income from domestic production. The government providesfor all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei'sleaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in theworld economy will undermine internal social cohesion, although itbecame a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for thefuture include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment,strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general,further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $18,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5%industry: 45%services: 50% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:143,400note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporaryresidents make up about 40% of labor force (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, government 48% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:10% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.5 billionexpenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35billion (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Industries:petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:2.497 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.322 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:217,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:315 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:$3.439 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners:Japan 41%, South Korea 11.2%, Thailand 9.4%, Australia 8.4%, US7.8%, China 6.7%, Singapore 4.5% (2003)
Imports:$1.63 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,chemicals
Imports - partners:Singapore 19.9%, Malaysia 19.8%, US 11.4%, Japan 9.9%, Hong Kong6.5%, China 4.8%, Australia 4.3%, Thailand 4% (2003)
Debt - external:$0
Economic aid - recipient:$4.3 million (1995)
Currency:Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code:BND
Exchange rates:Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002),1.7917 (2001), 1.724 (2000), 1.695 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:90,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:137,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the USdomestic: every service availableinternational: country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarinecable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:201,900 (1998)
Internet country code:.bn
Internet hosts:6,409 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:35,000 (2002)
Transportation Brunei
Highways: total: 2,525 km paved: 2,525 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWTby type: liquefied gas 8foreign-owned: United Kingdom 8 (2004 est.)
Airports:2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:3 (2003 est.)
Military Brunei
Military branches:Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 112,630 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: approx. 60,000 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 3,425 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$339.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Brunei
Disputes - international:in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in theiroffshore and deepwater seabeds until negotiations progress to anagreement over allocation of disputed areas; Malaysia's landboundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; Bruneiestablished an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing LouisaReef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but makes no publicterritorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration onthe Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions inthe Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code ofconduct" desired by several of the disputants
Illicit drugs:drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances areserious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bulgaria
Introduction Bulgaria
Background:The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the localSlavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the firstBulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled withthe Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by theend of the 14th century the country was overrun by the OttomanTurks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all ofBulgaria became independent in 1908. Having fought on the losingside in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere ofinfluence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communistdomination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multipartyelection since World War II and began the contentious process ofmoving toward political democracy and a market economy whilecombating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today,reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventualintegration into the EU. The country joined NATO in 2004.
Geography Bulgaria
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 110,910 sq kmwater: 360 sq kmland: 110,550 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,808 kmborder countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km,Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km
Coastline:354 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 40.02% permanent crops: 1.92% other: 58.06% (2001)
Irrigated land:8,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, landslides
Environment - current issues:air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from rawsewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage fromair pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavymetals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routesfrom Europe to Middle East and Asia
People Bulgaria
Population:7,517,973 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.4% (male 553,801; female 526,856)15-64 years: 68.5% (male 2,533,784; female 2,615,968)65 years and over: 17.1% (male 535,954; female 751,610) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 40.5 yearsmale: 38.4 yearsfemale: 42.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.92% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:9.65 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:14.25 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 21.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 17.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 25.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.75 yearsmale: 68.14 yearsfemale: 75.59 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:346 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bulgarian(s)adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups:Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (includingMacedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001)
Religions:Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 3.4% (1998)
Languages:Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnicbreakdown
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.1%female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Bulgaria
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Bulgariaconventional short form: Bulgaria
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Sofia
Administrative divisions:28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas,Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana,Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Independence:3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the OttomanEmpire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the OttomanEmpire)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution:adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system:civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002);Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (PrimeMinister) Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA (since 24 July 2001); DeputyPrime Ministers Nikolay VASILEV (since 24 July 2001), Lidiya SHULEVA(since 24 July 2001), and Plamen PANAYOTOV (since 17 July 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister andelected by the National Assemblyelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11 Novemberand 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman of theCouncil of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president andelected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominatedby the prime minister and elected by the National Assemblyelection results: Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent of vote- Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NMS2 42.74%, UDF18.18%, CfB 17.15%, MRF 7.45%; seats by party - NMS2 120, UDF 51,CfB 48, MRF 21; note - seating as of January 2005 - NMS2 98, CfB 49,UtDF 28, MRF 20, UDF 14, New Time 13, BANU 11, independents 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation;Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-yearterms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of thetwo Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members;responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, andinvestigating magistrates in the justice system; members of theSupreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected bythe National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:Bulgarian Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [AnastasiaMOZER]; Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV];Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated byBSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB[Ivan KOSTOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [AhmedDOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [SimeonSAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of DemocraticForces or UDF [Nadezhda MIKHAYLOVA]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD[Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalitionof center-right parties dominated by DSB)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB;Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, andnational interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation:ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU(applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO,WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA consulate(s): New York FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174 chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEWembassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100FAX: [359] (2) 937-5230
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; thenational emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe hasbeen removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheatears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing thedates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberationfrom Nazi control)
Economy Bulgaria
Economy - overview:Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the EuropeanUnion, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growthsince a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the thensocialist government. As a result, the government became committedto economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. A $300 millionstand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 hassupported government efforts to overcome high rates of poverty andunemployment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $57.13 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.4% industry: 30% services: 58.6% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):19.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:13.4% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.5% highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:26.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:3.333 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:14.3% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $8.121 billionexpenditures: $8.121 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:48% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley,sunflowers, sugar beets
Industries:electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machineryand equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refinedpetroleum, nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:6.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:41.38 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:32.52 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:6.79 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:830 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:603 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:94,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:8.1 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.804 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:5.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.724 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-1.666 billion (2003)
Exports:$7.337 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:Italy 14.1%, Germany 10.9%, Greece 10.5%, Turkey 9.2%, France 5.1%,US 4.5% (2003)
Imports:$9.723 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metalsand ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles
Imports - partners:Germany 14.4%, Russia 12.6%, Italy 10.3%, Greece 6.7%, Turkey 6.2%,France 5.7% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$6.705 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$12.05 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$300 million (2000 est.)
Currency:lev (BGL)
Currency code:BGN
Exchange rates:leva per US dollar - 1.7327 (2003), 2.077 (2002), 2.1847 (2001),2.1233 (2000), 1.8364 (1999)note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:2,868,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,597,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: extensive but antiquateddomestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential;telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly moderndigital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most ofthe regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radiorelayinternational: country code - 359; direct dialing to 58 countries;satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:4.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.bg
Internet hosts:53,421 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):200 (2001)
Internet users:630,000 (2002)
Transportation Bulgaria
Railways:total: 4,294 kmstandard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 37,286 kmpaved: 35,049 km (including 324 km of expressways)unpaved: 2,237 km (2000)
Waterways:470 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Merchant marine:total: 60 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 757,972 GRT/1,115,238 DWTby type: bulk 37, cargo 7, chemical tanker 4, container 2, petroleumtanker 3, rail car carrier 2, roll on/roll off 3,short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 1registered in other countries: 45 (2004 est.)
Airports:212 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 128 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 92 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 85 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 72 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Bulgaria
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 9 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,829,203 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,530,657 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 52,811 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$356 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bulgaria
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and,to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market;limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering ofdrug-related proceeds through financial institutions
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Burkina Faso
Introduction Burkina Faso
Background:Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence fromFrance in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980swere followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. BurkinaFaso's high population density and limited natural resources resultin poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recentunrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the abilityof several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to findemployment in neighboring countries.
Geography Burkina Faso
Location:Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 274,200 sq kmwater: 400 sq kmland: 273,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 3,193 kmborder countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km,Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west andsoutheast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 mhighest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources:manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony,copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver
Land use: arable land: 14.43% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 85.38% (2001)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts
Environment - current issues:recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agriculturalactivities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing;soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black,Red, and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
Population:13,574,820note: 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: 46% (male 3,135,098; female 3,114,354)15-64 years: 51.1% (male 3,391,848; female 3,545,115)65 years and over: 2.9% (male 163,137; female 225,268) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 16.8 yearsmale: 16.4 yearsfemale: 17.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.57% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:44.46 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:18.79 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: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 98.67 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 90.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 106.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 44.2 yearsmale: 42.62 yearsfemale: 45.83 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.28 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:300,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:29,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)adjective: Burkinabe