Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:150.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$393 million (2003)
Exports:$6.713 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood(2001)
Exports - partners:US 23.9%, Germany 13.6%, UK 9.7%, France 5.9% (2003)
Imports:$9.459 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)
Imports - partners:India 15.4%, China 11.3%, Singapore 10.8%, Japan 5.9%, Hong Kong4.5% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$2.624 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$18.06 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$1.575 billion (2000 est.)
Currency:taka (BDT)
Currency code:BDT
Exchange rates:taka per US dollar - 58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002), 55.8067 (2001),52.1417 (2000), 49.0854 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Bangladesh
Telephones - main lines in use:740,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.365 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern countrydomestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systemsinclude VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and somefiber-optic cable in citiesinternational: country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communicationsand landline service to neighboring countries (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:6.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:15 (1999)
Televisions:770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bd
Internet hosts:1 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (2000)
Internet users:243,000 (2003)
Transportation Bangladesh
Railways:total: 2,706 kmbroad gauge: 884 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 207,486 kmpaved: 19,773 kmunpaved: 187,713 km (1999)
Waterways: 8,372 km note: includes 2,575 km main cargo routes (2004)
Pipelines:gas 2,012 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj
Merchant marine:total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 319,897 GRT/440,575 DWTby type: bulk 2, cargo 24, container 10, passenger 1, petroleumtanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1foreign-owned: China 1, Singapore 9registered in other countries: 10 (2004 est.)
Airports:16 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bangladesh
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 39,523,128 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 23,441,482 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$606.8 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bangladesh
Disputes - international:discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section ofriver boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries,allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade,migration, and violence; Bangladesh protests India's attempts tofence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; dispute withIndia over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay ofBengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslimrefugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 61,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2004)
Illicit drugs:transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Barbados
Introduction Barbados
Background:The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the islanduntil 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavilydependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the20th century. The gradual introduction of social and politicalreforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from theUK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed thesugar industry in economic importance.
Geography Barbados
Location:Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast ofVenezuela
Geographic coordinates:13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 431 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 431 sq km
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:97 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 37.21% permanent crops: 2.33% other: 60.46% (2001)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: easternmost Caribbean island
People Barbados
Population:278,289 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 29,294; female 29,020)15-64 years: 70.3% (male 95,675; female 99,864)65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,370; female 15,066) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 33.7 yearsmale: 32.6 yearsfemale: 34.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.36% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:12.98 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.01 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 10.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.64 yearsmale: 69.51 yearsfemale: 73.81 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.65 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Religions:Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Languages:English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 97.4%male: 98%female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
Government Barbados
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Barbados
Government type:parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within theCommonwealth
Capital:Bridgetown
Administrative divisions:11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, SaintJames, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, SaintPeter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown maybe given parish status
Independence:30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution:30 November 1966
Legal system:English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS(since 1 June 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May2003)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: 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 (21-member bodyappointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to beheld by May 2008)election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the ServiceCommissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
Political parties and leaders:Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Partyor DLP [Clyde Mascoll]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union[David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY];Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KINGconsulate(s): Los Angelesconsulate(s) general: Miami and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 332-7467telephone: [1] (202) 339-9200chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mary E. KRAMERembassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetownmailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and bluewith the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; thetrident head represents independence and a break with the past (thecolonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
Economy Barbados
Economy - overview:Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcanecultivation and related activities, but production in recent yearshas diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore financeand information services are important foreign exchange earners. Thegovernment continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, toencourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remainingstate-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002-03 mainlydue to a decline in tourism. Growth should be positive in 2004, theprecise level largely dependent on economic conditions in the US andEurope.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $4.355 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $15,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6%industry: 16%services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:128,500 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 10%, industry 15%, services 75% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.7% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $847 million (including grants)expenditures: $886 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Industries:tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:-3.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:780 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:725.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:70.79 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:$206 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,electrical components
Exports - partners:US 18.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.5%, UK 14%, Jamaica 7.8%, SaintLucia 6.2%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.7% (2003)
Imports:$1.039 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:US 37.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 19.6%, UK 6.2%, Japan 4.4% (2003)
Debt - external:$668 million (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$9.1 million (1995)
Currency:Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Currency code:BBD
Exchange rates:Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2(2000), 2 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use:134,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:140,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: island-wide automatic telephone systeminternational: country code - 1-246; satellite earth stations - 4Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad andSaint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:237,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)
Televisions:76,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bb
Internet hosts:204 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):19 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2003)
Transportation Barbados
Highways: total: 1,793 km paved: 1,719 km unpaved: 74 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Merchant marine:total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 427,465 GRT/668,195 DWTby type: bulk 11, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 3,petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 1registered in other countries: 3 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Canada 5,Greece 7, Hong Kong 7, Italy 2, Lebanon 1, Norway 9, United Kingdom10
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Barbados
Military branches:Royal Barbados Defense Force (Troops Command and Coast Guard)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 77,714 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 53,127 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Barbados
Disputes - international:Barbados intends to take its claim before UNCLOS arbitration thatthe northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary withVenezuela extends into its waters; joins other Caribbean states tocounter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains humanhabitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela toextend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of theCaribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound forEurope and the US; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Bassas da India
Introduction Bassas da India
Background:This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash athigh tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under theadministration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.
Geography Bassas da India
Location:Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, aboutone-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:21 30 S, 39 50 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 0.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 0.2 sq km
Area - comparative:about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:35.2 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical
Terrain:volcanic rock
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tideand surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop along-extinct, submerged volcano
People Bassas da India
Population: uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
Government Bassas da India
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bassas da India
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of theRepublic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Bassas da India
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Bassas da India
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bassas da India
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Bassas da India
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Belarus
Introduction Belarus
Background:After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarusattained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer politicaland economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Sovietrepublics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state unionon 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economicintegration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out theaccord, serious implementation has yet to take place.
Geography Belarus
Location:Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates:53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 207,600 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 207,600 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:total: 2,900 kmborder countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 407 km,Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional betweencontinental and maritime
Terrain:generally flat and contains much marshland
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Nyoman River 90 mhighest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Natural resources:forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas,granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Land use: arable land: 29.55% permanent crops: 0.6% other: 69.85% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness ofBelarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes; the country isgeologically well endowed with extensive deposits of granite,dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay
People Belarus
Population:10,310,520 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.3% (male 859,219; female 823,839)15-64 years: 69.2% (male 3,469,926; female 3,662,203)65 years and over: 14.5% (male 496,204; female 999,129) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 36.9 yearsmale: 34.2 yearsfemale: 39.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.11% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.52 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:14.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.62 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.57 yearsmale: 62.79 yearsfemale: 74.65 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.36 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:15,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Belarusian(s)adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups:Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%
Religions:Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant,Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Languages:Belarusian, Russian, other
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%male: 99.8%female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
Government Belarus
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Belarusconventional short form: Belaruslocal short form: noneformer: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Respublika Byelarus'
Government type:republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Capital:Minsk
Administrative divisions:6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality*(horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk,Vitsyebsknote: administrative divisions have the same names as theiradministrative centers
Independence:25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the dateMinsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the dateof independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removingpresidential term limits
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)head of government: Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKY (since 19December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (sinceDecember 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Andrei KOBYAKOV (sinceDecember 2003), Vladimir DRAZHIN (since 24 September 2001), IvanBAMBIZA (since 25 May 2004), Anatoly TYUTYUNOV (since July 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministerselection results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percentof vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 75.6%, Vladimir GONCHARIK 15.4%elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999,however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996referendum; new election held 9 September 2001; October 2004referendum ended presidential term limits allowing president to runfor a third term in September 2006; prime minister and deputy primeministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of theCouncil of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 memberselected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by thepresident, all for 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representativesor Palata Predstaviteliy (110 seats; members elected by universaladult suffrage to serve 4-year terms)election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - NA; Palata Pretsaviteley - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - NAelections: last held 18 March and 1 April 2001 and 17 and 31 October2004 (bi-election will be held March 2005 to fill one unfilled seatin the Palata Predstaviteliy); international observers widelydenounced the October 2004 elections as flawed and undemocratic,based on massive government falsification; pro-Lukashenko candidateswon every seat, after many opposition candidates were disqualifiedfor technical reasons
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president);Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the presidentand half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)
Political parties and leaders:Pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP; Belarusian CommunistParty or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian PatrioticParty) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH, chairman]; Liberal DemocraticParty of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH]; Social-Sports Party;Opposition parties: Belarusian Popular Front or BNF [VintsukVYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democrat Party Narodnaya Gromada orBSDP NG [Nikolay STATKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Social-DemocraticParty Hromada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH, chairman]; United Civic Partyor UCP [Anatol LEBEDKO]; Party of Communists Belarusian or PKB[Sergei KALYAKIN, chairman]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [ValentinaMATUSEVICH, chairperson]note: the opposition Belarusian Party of Labor [AleksandrBUKHVOSTOV] was liquidated in August 2004, but remains active
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG,OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOVFAX: [1] (202) 986-1805consulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 986-1604chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador George A. KROLembassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853
Flag description:red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half thewidth of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist sidebears Belarusian national ornamention in red
Economy Belarus
Economy - overview:Belarus' economy in 2003 posted 6.1 percent growth and is likely tocontinue expanding through 2004, albeit at a slower growth rate. TheBelarusian economy in 2004 is likely to be hampered by highinflation, persistent trade deficits, and ongoing rocky relationswith Russia, Belarus' largest trading partner and energy supplier.Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when PresidentLUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism."In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrativecontrols over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded thestate's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises.In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part ofcentral and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes inregulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive applicationof new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmenand factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies hashelped those at the bottom of the ladder. For the time being,Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-marketeconomies.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $62.56 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.8% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.1% industry: 36.4% services: 52.5% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:22% (1995 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 20% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:21.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):28.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.8 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:2.1% officially registered unemployed (December 2000); large numberof underemployed workers (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.976 billionexpenditures: $3.211 billion, including capital expenditures of $180million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Industries:metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers,motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles,radios, refrigerators
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:24.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:26.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:4.3 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:230,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:200 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:17.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-945 million (2003)
Exports:$9.413 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals;textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Russia 49.1%, UK 9.4%, Poland 4.4%, Germany 4.2%, Netherlands 4.2%(2003)
Imports:$11.09 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs,metals
Imports - partners:Russia 65.8%, Germany 7.1%, Ukraine 3.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$637 million (2003)
Debt - external:$851 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$194.3 million (1995)
Currency:Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Currency code:BYB/BYR
Exchange rates:Belarusian rubles per US dollar - 1,790.92 (2003), 1,920 (2002),1,390 (2001), 876.75 (2000), 248.795 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Belarus
Telephones - main lines in use:3,071,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.118 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls alltelecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company)Beltelcom which is a monopolydomestic: local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and acellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long;local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity -Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presentlyserving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus' fiber optics formsynchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries'systems; an inadequate analog system remains operationalinternational: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of theTrans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line,and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-opticsegments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, andUkraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through thisinfrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat,Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:2.52 million (1997)
Internet country code:.by
Internet hosts:5,308 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):23 (2002)
Internet users:1,391,900 (2003)
Transportation Belarus
Railways: total: 5,523 km broad gauge: 5,523 km 1.520-m gauge (875 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 74,385 km paved: 66,203 km unpaved: 8,182 km (2000)
Waterways:2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and byshallowness) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 5,223 km; oil 2,443 km; refined products 1,686 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Mazyr
Airports:135 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 50 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 under 914 m: 21 (2003 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 85 under 914 m: 64 (2003 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Belarus
Military branches:Army, Air and Air Defense Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (May 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,764,856 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,164,923 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 86,716 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$176.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Belarus
Disputes - international:1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified overunresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishingborder security; boundaries with Latvia and Lithuania remainundemarcated despite European Union financial support
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for thedomestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and viaRussia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightlyregulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislationdoes not meet international standards; few investigations orprosecutions of money-laundering activities
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Belgium
Introduction Belgium
Background:Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and wasoccupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered inthe past half century as a modern, technologically advanced Europeanstate and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between theDutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speakingWalloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutionalamendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.
Geography Belgium
Location:Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and theNetherlands
Geographic coordinates:50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 30,528 sq kmland: 30,278 sq kmwater: 250 sq km
Area - comparative:about the size of Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 1,385 kmborder countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,Netherlands 450 km
Coastline:66.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: median line with neighbors exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
Climate:temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain:flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, ruggedmountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: North Sea 0 mhighest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m
Natural resources:coal, natural gas, construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land use:arable land: 23.28%permanent crops: 0.4%note: includes Luxembourg (2001)other: 76.32%
Irrigated land:40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastalland, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Environment - current issues:the environment is exposed to intense pressures from humanactivities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry,extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and waterpollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (nowresolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-VolatileOrganic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitalswithin 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union andNATO
People Belgium
Population:10,348,276 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.1% (male 901,486; female 863,092)15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,424,438; female 3,364,057)65 years and over: 17.3% (male 739,479; female 1,055,724) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 40.2 yearsmale: 38.9 yearsfemale: 41.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.16% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.59 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.44 yearsmale: 75.26 yearsfemale: 81.75 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.64 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:10,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Belgian(s)adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups:Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%
Religions:Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%
Languages:Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) lessthan 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: NAfemale: NA
Government Belgium
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgiumconventional short form: Belgiumlocal short form: Belgique/Belgielocal long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
Government type:federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch
Capital:Brussels
Administrative divisions:10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles),Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderennote: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthereddevolution into a federal state, there are now three levels ofgovernment (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with acomplex division of responsibilities
Independence:4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence fromthe Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)
National holiday:21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I
Constitution:7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved aconstitutional package creating a federal state
Legal system:civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory;judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir ApparentPrince PHILIPPE, son of the monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarchnote: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spiritelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by themonarch and then approved by Parliament
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senatin French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popularvote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) anda Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch,Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directlyelected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representationto serve four-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5,VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly electedsenators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthereddevolution into a federal state, there are now three levels ofgovernment (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with acomplex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves sixgovernments each with its own legislative assembly; for otheracronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leadersentryelections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 May 2003(next to be held no later than May 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour deCassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by theGovernment; candidacies have to be submitted by the High JusticeCouncil)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Ecolo(Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK,Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS];Flemish Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT];Francophone Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET];Francophone Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; FrancophoneSocialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; GROEN! (formerly AGALEV,Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; NewFlemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT];note - new party now associated with SP.A; Vlaams Belang or VB[Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation ofBelgian Industries; numerous other associations representingbankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal andmedical professions; various organizations represent the culturalinterests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as PaxChristi and groups representing immigrants
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB(nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELEFAX: [1] (202) 333-3079consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 333-6900chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOSembassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brusselsmailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red;the design was based on the flag of France