Ethnic groups:Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly RomanCatholic) 10%
Languages:French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanicfamily spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 26.6%male: 36.9%female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government Burkina Faso
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Burkina Fasoformer: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions:45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala,Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence:5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution:2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted;ammended April 2000
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6November 2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); inApril 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidentialterm from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowingthe president to be reelected only once; it is unclear whether thisamendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime ministerappointed by the president with the consent of the legislatureelection results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5%percent of the vote
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next tobe held NA May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation orRDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracyor CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progressor CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance andProgress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for AfricanIndependence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy andProgress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Union of Greens for theDevelopment of Burkina Faso or UVDB [Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; BurkinabeMovement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; NationalConfederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization ofFree Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout thecountry in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGOFAX: [1] (202) 667-1882telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMESembassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S.Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC20521-2440telephone: [226] 306723FAX: [226] 303890
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellowfive-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colorsof Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Fasohas few natural resources, a fragile soil, and a highly unequaldistribution of income. About 90% of the population is engaged in(mainly subsistence) agriculture, which is vulnerable to variationsin rainfall. Cotton is the key crop. Industry remains dominated byunprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following theAfrican franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the governmentupdated its development program in conjunction with internationalagencies, and exports and economic growth have increased.Maintenance of macroeconomic progress depends on continued lowinflation, reduction in the trade deficit, and reforms designed toencourage private investment. The internal crisis in neighboringCote d'Ivoire continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects anddeepens the need for international assistance.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $14.55 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 39.8% industry: 19.6% services: 40.5% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):29% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:45% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:48.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2003 est.)
Labor force:5 millionnote: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually toneighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA
Budget:revenues: $599.8 millionexpenditures: $748.8 million NA, including capital expenditures ofNA (2003)
Agriculture - products:cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice;livestock
Industries:cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:279.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:259.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-341 million (2003)
Exports:$293 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:Singapore 12.8%, China 11.6%, Thailand 8%, Italy 6.4%, India 6%,Colombia 5.2%, Ghana 5.2%, France 4.8%, Niger 4% (2003)
Imports:$633.6 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:France 31.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 14.6%, Togo 9%, Belgium 5% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$379 million (2003)
Debt - external:$1.3 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$484.1 million (1995)
Currency:Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2(2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699(1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:65,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:227,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: all services only fairdomestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephonecommunication stationsinternational: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:131,340 (2002)
Internet country code:.bf
Internet hosts:442 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:48,000 (2003)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Railways:total: 622 kmnarrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gaugenote:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire(2003)
Highways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:33 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches:Army, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,047,306 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,552,212 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$52.7 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Beninaccuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso borderregions have become a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoirerebels and an asylum for refugees caught in regional fighting; theIvoirian Government accuses Burkina Faso of supporting Ivoirianrebels
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Burma
Introduction Burma
Background:Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) andincorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as aprovince of India until 1937 when it became a separate,self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth wasattained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, andlater as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative electionsin 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the NationalLeague for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the rulingjunta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prizerecipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and is currentlyunder house arrest. In December 2004, the junta announced it wasextending her detention for at least an additional year. Hersupporters, as well as all those who promote democracy and improvedhuman rights, are routinely harassed or jailed.
Geography Burma
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal,between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates:22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 678,500 sq kmland: 657,740 sq kmwater: 20,760 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,876 kmborder countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:1,930 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwestmonsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mildtemperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,December to April)
Terrain:central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 mhighest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources:petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead,coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 15.19%permanent crops: 0.97%other: 83.84% (2001)
Irrigated land:15,920 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslidescommon during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
People Burma
Population:42,720,196note: estimates for this country take into account the effects ofexcess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower lifeexpectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.6% (male 6,023,874; female 5,774,055)15-64 years: 67.5% (male 14,317,308; female 14,504,500)65 years and over: 4.9% (male 927,570; female 1,172,889) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 25.7 yearsmale: 25.2 yearsfemale: 26.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.47% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:18.64 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:12.16 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.8 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 68.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 62.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 74.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 56.01 yearsmale: 54.22 yearsfemale: 57.9 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.08 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:330,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:20,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, leptospirosisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Burmese (singular and plural)adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups:Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,Mon 2%, other 5%
Religions:Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages:Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.3%male: 89.2%female: 81.4% (2002)
Government Burma
Country name:conventional long form: Union of Burmaconventional short form: Burmalocal short form: Myanma Naingngandawformer: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burmalocal long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by theUS Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union ofMyanmar)note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted thename Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decisionwas not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the USGovernment did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of theBurmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw
Government type:military junta
Capital:Rangoon (government refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions: 7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne) : divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon (Rangoon) : states: Chin State, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Shan State
Independence:4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Constitution:3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); nationalconvention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution butcollapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not includeparticipation of democratic opposition
Legal system:has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development CouncilSr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)head of government: Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October2004)elections: nonecabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta,so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18September 1988 under the name State Law and Order RestorationCouncil (SLORC); the SPDC oversees the cabinet
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),other 60elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed byjunta to convene
Judicial branch:remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there isno guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is notindependent of the executive
Political parties and leaders: National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (progovernment) [THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [KHUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (progovernment, a social and political organization) [THAN AUNG, general secretary]
International organization participation:ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: vacantchancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: New York (UN)FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Carmen M. MARTINEZembassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546telephone: [95] (1) 379 880, 379 881FAX: [95] (1) 256 018
Flag description:red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalkof rice; the 14 stars represent the 7 administrative divisions and 7states
Economy Burma
Economy - overview:Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from governmentcontrols and abject rural poverty. The military regime took steps inthe early 1990s to liberalize the economy after decades of failureunder the "Burmese Way to Socialism", but those efforts have sincestalled. Burma has been unable to achieve monetary or fiscalstability, resulting in an economy that suffers from seriousmacroeconomic imbalances - including a steep inflation rate and anofficial exchange rate that overvalues the Burmese kyat by more than100 times the market rate. In addition, most overseas developmentassistance ceased after the junta suppressed the democracy movementin 1988 and subsequently ignored the results of the 1990 election. Acrisis in the private banking sector in early 2003 followed byeconomic moves against Burma by the United States, the EuropeanUnion, and Japan - including a US ban on imports from Burma and aJapanese freeze on new bilateral economic aid - further weakened theBurmese economy. Burma is data poor, and official statistics areoften dated and inaccurate. Published estimates of Burma's foreigntrade are greatly understated because of the size of the blackmarket and border trade - often estimated to be one to two times theofficial economy. Better relations with foreign countries andrelaxed controls at home are needed to promote foreign investment,exports, and tourism. In February 2003, a major banking crisis hitthe country's 20 private banks, shutting them down and disruptingthe economy. In July and August 2003, the United States imposed aban on all Burmese imports and a ban on provision of financialservices, hampering Burma's ability to obtain foreign exchange. Asof January 2004, the largest private banks remained moribund,leaving the private sector with little formal access to creditoutside of government contracts.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $74.53 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 57.2% industry: 9.6% services: 33.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):11.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):49.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:22.14 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.2% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $7.9 billionexpenditures: $12.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7billion (FY96/97)
Agriculture - products:rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fishand fish products
Industries:agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and woodproducts; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:6.139 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.709 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:18,590 bbl/day (2002 est.)
Oil - consumption:38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:115 million bbl (1 January 2003)
Natural gas - production:7.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:314.4 billion cu m (1 January 2003)
Current account balance:$-35 million (2003)
Exports:$2.434 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:Clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Exports - partners:Thailand 31.5%, US 10.2%, India 9.3%, China 5.8%, Japan 4.8% (2003)
Imports:$2.071 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:Fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transportequipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products
Imports - partners:China 31.1%, Singapore 22.3%, Thailand 15.1%, South Korea 6.3%,Malaysia 4.8%, Japan 4.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$562 million (2003)
Debt - external:$6.011 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$127 million (2001 est.)
Currency:kyat (MMK)
Currency code:MMK
Exchange rates:kyats per US dollar - 6.0764 (2003), 6.5734 (2002), 6.6841 (2001),6.5167 (2000), 6.2858 (1999)note: these are official exchange rates; unofficial exchange ratesranged in 2003 from 100 kyat/US dollar to nearly 1000 kyat/US dollar
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:357,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:66,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: barely meets minimum requirements for local andintercity service for business and government; international serviceis fairdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2,Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1 (2004)
Radios:4.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (2004)
Televisions:320,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.mm
Internet hosts:3 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only forthe government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)
Internet users:28,000 (2003)
Transportation Burma
Railways: total: 3,955 km narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 28,200 km paved: 3,440 km unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Waterways:12,800 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Pathein, Rangoon,Sittwe, Tavoy
Merchant marine:total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 384,529 GRT/608,609 DWTforeign-owned: Germany 6, Japan 4 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 8, cargo 18, container 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleumtanker 1
Airports:79 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69 under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Burma
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (May2002)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 12,450,884females age 15-49: 12,457,077 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 6,609,995females age 15-49: 6,595,611 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 441,333females: 440,914 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$39 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Burma
Disputes - international:despite continuing border committee talks, significant differencesremain with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling ofethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; groupsin Burma and Thailand express concern over China's construction of13 hydroelectric dams on the Salween River in Yunnan Province; Indiaseeks cooperation from Burma to keep out Indian Nagaland insurgents
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 600,000 - 1,000,000 (government offensives against ethnicinsurgent groups near borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni,Shan, and Mon) (2004)
Illicit drugs:world's second largest producer of illicit opium (potentialproduction in 2003 - 484 metric tons, down 23% due to eradicationefforts and alternate development; cultivation in 2003 - 47,130hectares, a 39% decline from 2002); surrender of drug warlord KHUNSA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a majorcounternarcotics success, but lack of government will and ability totake on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitmentagainst money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrugeffort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regionalconsumption; currently under Financial Action Task Forcecountermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequatemoney-laundering controls
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Burundi
Introduction Burundi
Background:Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinatedin October 1993 after only one hundred days in office. Since then,some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intenseethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds ofthousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees inneighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure theirborders, briefly intervened in the conflict in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo in 1998. A new transitional government,inaugurated on 1 November 2001, signed a power-sharing agreementwith the largest rebel faction in December 2003 and set in place aprovisional constitution in October 2004. Implementation of theagreement has been problematic, however, as one remaining rebelgroup refuses to sign on and elections have been repeatedly delayed,clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.
Geography Burundi
Location:Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 27,830 sq kmwater: 2,180 sq kmland: 25,650 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 974 kmborder countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varieswith altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generallymoderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annualrainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May andSeptember to November, and dry seasons from June to August andDecember to January
Terrain:hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 mhighest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum(not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 35.05%permanent crops: 14.02%other: 50.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, drought
Environment - current issues:soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion ofagriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested landremains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitatloss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; theKagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remoteheadstream of the White Nile
People Burundi
Population:6,231,221note: 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: 46.4% (male 1,459,251; female 1,430,332)15-64 years: 50.9% (male 1,566,274; female 1,607,705)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 66,306; female 101,353) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.1 yearsfemale: 16.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.2% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:39.68 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:17.61 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 70.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 63.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 77.15 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.36 yearsmale: 42.73 yearsfemale: 44 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:250,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:25,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malariaoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Burundian(s)adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups:Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions:Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenousbeliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Languages:Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along LakeTanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51.6%male: 58.5%female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Government Burundi
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Burundiconventional short form: Burundilocal short form: Burundilocal long form: Republika y'u Burundiformer: Urundi
Government type:republic
Capital:Bujumbura
Administrative divisions:16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke,Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro,Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural politicalsystem; supplanted on 20 October 2004 by a provisional constitutionapproved by the parliament, which extended the transition, setethnic quotas for government positions, and tentatively scheduledelections for February-April 2005
Legal system:based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003);note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the secondhalf of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1November 2001; Vice President Frederic NGENZEBUHORO (since 11November 2004)head of government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for thesecond half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on1 November 2001; Vice President Frederic NGENZEBUHORO (since 11November 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by presidentelections: NA; current president assumed power on 30 April 2003 aspart of the transitional government established by the 2000 ArushaAccord
Legislative branch:bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale(expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitionalgovernment inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; termlength is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out thethree-year transition period)elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996; electionsare planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitionalgovernment)election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16,civilians 27, other parties 13
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts ofAppeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of FirstInstance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Political parties and leaders:the two national, mainstream, governing parties are: Unity forNational Progress or UPRONA [Alphonse KADEGE, president]; BurundiDemocratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [TerrenceNSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development orRADDES [Joseph NZEYIMANA]; Party for National Redress or PARENA[Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP[Mathias HITIMANA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated withHutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to governmentsecurity forces
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWAchancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James Howard YELLINembassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumburamailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumburatelephone: [257] 223454FAX: [257] 222926
Flag description:divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom)and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disksuperimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed starsoutlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,two stars below)
Economy Burundi
Economy - overview:Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with anunderdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantlyagricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent onsubsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and teaexports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Theability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weatherconditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsiminority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and thecoffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of thepopulation. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted inmore than 200,000 deaths, forced 800,000 refugees into Tanzania, anddisplaced 525,000 others internally. Doubts about the prospects forsustainable peace continue to impede development. Only one in twochildren go to school, and approximately one in ten adults hasHIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.78 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 47.4% industry: 19.3% services: 33.3% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):9.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:68% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:42.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):10.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:2.99 million (2002)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 93.6%, industry 2.3%, services 4.1% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA
Budget:revenues: $179.4 millionexpenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc(tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Industries:light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly ofimported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate:18% (2001)
Electricity - production:155.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:177.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:33 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of theCongo (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-35 million (2003)
Exports:$40 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners:Switzerland 31.6%, UK 15.8%, Netherlands 5.3%, Rwanda 5.3% (2003)
Imports:$128 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Kenya 14.6%, Tanzania 11.5%, Uganda 5.7%, France 5.1%, Zambia 5.1%,China 4.5%, India 4.5%, Japan 4.5% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$67.4 million (2003)
Debt - external:$1.133 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$92.7 million (2000)
Currency:Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code:BIF
Exchange rates:Burundi francs per US dollar - 1,082.62 (2003), 930.75 (2002),830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000), 563.56 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Burundi
Telephones - main lines in use:23,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:64,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: primitive systemdomestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications,and low-capacity microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:440,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bi
Internet hosts:22 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:14,000 (2003)
Transportation Burundi
Highways: total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bujumbura
Airports:8 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Burundi
Military branches:Army (including Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age and obligation:16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,419,755 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 747,400 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 81,862 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$33.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Burundi
Disputes - international:Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associatedpolitical rebels, armed gangs, and various government forcescontinue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending theboundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, andUganda to gain control over populated and natural resource areas;government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violencecontinues despite UN peacekeeping efforts
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 60,288 (Democratic Republic of theCongo)IDPs: 140,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; mostIDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2004)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Cambodia
Introduction Cambodia
Background:Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, whose AngkorEmpire extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenithbetween the 10th and 13th centuries. Subsequently, attacks by theThai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empireushering in a long period of decline. In 1863, the king of Cambodiaplaced the country under French protection; it became part of FrenchIndochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II,Cambodia became independent within the French Union in 1949 andfully independent in 1953. After a five-year struggle, CommunistKhmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in April 1975 and ordered theevacuation of all cities and towns; at least 1.5 million Cambodiansdied from execution, enforced hardships, or starvation during theKhmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnameseinvasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, led to a10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years ofcivil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democraticelections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by theKhmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore somesemblance of normalcy and the final elements of the Khmer Rougesurrendered in early 1999. Factional fighting in 1997 ended thefirst coalition government, but a second round of national electionsin 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government andrenewed political stability. The July 2003 elections were relativelypeaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contendingpolitical parties before a coalition government was formed.Nation-wide local elections are scheduled for 2007 and nationalelections for 2008.
Geography Cambodia
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, betweenThailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 181,040 sq kmland: 176,520 sq kmwater: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries: total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline: 443 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season(December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 mhighest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources:oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,phosphates, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 20.96% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 78.43% (2001)
Irrigated land:2,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues:illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip miningfor gems in the western region along the border with Thailand haveresulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular,destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soilerosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have accessto potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishingand overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River andTonle Sap
People Cambodia
Population:13,363,421note: estimates for this country take into account the effects ofexcess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower lifeexpectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.3% (male 2,583,606; female 2,534,460)15-64 years: 58.6% (male 3,742,178; female 4,095,303)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 149,466; female 258,408) (2004 est.)