Radio broadcast stations:AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:170,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.az
Internet hosts:586 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:300,000 (2002)
Transportation Azerbaijan
Railways: total: 2,957 km broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 24,981 km paved: 23,057 km unpaved: 1,924 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 4,451 km; oil 1,518 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Baku (Baki)
Merchant marine:total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 253,004 GRT/318,922 DWTby type: cargo 14, petroleum tanker 40, roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: Russia 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:67 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 27 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 402,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 32 (2003 est.)914 to 1,523 m: 6
Heliports:2 (2003 est.)
Military Azerbaijan
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; law passed December 2001 raises maximum conscription age from 28 to 35 (December 2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,187,847 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,748,567 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 83,131 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$121 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Azerbaijan
Disputes - international:Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakhand militarily occupies about one-sixth of Azerbaijan - Organizationfor Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediatedispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratify Caspian seabeddelimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues toinsist on an even one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan'shydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters; talks resume withTurkmenistan on dividing the seabed in 2004 as both sides await anICJ decision on contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian;Azerbaijan protests Georgian constructions at the Red Bridgecrossing and several other small segments of boundary, which remainunresolved until delimitation
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 571,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)
Illicit drugs:limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly forCIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit pointfor Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extentthe rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bahamas, The
Introduction Bahamas, The
Background:Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbusfirst set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. Britishsettlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colonyin 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, TheBahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking andinvestment management. Because of its geography, the country is amajor transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipmentsto the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrantsinto the US.
Geography Bahamas, The
Location:Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeastof Florida, northeast of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 13,940 sq kmwater: 3,870 sq kmland: 10,070 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,542 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 0.8% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 98.8% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and winddamage
Environment - current issues:coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chainof which 30 are inhabited
People Bahamas, The
Population:299,697note: 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: 28.3% (male 42,474; female 42,423)15-64 years: 65.7% (male 96,825; female 99,985)65 years and over: 6% (male 7,351; female 10,639) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 27.3 yearsmale: 26.5 yearsfemale: 28 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.72% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:18.22 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 31.73 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.63 yearsmale: 62.21 yearsfemale: 69.11 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.23 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups:black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religions:Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Churchof God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Languages:English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.6%male: 94.7%female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Government Bahamas, The
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamasconventional short form: The Bahamas
Government type:constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:Nassau
Administrative divisions:21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island,Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay,Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, MarshHarbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands,Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution:10 July 1973
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Dame Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002)and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the primeminister's recommendationelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; theprime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member bodyappointed by the governor general upon the advice of the primeminister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and theHouse of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular voteto serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve theparliament and call elections at any timeelections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%,independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts
Political parties and leaders:Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; ProgressiveLiberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOM,IOC, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS consulate(s) general: Miami and New York FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ROODembassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassaumailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC20521-3370telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, andaquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
Economy Bahamas, The
Economy - overview:The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavilydependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accountsfor more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half ofthe archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts anda boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences hadled to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the USeconomy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth inthese sectors in 2001-03. Financial services constitute thesecond-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting forabout 15% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the governmentenacted new regulations on the financial sector, many internationalbusinesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing and agriculturetogether contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show littlegrowth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors.Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on thefortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US,the source of more than 80% of the visitors. In addition to tourismand banking, the government supports the development of a "thirdpillar," e-commerce.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $5.049 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $16,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3%industry: 7%services: 90% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:156,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.9% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $918.5 millionexpenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of$106.7 million (FY99/00)
Agriculture - products:citrus, vegetables; poultry
Industries:tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil refining andtransshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-weldedsteel pipe
Industrial production growth rate:NA (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:1.56 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.451 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$617 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables
Exports - partners:US 35%, Spain 9.6%, Germany 7.8%, France 7.6%, Poland 5.3%,Switzerland 4.8%, Peru 4.2%, Paraguay 4.2% (2003)
Imports:$1.614 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineralfuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners:US 20.8%, South Korea 17.4%, Italy 11.4%, France 9.1%, Brazil 7.5%,Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 5.3% (2003)
Debt - external:$308.5 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$9.8 million (1995)
Currency:Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Currency code:BSD
Exchange rates:Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1(2000), 1 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Bahamas, The
Telephones - main lines in use:131,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:121,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern facilitiesdomestic: totally automatic system; highly developedinternational: country code - 1-242; tropospheric scatter andsubmarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:215,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (2004)
Televisions:67,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bs
Internet hosts:302 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):19 (2000)
Internet users:84,000 (2003)
Transportation Bahamas, The
Highways: total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Merchant marine:total: 1,035 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,631,252 GRT/43,025,977 DWTby type: bulk 165, cargo 188, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk10, combination ore/oil 17, container 97, liquefied gas 27,livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 4,passenger 108, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 163, refrigeratedcargo 133, roll on/roll off 34, short-sea/passenger 18, specializedtanker 3, vehicle carrier 20foreign-owned: Algeria 1, Australia 7, Belgium 14, Bermuda 1, Canada4, Chile 1, China 4, Croatia 1, Cuba 3, Cyprus 14, Denmark 49,Estonia 1, Faroe Islands 1, Finland 9, France 21, Germany 13,Gibraltar 1, Greece 163, Hong Kong 9, India 1, Indonesia 3, Ireland1, Israel 3, Italy 7, Japan 35, Kenya 2, South Korea 1, Latvia 1,Liberia 1, Malaysia 11, Malta 1, Monaco 68, Netherlands 29, NewZealand 1, Norway 231, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 14, Reunion1, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, Spain 6,Sweden 9, Switzerland 1, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2registered in other countries: 11 (2004 est.)
Airports:63 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Bahamas, The
Military branches:Royal Bahamas Defense Force (including Coast Guard)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Bahamas, The
Disputes - international:concerned about migrants fleeing Haiti's deteriorated economic andpolitical conditions
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US andEurope; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bahrain
Introduction Bahrain
Background:Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulfcountries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreignaffairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves,Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and hastransformed itself into an international banking center. The newamir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reformsand has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. InFebruary 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the NationalAction Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's politicalliberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa AlKhalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis electedmembers of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicamerallegislature, the National Assembly.
Geography Bahrain
Location:Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 665 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 665 sq km
Area - comparative:3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:161 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determinedcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Land use: arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2001)
Irrigated land:50 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; dust storms
Environment - current issues:desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arableland, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation(damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resultingfrom oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oilrefineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources,groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategiclocation in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world'spetroleum must transit to reach open ocean
People Bahrain
Population: 677,886 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.4% (male 97,179; female 95,043)15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015; female 192,342)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426; female 10,881) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 29 yearsmale: 31.9 yearsfemale: 25.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.56% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:18.54 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:1.05 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: 1.41 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 17.91 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.98 yearsmale: 71.52 yearsfemale: 76.51 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.67 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bahraini(s)adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups:Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Religions:Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Languages:Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.1%male: 91.9%female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Bahrain
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrainconventional short form: Bahrainlocal short form: Al Bahraynformer: Dilmunlocal long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Government type:constitutional hereditary monarchy
Capital:Manama
Administrative divisions:12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, AlManamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqahash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah,Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrahnote: all municipalities administered from Manama
Independence:15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the dateof independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date ofindependence from British protection
Constitution:adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revisedconstitution calls for a partially elected legislature, aconstitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
Legal system:based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,born 21 October 1969)head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa(since NA 1971)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime ministerappointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 membersappointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directlyelected to serve four-year terms)elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (nextelection to be held NA 2006)note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral NationalAssembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter createdbicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25December 2002election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10
Judicial branch:High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demandingthe return of an elected National Assembly and an end tounemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamicfundamentalist groups are active
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador KHALIFA bin ALI bin Rashid Al Khalifa chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700 FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)
Flag description:red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with awhite serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the fivepoints represent the five pillars of Islam
Economy Bahrain
Economy - overview:In well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refining accountfor about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transportfacilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms withbusiness in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oilgranted as aid. A large share of exports consist of petroleumproducts made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds onseveral major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially amongthe young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resourcesare major long-term economic problems.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $11.29 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $16,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 42.1% services: 57.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):11.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:350,000note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national(2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.981 billionexpenditures: $3.019 billion, including capital expenditures of $700million (2003 est.)
Public debt:57.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries:petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshorebanking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:6.257 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.819 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:125 million bbl (1 January 2003)
Natural gas - production:8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:46 billion cu m (1 January 2003)
Current account balance:$53 million (2003)
Exports:$6.492 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:US 3.5%, India 3.3%, South Korea 2.2% (2003)
Imports:$5.126 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 30.7%, US 11.4%, Japan 7.8%, UK 5.7%, Germany 5.4%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.785 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$4.682 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each ofSaudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
Currency:Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Currency code:BHD
Exchange rates:Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376(2001), 0.376 (2000), 0.376 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bahrain
Telephones - main lines in use:185,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:443,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern systemdomestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital networkwith rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephonesinternational: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar andUAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable toQatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat(1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:338,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (1997)
Televisions:275,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bh
Internet hosts:1,334 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:195,700 (2003)
Transportation Bahrain
Highways: total: 3,261 km paved: 2,531 km unpaved: 730 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWTregistered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 1by type: bulk 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1
Airports:4 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 21524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2003 est.)
Military Bahrain
Military branches:Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense),Navy, Air Force, National Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 221,661 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 121,484 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 6,396 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$618.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:7.5% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bahrain
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Baker Island
Introduction Baker Island
Background:The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guanodeposits were mined by US and British companies during the secondhalf of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt atcolonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby HowlandIsland - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the USDepartment of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middleof the west coast.
Geography Baker Island
Location:Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way betweenHawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 1.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 1.4 sq km
Area - comparative:about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4.8 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marinewildlife
People Baker Island
Population:uninhabitednote: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air andnaval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military duringWorld War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is byspecial-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only andgenerally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery andremnants of structures from early settlement are located near themiddle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and WildlifeService (2004 est.)
Government Baker Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of theInterior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Baker Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Baker Island
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boatlanding area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered withvegetation and unusable (2003 est.)
Transportation - note:there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Military Baker Island
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the USCoast Guard
Transnational Issues Baker Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bangladesh
Introduction Bangladesh
Background:Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistanseceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of thisextremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainyseason, hampering economic development.
Geography Bangladesh
Location:Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates:24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 144,000 sq kmland: 133,910 sq kmwater: 10,090 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries: total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:580 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margincontiguous zone: 18 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (Marchto June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use: arable land: 62.11% permanent crops: 3.07% other: 34.82% (2001)
Irrigated land:38,440 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated duringthe summer monsoon season
Environment - current issues:many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivateflood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water;water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the useof commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturallyoccurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of fallingwater tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soildegradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowingfrom the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channelof the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually emptyinto the Bay of Bengal
People Bangladesh
Population:141,340,476 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.5% (male 24,359,149; female 23,013,811)15-64 years: 63.1% (male 45,557,963; female 43,626,950)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,575,519; female 2,207,084) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 21.5 years male: 21.5 years female: 21.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.08% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:30.03 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 64.32 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 63.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 65.41 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.71 yearsmale: 61.8 yearsfemale: 61.61 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.15 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:650 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bangladeshi(s)adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups:Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)
Religions:Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages:Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 43.1%male: 53.9%female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
Government Bangladesh
Country name:conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladeshconventional short form: Bangladeshformer: East Pakistan
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Dhaka
Administrative divisions:6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, andSylhet
Independence:16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is thedate of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is knownas Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the stateof Bangladesh
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the dateof independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Dayand commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Constitution:4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended followingcoup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002);note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker GovernmentAmendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times whenParliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - atpresidential direction - to supervise the electionshead of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October2001)cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by thepresidentelections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-yearterm; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held sinceIajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn inon 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); followinglegislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the mostseats is usually appointed prime minister by the presidentelection results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commissionelected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote- NA
Legislative branch:unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats electedby popular vote from single territorial constituencies (theconstitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and abovethe 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members servefive-year termselections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October2006)election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliancepartners 47%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 195, AL 58, JI 17, JP(Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 3, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - theelection of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government alignedwith three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami OikyaJote, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed bythe president)
Political parties and leaders:Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party orBCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP[Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti FazlulHaq AMINI]; Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; JatiyaParty or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB,OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMADconsulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 244-5366telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS, Jr.embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744
Flag description:green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieveindependence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, andsecondarily, the traditional color of Islam
Economy Bangladesh
Economy - overview:Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improveeconomic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor,overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP isgenerated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds ofBangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice asthe single-most-important product. Major impediments to growthinclude frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-ownedenterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing laborforce that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploitingenergy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, andslow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalledin many instances by political infighting and corruption at alllevels of government. Progress also has been blocked by oppositionfrom the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vestedinterest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister KhaledaZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms,but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in keyareas. One encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for thepast several years.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $258.8 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 26.6% services: 51.7% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:35.6% (FY95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.6 (FY95/96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:64.02 millionnote: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billionin 1998-99 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 63%, industry 11%, services 26% (FY95/96)
Unemployment rate:40% (includes underemployment) (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.352 billionexpenditures: $7.55 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:43.3% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses,oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
Industries:cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint,cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar
Industrial production growth rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:15.33 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:14.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:3,581 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:71,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)