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 nmexclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limitcontinental shelf: median line with neighbors
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:construction materials, silica sand, carbonates
Land use: arable land: 23.28% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 76.32% note: includes Luxembourg (2001)
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:10,364,388 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.9% (male 892,995/female 855,177)15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,435,282/female 3,373,917)65 years and over: 17.4% (male 745,178/female 1,061,839) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 40.55 yearsmale: 39.29 yearsfemale: 41.81 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.15% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 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 (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.62 yearsmale: 75.44 yearsfemale: 81.94 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.64 children born/woman (2005 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: NA%female: NA%
Government Belgium
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgiumconventional short form: Belgiumlocal long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgielocal short form: Belgique/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; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to createa 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 monarchelections: 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 parliamentnote: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit
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)elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 May 2003(next to be held no later than May 2007)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
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:Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [JoVANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN!(formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish Allianceor NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A[Caroline GENNEZ]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associatedwith SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE]Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Centerof CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET];Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS[Elio DI RUPO]; 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 DAELEchancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York
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
Economy Belgium
Economy - overview:This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on itscentral geographic location, highly developed transport network, anddiversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentratedmainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few naturalresources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of rawmaterials and export a large volume of manufactures, making itseconomy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughlythree-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debtis nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, the government hassucceeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution isrelatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency inJanuary 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because ofthe global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$316.2 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $30,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.3% industry: 25.7% services: 73% (2004 est.)
Labor force:4.75 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:12% (first half, 2004)
Population below poverty line:4% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 23% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:28.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $173.7 billionexpenditures: $174.8 billion, including capital expenditures of$1.56 billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:96.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,pork, milk
Industries:engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food andbeverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:3.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:76.58 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 38.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 59.3% other: 1.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:78.82 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:9.1 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:16.7 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:595,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:450,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:1.042 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:15.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$11.4 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$255.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metalproducts, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 19.9%, France 17.2%, Netherlands 11.8%, UK 8.6%, US 6.5%,Italy 5.2% (2004)
Imports:$235 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals,foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products
Imports - partners:Germany 18.4%, Netherlands 17%, France 12.5%, UK 6.8%, Ireland6.3%, US 5.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$14.45 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$28.3 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Belgium
Telephones - main lines in use:5,120,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,135,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, andcompletely automated domestic and international telephone andtelegraph facilitiesdomestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cablenetwork; limited microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 32; 5 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations:FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:8.075 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4.72 million (1997)
Internet country code:.be
Internet hosts:166,799 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):61 (2000)
Internet users:3.4 million (2002)
Transportation Belgium
Railways: total: 3,521 km standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 149,028 kmpaved: 116,540 km (including 1,729 km of expressways)unpaved: 32,488 km (2002)
Waterways:2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge
Merchant marine:total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,146,301 GRT/1,588,184 DWTby type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 8,liquefied gas 17, petroleum tanker 9foreign-owned: 12 (Denmark 4, France 4, Greece 4)registered in other countries: 101 (2005)
Airports:43 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Belgium
Military branches:Land, Naval, and Air Components (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise some 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 2,436,736 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 1,998,003 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 64,263 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.999 billion (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Belgium
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-boundecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaineprocessors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, andmarijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening oflegislation, the country remains vulnerable to money launderingrelated to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Belize
Introduction Belize
Background:Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed theindependence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourismhas become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plaguedby high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drugtrade, and increasing urban crime.
Geography Belize
Location:Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala andMexico
Geographic coordinates:17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 22,966 sq kmland: 22,806 sq kmwater: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:386 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - fromthe mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize'sterritorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework fornegotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences withGuatemalaexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dryseason (February to May)
Terrain:flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 1.71% other: 95.44% (2001)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastalflooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,agricultural runoff; solid and sewage 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:only country in Central America without a coastline on the NorthPacific Ocean
People Belize
Population:279,457 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 40.1% (male 57,114/female 54,877)15-64 years: 56.4% (male 79,694/female 77,881)65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,768/female 5,123) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 19.35 yearsmale: 19.21 yearsfemale: 19.49 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.33% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:29.34 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.93 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.69 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 22.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.44 yearsmale: 66.54 yearsfemale: 70.44 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.68 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Religions:Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%,Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
Languages:English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.1%male: 94.1%female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Government Belize
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Belmopan
Administrative divisions:6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:21 September 1981
Legal system:English law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17November 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September1998)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; primeminister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 membersappointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the primeminister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, andone each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches andEvangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerceand Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the NationalTrade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee;members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popularvote to serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (nextto be held March 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PUP 21, UDP 8
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governorgeneral on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Partyor UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [AdeleCATZIM]
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, IOM, ITU,LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMANchancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMANembassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize Citymailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize Citytelephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163FAX: [501] 2-30802
Flag description:blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat ofarms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahoganytree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in theShade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy Belize
Economy - overview:In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourismindustry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed bymarine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. Thegovernment's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated inSeptember 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 6% in1999-2004. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficitand foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reductionof poverty with the help of international donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.778 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 17.7%industry: 15%services: 67.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:90,000note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.9% (2003)
Population below poverty line:33% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):33.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $244.5 millionexpenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Industries:garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate:4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production:117 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:108.8 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-115 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$401.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners:US 37.2%, UK 26.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2004)
Imports:$579.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:US 30.1%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 7.4%, Cuba 7.2%, China 4.2%, Japan4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$111.1 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:BZD
Exchange rates:Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2(2001), 2 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:33,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:60,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: above-average systemdomestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:41,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bz
Internet hosts:2,613 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:30,000 (2002)
Transportation Belize
Highways: total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004)
Ports and harbors:Belize City
Merchant marine:total: 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWTby type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 207, chemical tanker 9, container 6,passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 17, rollon/roll off 5foreign-owned: 142 (Australia 2, Belgium 1, China 50, Cuba 1, Cyprus1, Estonia 9, Germany 4, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 3, Italy 2, Japan 5,Latvia 4, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 2, Russia 23,Singapore 5, South Korea 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 2,Ukraine 4, UAE 3, United States 2) (2005)
Airports:43 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 382,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)
Military Belize
Military branches:Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, andVolunteer Guard
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 60,750 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 41,368 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 3,209 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$18 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Belize
Disputes - international:Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabitedrain forests of Belize's border region; OAS is attempting to revivethe 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to landboundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, jointecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UKfinancial package
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producerof cannabis for the international drug trade; money-launderingactivity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Benin
Introduction Benin
Background:Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West Africankingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a FrenchColony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as theRepublic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishmentof a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move torepresentative government began in 1989. Two years later, freeelections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO aspresident, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africafrom a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power byelections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities werealleged.
Geography Benin
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria andTogo
Geographic coordinates:9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 112,620 sq kmland: 110,620 sq kmwater: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 1,989 kmborder countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,Togo 644 km
Coastline:121 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use: arable land: 18.08% permanent crops: 2.4% other: 79.52% (2001)
Irrigated land:120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December toMarch
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlifepopulations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no naturalharbors, river mouths, or islands
People Benin
Population:7,460,025note: 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 (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.5% (male 1,752,243/female 1,719,458)15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,868,630/female 1,948,610)65 years and over: 2.3% (male 70,367/female 100,717) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 16.56 yearsmale: 16.12 yearsfemale: 17.01 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.82% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 85 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 90 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 79.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 52.66 yearsmale: 51.53 yearsfemale: 53.82 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:68,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:5,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Beninese (singular and plural)adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups:African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja,Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars insouth), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 33.6%male: 46.4%female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
Government Benin
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Beninconventional short form: Beninlocal long form: Republique du Beninlocal short form: Beninformer: Dahomey
Government type:republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-LeninismDecember 1989
Capital:Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat ofgovernment
Administrative divisions:12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines,Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Independence:1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:National Day, 1 August (1960)
Constitution:December 1990
Legal system:based on French civil law and customary law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held March 2006)election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent ofvote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first-roundpresidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%,Nicephore SOGLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI(National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister ofState) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGLO andHOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU torun against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termeda "friendly match"
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 othersmall parties) 31
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court orCour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; AfricanMovement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN];Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU];Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; DemocraticRenewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal andDevelopment or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progressand Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA];Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and four small parties);Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The StarAlliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Beninor UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC,NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30-06-50 FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with avertical green band on the hoist side
Economy Benin
Economy - overview:The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent onsubsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years,but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase.Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order toraise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreigninvestment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate thedevelopment of new food processing systems and agriculturalproducts, and encourage new information and communicationtechnology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue intelecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite ofinitial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateralcreditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing formore rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt byNigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list ofproducts from Benin and elsewhere. As a result, smuggling andcriminality along the Benin-Nigeria border has been on the rise.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.338 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 36.3%industry: 14.3%services: 49.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:NA (1996)
Unemployment rate:NA
Population below poverty line:33% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $869.4 millionexpenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)
Industries:textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001)
Industrial production growth rate:8.3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:285.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.2% hydro: 85.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:565.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:300 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:608.8 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-159.9 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$720.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners:China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%,Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004)
Imports:$934.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$839.3 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.6 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$342.6 million (2000)
Currency (code):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 - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Benin
Telephones - main lines in use:66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:236,200 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, andcellular connectionsinternational: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios:660,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:66,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.bj
Internet hosts:879 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2002)
Internet users:70,000 (2003)
Transportation Benin
Railways: total: 578 km narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 6,787 kmpaved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
Ports and harbors:Cotonou
Airports:5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Benin
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 21-49: 1,207,071females age 21-49: 1,216,180 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 21-49: 670,170females age 21-49: 630,078 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 72,841females: 71,428 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$96.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.4% (2004)
Transnational Issues Benin
Disputes - international:two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso;accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Nigerboundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, andthe states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputedNiger and Mekrou River islands; a joint task force was establishedin 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the870-km land boundary with Nigeria, including the sovereignty overseven villages along the Okpara River; a joint boundary commissioncontinues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claimthat Togo moved boundary stones
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigeriantrafficking organizations and most commonly destined for WesternEurope and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorlyregulated financial infrastructure
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bermuda
Introduction Bermuda
Background:Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonistsheaded for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North Americanwinters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to beimportant to the island's economy, although international businesshas overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into ahighly successful offshore financial center. A referendum onindependence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Geography Bermuda
Location:North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, eastof South Carolina (US)