Geographic coordinates:32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:North America
Area:total: 53.3 sq kmland: 53.3 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:103 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space;sustainable development
Geography - note:consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall,but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by USGovernment from 1941 to 1995
People Bermuda
Population:65,365 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.9% (male 6,177/female 6,154)15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,422/female 22,828)65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,378/female 4,406) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 39.76 yearsmale: 38.78 yearsfemale: 40.58 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.64% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:11.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.53 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.79 yearsmale: 75.7 yearsfemale: 79.91 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Bermudian(s)adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified0.4% (2000 census)
Religions:Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%,other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%,none 14% (2000 census)
Languages:English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 99% (1970 est.)
Government Bermuda
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:parliamentary British overseas territory with internalself-government
Capital:Hamilton
Administrative divisions:9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*,Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's,Southampton, Warwick
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution:8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
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 Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002)head of government: Premier William Alexander SCOTT (since 24 July2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWNcabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governorelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyappointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member bodyappointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and theHouse of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve up to five-year terms)elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be heldJuly 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%;seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; UnitedBermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Unionor BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [EdBALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation:Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO,Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342 FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Flag description:red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lionholding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship SeaVenture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy Bermuda
Economy - overview:Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world,nearly equal to that of the US. Its economy is primarily based onproviding financial services for international business and luxuryfacilities for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have hadboth positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On thepositive side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located onthe island, contributing to the expansion of an already robustinternational business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda'stourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from theUS - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel.Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002-04. Most capital equipment andfood must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small,although construction continues to be important; the average cost ofa house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited,only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.33 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 37,470 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:5% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:19% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.3% (mid-2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $671.1 millionexpenditures: $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55million (FY03/04)
Agriculture - products:bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Industries:tourism, international business, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:643 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:598 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$879 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:France 73.2%, UK 6.2%, Spain 2.4% (2004)
Imports:$5.523 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners:Kazakhstan 39.2%, France 16.2%, Japan 13.1%, Italy 9.2%, SouthKorea 8.8%, US 6.4% (2004)
Debt - external:$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code:BMD
Exchange rates:Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to theUS dollar)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use:56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:37,873 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: gooddomestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optictrunk linesinternational: country code - 1-441; 3 fiber optic submarine cables;satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (2004)
Televisions:66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bm
Internet hosts:5,161 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):20 (2000)
Internet users:34,500 (2003)
Transportation Bermuda
Highways: total: 450 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 0 km note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:total: 108 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWTby type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 6, container 22, liquefied gas 13,passenger 13, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, refrigeratedcargo 11, roll on/roll off 7foreign-owned: 103 (Australia 2, Canada 20, Finland 2, Germany 1,Greece 1, Hong Kong 5, Indonesia 1, Nigeria 8, Norway 5, Sweden 9,Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 27, United States 20)registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bermuda
Military branches:Bermuda Regiment
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.03 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Bermuda
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bhutan
Introduction Bhutan
Background:In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, underwhich Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for cedingsome border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the Britishagreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutanallowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumedby independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formalIndo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by theBritish, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, anddefined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Arefugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved;90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of theHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.
Geography Bhutan
Location:Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 47,000 sq kmland: 47,000 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summersin central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrain:mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Land use: arable land: 3.09% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.48% (2001)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country'sname which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequentlandslides during the rainy season
Environment - current issues:soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastessigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controlsseveral key Himalayan mountain passes
People Bhutan
Population: 2,232,291 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39.1% (male 452,213/female 420,675)15-64 years: 56.9% (male 654,109/female 615,431)65 years and over: 4% (male 45,281/female 44,582) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 20.27 yearsmale: 20.11 yearsfemale: 20.44 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.11% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:34.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:12.94 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: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 100.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 98.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 102.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 54.39 yearsmale: 54.65 yearsfemale: 54.11 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups:Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one ofseveral Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religions:Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages:Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects,Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 42.2%male: 56.2%female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Government Bhutan
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutanconventional short form: Bhutan
Government type:monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital:Thimphu
Administrative divisions:18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel,Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu,Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrangnote: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse
Independence:8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday:National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17December (1907)
Constitution:no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the Kingcommissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004presented a draft to the Council of Ministers; now awaitingreferendum
Legal system:based on Indian law and English common law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law
Executive branch:chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers LyonpoSangay NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by themonarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed,five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council(Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reformsin July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove themonarch with two-thirds vote
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 electedfrom village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35are designated by the monarch to represent government and othersecular interests; members serve three-year terms)elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be heldNA 2005)election results: NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointedby the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militantantigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front forDemocracy (exiled)
International organization participation:AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Flag description:divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the uppertriangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered alongthe dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away fromthe hoist side
Economy Bhutan
Economy - overview:The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, isbased on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihoodfor more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely ofsubsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominatethe terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructuredifficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India'sthrough strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India'sfinancial assistance. The industrial sector is technologicallybackward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Mostdevelopment projects, such as road construction, rely on Indianmigrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction fortourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environmentprograms are underway with support from multilateral developmentorganizations. Each economic program takes into account thegovernment's desire to protect the country's environment andcultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautiousexpansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale,environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls anduncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 10% services: 45% (2002 est.)
Labor force: NA note: massive lack of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5%
Unemployment rate:NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $146 millionexpenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NAnote: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths ofBhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Industries:cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate:9.3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:2.001 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:312.9 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:1.56 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:12 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners:Bangladesh 47.4%, Japan 30.2%, France 3.4% (2004)
Imports:$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics,rice
Imports - partners:Germany 65.4%, Japan 14.3%, Austria 6.8%, UK 4.5% (2004)
Debt - external:$245 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:substantial aid from India and other nations
Currency (code):ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:BTN; INR
Exchange rates:ngultrum per US dollar - 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61(2002), 47.186 (2001), 44.942 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Bhutan
Telephones - main lines in use:25,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:22,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poordomestic: very low tele-density; domestic service is very poorespecially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003international: country code - 975; international telephone andtelegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)
Radios:37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2005)
Televisions:11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bt
Internet hosts:985 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:15,000 (2003)
Transportation Bhutan
Highways: total: 4,007 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 3,983 km (2002)
Airports: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bhutan
Military branches:Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal BhutanPolice) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 483,860 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 314,975 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 23,939 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$13.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.8% (2004)
Transnational Issues Bhutan
Disputes - international:approximately 104,000 Bhutanese refugees live in Nepal, 90% of whomreside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugeescamps; Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian separatists
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bolivia
Introduction Bolivia
Background:Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke awayfrom Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history hasconsisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups.Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, butleaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, socialunrest, and illegal drug production. Current goals includeattracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system,resolving disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrugefforts, and waging an anticorruption campaign.
Geography Bolivia
Location:Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates:17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,098,580 sq kmland: 1,084,390 sq kmwater: 14,190 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:total: 6,743 kmborder countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km,Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Terrain:rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills,lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 mhighest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Natural resources:tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver,iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.67% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 97.14% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,280 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding in the northeast (March-April)
Environment - current issues:the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and theinternational demand for tropical timber are contributing todeforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivationmethods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification;loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies usedfor drinking and irrigation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection
Geography - note:landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highestnavigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru
People Bolivia
Population:8,857,870 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35.7% (male 1,613,049/female 1,551,023)15-64 years: 59.8% (male 2,591,328/female 2,701,892)65 years and over: 4.5% (male 178,486/female 222,092) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 21.47 yearsmale: 20.79 yearsfemale: 22.17 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.49% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:23.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.27 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: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 53.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 49.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.5 yearsmale: 62.89 yearsfemale: 68.25 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:4,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bolivian(s)adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic groups:Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%,Aymara 25%, white 15%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%
Languages:Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 87.2%male: 93.1%female: 81.6% (2003 est.)
Government Bolivia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Boliviaconventional short form: Bolivialocal long form: Republica de Bolivialocal short form: Bolivia
Government type:republic
Capital:La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat ofjudiciary)
Administrative divisions:9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca,Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Independence:6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Constitution:2 February 1967; revised in August 1994
Legal system:based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years ofage, universal and compulsory (single)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Eduardo RODRIGUEZ Veltze (since 9 June2005); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chiefof state and head of governmenthead of government: President Eduardo RODRIGUEZ Veltze (since 9 June2005); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chiefof state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 30 June 2002(next to be held June 2007)election results: as a result of no candidate winning a majority inthe 30 June 2002 election, Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamante waschosen president by Congress; congressional votes - Gonzalo SANCHEZDE LOZADA Bustamante 84, Evo MORALES 43; note - following theresignation of the elected president on 17 October 2003 and VicePresident Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert on 9 June 2005, EduardoRODRIGUEZ Veltze, President of the Supreme Court and constitutionalsuccessor, became president.
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists ofChamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members areelected by proportional representation from party lists to servefive-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130seats; 68 are directly elected from their districts and 62 areelected by proportional representation from party lists to servefive-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held30 June 2002 (next to be held June 2007)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - MNR 11, MAS 8, MIR 5, NFR 2, other 1; Chamberof Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNR36, MAS 27, MIR 26, NFR 25, others 16
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year termsby National Congress); District Courts (one in each department);provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)
Political parties and leaders:Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic SolidarityUnion or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [FranzBARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA [FreddyZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZZamora]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Evo MORALES]; MovementWithout Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; Nationalist DemocraticAction or ADN [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; NationalistRevolutionary Movement or MNR [leader NA]; New Republican Force orNFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous Movement or MIP[Felipe QUISPE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jeres JUSTINIANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Cocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions; SoleConfederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [RomanLOAYZA]
International organization participation:CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM,OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime APARICIO Oterochancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador David N. GREENLEEembassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Pazmailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032telephone: [591] (2) 2430120, 2430251FAX: [591] (2) 2433900
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green withthe coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag ofGhana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in theyellow band
Economy Bolivia
Economy - overview:Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin Americancountries, reformed its economy after suffering a disastrouseconomic crisis in the early 1980s. The reforms spurred real GDPgrowth, which averaged 4 percent in the 1990s, and poverty ratesfell. Economic growth, however, lagged again beginning in 1999because of a global slowdown and homegrown factors such as politicalturmoil, civil unrest, and soaring fiscal deficits, all of whichhurt investor confidence. In 2003, violent protests against thepro-foreign investment economic policies of President SANCHEZ DELOZADA led to his resignation and the cancellation of plans toexport Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to largenorthern hemisphere markets. Foreign investment dried up ascompanies adopted a wait-and-see attitude regarding new PresidentCarlos MESA's willingness to protect investor rights in the face ofincreased demands by radical groups that the government expropriateforeign-owned assets. Real GDP growth in 2003 and 2004 - helped byincreased demand for natural gas in neighboring Brazil - waspositive, but still below the levels seen during the 1990s. Boliviaremains dependent on foreign aid from multilateral lenders andforeign governments.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$22.33 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 28% services: 59% (2004 est.)
Labor force:3.8 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate: 9.2% in urban areas note: widespread underemployment (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line: 64% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 32% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44.7 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):10.4% of GDP (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.264 billionexpenditures: $2.769 billion, including capital expenditures of $741million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes;timber
Industries:mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco,handicrafts, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:5.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:4.132 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.4% hydro: 54% nuclear: 0% other: 1.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.848 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:3 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:9 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:39,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:458.8 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:8.44 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:2.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:727.2 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$273 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$1.986 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore,tin
Exports - partners:Brazil 40%, US 13.9%, Colombia 8.7%, Peru 6.3%, Japan 4.5% (2004)
Imports:$1.595 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts,prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans
Imports - partners:Brazil 29.7%, Argentina 17.6%, US 10.8%, Chile 7.7%, Peru 7.3%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.214 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$5.439 billion (June 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$681 million (2002)
Currency (code):boliviano (BOB)
Currency code:BOB
Exchange rates:bolivianos per US dollar - 7.9363 (2004), 7.6592 (2003), 7.17(2002), 6.6069 (2001), 6.1835 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bolivia
Telephones - main lines in use:600,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,401,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties;most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobilecellular telephone use expanding rapidlydomestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employsdigital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-opticcable; mobile cellular systems are being expandedinternational: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)
Radios:5.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:48 (1997)
Televisions:900,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bo
Internet hosts:7,080 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2000)
Internet users:270,000 (2002)
Transportation Bolivia
Railways: total: 3,519 km narrow gauge: 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 60,282 km paved: 3,979 km unpaved: 56,303 km (2002)
Waterways:10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,457 km; refinedproducts 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at theBolivia/Brazil border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges inmaritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
Merchant marine:total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 413,407 GRT/699,901 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 16, chemical tanker 1, container 1,passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1foreign-owned: 11 (Argentina 1, Egypt 2, Eritrea 1, Germany 1, Iran1, Singapore 2, United Kingdom 1, United States 2) (2005)
Airports:1,065 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,049 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 60 914 to 1,523 m: 207 under 914 m: 778 (2004 est.)
Military Bolivia
Military branches:Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval; includes Marines),Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana) (2004)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; one estimate holds that 40% of the armed forces are under the age of 18, with 50% of those under the age of 16; conscript tour of duty - 12 months (2002)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,923,234 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,311,414 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 101,101 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$132.2 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2004)
Transnational Issues Bolivia
Disputes - international:Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacamacorridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted butnot sovereign maritime access through Chile for Bolivian natural gasand other commodities
Illicit drugs:world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru)with an estimated 28,450 hectares under cultivation in June 2003, a23% increase from June 2002; intermediate coca products and cocaineexported mostly to or through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile toEuropean and US drug markets; eradication and alternative cropprograms under the MESA administration have been unable to keep pacewith farmers' attempts to increase cultivation; money-launderingactivity related to narcotics trade, especially along the borderswith Brazil and Paraguay
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction Bosnia and Herzegovina
Background:Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October1991, was followed by a declaration of independence from the formerYugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnicSerbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia andMontenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioningthe republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to forma "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced thenumber of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreementcreating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialeda peace agreement that brought to a halt three years of interethniccivil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December1995). The Dayton Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina'sinternational boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic anddemocratic government. This national government was charged withconducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognizedwas a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughlyequal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia andHerzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). TheFederation and RS governments were charged with overseeing mostgovernment functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR)was established to oversee the implementation of the civilianaspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led internationalpeacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia toimplement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFORwas succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR)whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Unionpeacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; theirmission was to maintain peace and stability throughout the country.
Geography Bosnia and Herzegovina
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
Geographic coordinates:44 00 N, 18 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 51,129 sq kmland: 51,129 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,459 km border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km
Coastline:20 km
Maritime claims:no data available
Climate:hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short,cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters alongcoast
Terrain:mountains and valleys
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Maglic 2,386 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt,manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.6% permanent crops: 2.96% other: 83.44% (2001)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing ofurban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction ofinfrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country isdivided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of theterritory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguousto Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro (Montenegro), and traditionallyhas been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and anethnic Serb majority in the east
People Bosnia and Herzegovina
Population:4,025,476 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.3% (male 378,784/female 358,784)15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,458,405/female 1,388,793)65 years and over: 10.9% (male 188,741/female 251,969) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 36.21 yearsmale: 35.81 yearsfemale: 36.63 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.44% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 21.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 23.62 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.83 yearsmale: 74.21 yearsfemale: 81.72 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.71 children born/woman (2005 est.)