HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic groups:Serb 37.1%, Bosniak 48%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000)note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoidconfusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam
Religions:Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%
Languages:Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.6%male: 98.4%female: 91.1% (2000 est.)
Government Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovinalocal long form: nonelocal short form: Bosna i Hercegovinaformer: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, SocialistRepublic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Government type:emerging federal democratic republic
Capital:Sarajevo
Administrative divisions:2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationallysupervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, theBosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosnai Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note -Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an administrativeunit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the districtremains under international supervision
Independence:1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence wascompleted 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)
National holiday:National Day, 25 November (1943)
Constitution:the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a newconstitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has itsown constitution
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Ivo Miro JOVIC (since 28June 2005; presidency member since 9 May 2005 - Croat; note - DraganCOVIC was sacked by High Representative Paddy ASHDOWN on 29 Mar2005); other members of the three-member rotating (every eightmonths) presidency: Borislav PARAVAC (since 10 April 2003 - Serb);and Sulejman TIHIC (since 5 October 2002 - Bosniak)head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers AdnanTERZIC (since 20 December 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman;approved by the National House of Representativeselections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, oneCroat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term;the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or shewas the incumbent chairman at the time of the election, but thechairmanship rotates every eight months; election last held 5October 2002 (next to be held NA 2006); the chairman of the Councilof Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by theNational House of Representativeselection results: percent of vote - Mirko SAROVIC with 35.5% of theSerb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for thefirst eight months; Dragan COVIC received 61.5% of the Croat vote;Sulejman TIHIC received 37% of the Bosniak votenote: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: NikoLOZANCIC (since 27 January 2003); Vice Presidents Sahbaz DZIHANOVIC(since NA 2003) and Desnica RADIVOJEVIC (since NA 2003); Presidentof the Republika Srpska: Dragan CAVIC (since 28 November 2002)
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of theNational House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats -elected by proportional representation, 28 seats allocated from theFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats from the RepublikaSrpska; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms);and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation'sHouse of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's NationalAssembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election lawspecifies four-year terms for the state and first-orderadministrative division entity legislatureselections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 5October 2002 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Peoples - lastconstituted NA January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)election results: National House of Representatives - percent ofvote by party/coalition - SDA 21.9%, SDS 14.0%, SBiH 10.5%, SDP10.4%, SNSD 9.8%, HDZ 9.5%, PDP 4.6%, others 19.3%; seats byparty/coalition - SDA 10, SDS 5, SBiH 6, SDP 4, SNSD 3, HDZ 5, PDP2, others 7; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition -NA%; seats by party/coalition - NAnote: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature thatconsists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 32, HDZ-BiH 16, SDP 15,SBiH 15, other 20; and a House of Peoples (60 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30Croat); last constituted December 2002; the Republika Srpska has aNational Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next tobe held in the fall of 2006); percent of vote by party - NA%; seatsby party/coalition - SDS 26, SNSD 19, PDP 9, SDA 6, SRS 4, SPRS 3,DNZ 3, SBiH 4, SDP 3, others 6; as a result of the 2002constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Councilof Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska NationalAssembly including 8 Croats, 8 Bosniaks, 8 Serbs, and 4 members ofthe smaller communities
Judicial branch:BiH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members: four membersare selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House ofRepresentatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's NationalAssembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of theEuropean Court of Human Rights); BiH State Court (consists of ninejudges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and Criminal- having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law andappellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities; note -a War Crimes Chamber may be added at a future date)note: the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has anumber of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in theFederation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpskahas five municipal courts
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK];Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party orGDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia andHerzegovina or HDZ-BH [Barisa COLAK]; Croat Christian DemocraticUnion of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Mijo IVANIC-LONIC]; CroatParty of Rights or HSP [Zdravko HRISTIC]; Croat Peasants Party orHSS [Marko TADIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ [Fikret ABDIC];Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croat Initiativeor NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBiH[Safet HALILOVIC]; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [SulejmanTIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; SerbDemocratic Party or SDS [Dragan CAVIC - acting]; Serb Radical Partyof the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb RadicalParty-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; SocialDemocratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; SocialDemocratic Union or SDU [Miro LAZOVIC]; Socialist Party of RepublikaSrpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:BIS, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW,OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bisera TURKOVICchancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas L. McELHANEY embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo mailing address: use street address telephone: [387] (33) 445-700 FAX: [387] (33) 659-722 branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar
Flag description:a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellowisosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; theremainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointedwhite stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuseof the triangle
Economy Bosnia and Herzegovina
Economy - overview:Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorestrepublic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture isalmost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, andthe republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry hasbeen greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economicstructure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of militaryindustries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted anumber of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The interethnic warfare inBosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 andunemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace in place, outputrecovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; butoutput growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in output was madeup in 2003-2004. National-level statistics are limited and do notcapture the large share of black market activity. The konvertibilnamarka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency introduced in1998 - is now pegged to the euro, and the Central Bank of Bosnia andHerzegovina has dramatically increased its reserve holdings.Implementation of privatization, however, has been slow, and localentities only reluctantly support national-level institutions.Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era paymentsbureaus were shut down. A sizeable current account deficit and highunemployment rate remain the two most serious economic problems. Thecountry receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistanceand humanitarian aid from the international community but will haveto prepare for an era of declining assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$26.21 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.2% industry: 30.8% services: 55% (2002)
Labor force:1.026 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:44% officially; however, grey economy may reduce actualunemployment to near 20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.1% (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.618 billionexpenditures: $3.642 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicleassembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank andaircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (2001)
Industrial production growth rate:5.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:10.04 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 53.5% hydro: 46.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:8.318 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:3.288 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:2.271 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:300 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-2.1 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:metals, clothing, wood products
Exports - partners:Italy 22.3%, Croatia 21.1%, Germany 20.8%, Austria 7.4%, Slovenia7.1%, Hungary 4.8% (2004)
Imports:$5.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Croatia 23.8%, Slovenia 15.8%, Germany 14.8%, Italy 11.4%, Austria6.6%, Hungary 6.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$3 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$650 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):marka (BAM)
Currency code:BAM
Exchange rates:marka per US dollar - 1.58 (2004), 1.73 (2003), 2.08 (2002), 2.19(2001), 2.12 (2000)note: the marka is pegged to the euro
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephones - main lines in use:938,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.05 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone and telegraph network needsmodernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average ascontrasted with services in other former Yugoslav republicsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.ba
Internet hosts:6,994 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2002)
Transportation Bosnia and Herzegovina
Railways:total: 1,021 km (795 km electrified)standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 21,846 kmpaved: 11,424 kmunpaved: 10,422 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limitedbecause of no agreement with neighboring countries (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (allinland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje
Airports:27 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 82,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 191,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Heliports:5 (2004 est.)
Military Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military branches:VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commandswithin the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces aresubordinate commands within the Army)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of age in times of war; 18 years of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years of age for voluntary military service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; by law, military obligations cover all healthy men between the ages of 18 and 60, and all women between the ages of 18 and 55; service obligation is 4 months (July 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,034,367 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 829,530 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 31,264 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$234.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Bosnia and Herzegovina
Disputes - international:Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro have delimitedmost of their boundary, but sections along the Drina River remain indispute; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputedsections of the boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 327,200 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in1992-95 war) (2004)
Illicit drugs:minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes toWestern Europe; remains highly vulnerable to money-launderingactivity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weaklaw enforcement and instances of corruption
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Botswana
Introduction Botswana
Background:Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adoptedits new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades ofuninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, andsignificant capital investment have created one of the most dynamiceconomies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector dueto the country's conservation practices and extensive naturepreserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates ofHIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive andcomprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Geography Botswana
Location:Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 600,370 sq kmland: 585,370 sq kmwater: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 4,013 kmborder countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe813 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain:predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert insouthwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 mhighest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural resources:diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore,silver
Land use: arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.34% (2001)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west,carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscurevisibility
Environment - current issues:overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
People Botswana
Population:1,640,115note: 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: 38.8% (male 322,916/female 312,735)15-64 years: 57.5% (male 455,183/female 487,236)65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,914/female 38,131) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 19.29 yearsmale: 18.64 yearsfemale: 19.93 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:23.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:29.36 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 55.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 53.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 33.87 yearsmale: 33.89 yearsfemale: 33.84 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:37.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:350,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:33,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality:noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups:Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, includingKgalagadi and white 7%
Religions:Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none20.6% (2001 census)
Languages:Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1%(official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 79.8%male: 76.9%female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Government Botswana
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Botswanaconventional short form: Botswanaformer: Bechuanaland
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:Gaborone
Administrative divisions:9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*,Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northwest,Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Independence:30 September 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Constitution:March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial reviewlimited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) andVice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998)and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term;election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held NA 2009); vicepresident appointed by the presidentelection results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - 52%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largelyadvisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eightprincipal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selectedby the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (61 seats, 57members are directly elected by popular vote and four are appointedby the majority party; members serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004(next to be held October 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 52%, BNF 26%, BCP17%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1
Judicial branch:High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in eachdistrict)
Political parties and leaders:Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; BotswanaNational Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress Party orBCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM[Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form theBAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM partiesare: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; theIndependence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; and the BotswanaProgressive Union [D. K. KWELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM,OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOAchancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS embassy: address NA, Gaborone mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone telephone: [267] 353982 FAX: [267] 312782
Flag description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center
Economy Botswana
Economy - overview:Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growthrates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline andsound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of thepoorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a percapita GDP of $9,200 in 2004. Two major investment services rankBotswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining hasfueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more thanone-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism,financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising areother key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal withhigh rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is23.8%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDSinfection rates are the second highest in the world and threatenBotswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off indiamond mining production overshadow long-term prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$15.05 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $9,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 44% (including 36% mining) services: 52% (2003 est.)
Labor force:264,000 formal sector employees (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:23.8% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:47% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.735 billionexpenditures: $3.743 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:8.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestockprocessing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:4.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:930 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.89 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:1.025 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$337 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.94 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Exports - partners:European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern AfricanCustoms Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)
Imports:$2.255 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment,textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products,metal and metal products
Imports - partners:Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4%(2000)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5.7 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$531 million (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$73 million (1995)
Currency (code):pula (BWP)
Currency code:BWP
Exchange rates:pulas per US dollar - 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003), 6.3278 (2002),5.8412 (2001), 5.1018 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Botswana
Telephones - main lines in use:142,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:435,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth ofmobile cellular service and participation in regional developmentdomestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relaylinks, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobilecellular service is growing fastinternational: country code - 267; two international exchanges;digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:252,720 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bw
Internet hosts:1,920 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2001)
Internet users:60,000 (2002)
Transportation Botswana
Railways: total: 888 km narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 10,217 km paved: 5,619 km unpaved: 4,598 km (1999)
Airports: 85 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 102,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 751,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 54under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)
Military Botswana
Military branches:Botswana Defense Force (includes an Air Wing)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 350,649 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 136,322 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 21,103 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$338.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.9% (2004)
Transnational Issues Botswana
Disputes - international:commission established with Namibia has yet to resolve smallresidual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngumarshlands along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residentsprotest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectricdam at Popavalle (Popa Falls); Botswana has built electric fences tostem the thousands of Zimbabweans who flee to find work and escapepolitical persecution; Namibia has long supported and in 2004Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia tobuild a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizingtheir short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bouvet Island
Introduction Bouvet Island
Background:This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered byglaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 bya French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim wasmade until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UKwaived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the islandthe previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacentterritorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977,Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.
Geography Bouvet Island
Location:island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of GoodHope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 58.5 sq kmland: 58.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:29.6 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate:antarctic
Terrain:volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Olav Peak 935 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
People Bouvet Island
Population: uninhabited (July 2005 est.)
Government Bouvet Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Bouvet Island
Dependency status:territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of theMinistry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Legal system:the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of Norway is used
Economy Bouvet Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications Bouvet Island
Internet country code:.bv
Communications - note:automatic meteorological station
Transportation Bouvet Island
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Bouvet Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Bouvet Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Brazil
Introduction Brazil
Background:Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil becamean independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populouscountry in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a centuryof military intervention in the governance of the country when in1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers.Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth anddevelopment of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and alarge labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic powerand a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains apressing problem.
Geography Brazil
Location:Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates:10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 8,511,965 sq kmland: 8,456,510 sq kmwater: 55,455 sq kmnote: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas,Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e SaoPaulo
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:total: 14,691 kmborder countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km,Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km
Coastline:7,491 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate:mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills,mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m
Natural resources:bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum,tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use: arable land: 6.96% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 92.15% (2001)
Irrigated land:26,560 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost insouth
Environment - current issues:deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers amultitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; thereis a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution inRio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; landdegradation and water pollution caused by improper miningactivities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:largest country in South America; shares common boundaries withevery South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People Brazil
Population:186,112,794note: Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported apopulation of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower thanprojections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the impliedunderenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for thiscountry explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortalitydue to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infantmortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, andchanges in the distribution of population by age and sex than wouldotherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.1% (male 24,789,495/female 23,842,715)15-64 years: 67.9% (male 62,669,392/female 63,719,631)65 years and over: 6% (male 4,549,552/female 6,542,009) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.81 yearsmale: 27.06 yearsfemale: 28.57 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.06% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:16.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.03 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 33.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.69 yearsmale: 67.74 yearsfemale: 75.85 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:660,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:15,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Brazilian(s)adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups:white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%,other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7%(2000 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spriritualist1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4%(2000 census)
Languages:Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.4%male: 86.1%female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
Government Brazil
Country name:conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazilconventional short form: Brazillocal long form: Republica Federativa do Brasillocal short form: Brasil
Government type:federative republic
Capital:Brasilia
Administrative divisions:26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district*(distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara,Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso,Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco,Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul,Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence:7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday:Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution:5 October 1988
Legal system:based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsoryover 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do notvote
Executive branch:chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 6 October2002 (next to be held 1 October 2006, with a runoff on 29 October2006 if necessary); runoff election held 27 October 2002election results: in runoff election 27 October 2002, Luiz InacioLULA DA SILVA (PT) elected with 61.3% of the vote; Jose SERRA (PSDB)38.7%
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of theFederal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from eachstate and federal district elected according to the principle ofmajority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after afour-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-yearperiod) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513seats; members are elected by proportional representation to servefour-year terms)elections: Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirdsof the Senate (next to be held October 2006 for one-third of theSenate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to beheld October 2006)election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL3, PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of voteby party - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PP49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5,other 11; note - many congressmen have changed party affiliationsince the most recent election
Judicial branch:Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed for life bythe president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal ofJustice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life);note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federalemployees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70
Political parties and leaders:Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy MichelTEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Federal Deputy RobertoJEFFERSON]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [SenatorEduardo AZAREDO]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal DeputyMiguel ARRAES]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELO];Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos LUPI]; Democratic SocialistParty or PSD [Pedro Miguel SANTANA LOPES]; Green Party or PV [JoseLuiz de Franca PENNA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Senator JorgeBORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTANeto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal DeputyDr. Eneas CARNEIRO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Federal DeputyRoberto FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Federal Deputy PedroCORREA]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge ABDALA NOSSEIS];Worker's Party or PT [Jose GENOINO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Landless Worker's Movement; labor unions and federations; largefarmers' associations; religious groups including evangelicalchristian churches and the Catholic Church
International organization participation:AfDB, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH,NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN SecurityCouncil (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto ABDENUR chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700 FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John DANILOVICH embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030 telephone: [55] (61) 312-7000 FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136 consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo consulate(s): Recife
Flag description:green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a bluecelestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each stateand the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the nightsky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with themotto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)
Economy Brazil
Economy - overview:Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining,manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs thatof all other South American countries and is expanding its presencein world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economygrew, on average, only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed aseries of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazilabsorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to theresiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put inplace by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULADA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yieldedincreases in employment and real wages. The three pillars of theeconomic program are a floating exchange rate, aninflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscal policy, all reinforcedby a series of IMF programs. The currency depreciated sharply in2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current accountadjustment: in 2003 and 2004, Brazil ran record trade surpluses andrecorded its first current account surpluses since 1992.Productivity gains - particularly in agriculture - also contributedto the surge in exports, and Brazil in 2004 surpassed the previousyear's record export level and again posted a current accountsurplus. While economic management has been good, there remainimportant economic vulnerabilities. The most significant aredebt-related: the government's largely domestic debt increasedsteadily from 1994 to 2003 - straining government finances - beforefalling as a percentage of GDP in 2004, while Brazil's foreign debt(a mix of private and public debt) is large in relation to Brazil'ssmall (but growing) export base. Another challenge is maintainingeconomic growth over a period of time to generate employment andmake the government debt burden more manageable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.492 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.1% industry: 38.6% services: 51.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:89 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 14%, services 66% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:11.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:22% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 48% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:60.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.6% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $140.6 billionexpenditures: $172.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004)
Public debt:52% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Industries:textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel,aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:339 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.3% hydro: 82.7% nuclear: 4.4% other: 4.6% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:351.9 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:7 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:36.58 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2002)
Oil - production:1.788 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.199 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:13.9 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:221.7 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$8 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$95 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos