Exports - partners:US 20.8%, Argentina 7.5%, Netherlands 6.1%, China 5.6%, Germany4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004)
Imports:$61 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products,oil
Imports - partners:US 18.3%, Argentina 8.9%, Germany 8.1%, China 5.9%, Nigeria 5.6%,Japan 4.6% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$52.94 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$219.8 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$30 billion (2002)
Currency (code):real (BRL)
Currency code:BRL
Exchange rates:reals per US dollar - 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003), 2.9208 (2002),2.3577 (2001), 1.8301 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:38.81 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:46,373,300 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: good working systemdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domesticsatellite system with 64 earth stationsinternational: country code - 55; 3 coaxial submarine cables;satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat(Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system toMercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AMstations) (1999)
Radios:71 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:138 (1997)
Televisions:36.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.br
Internet hosts:3,163,349 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:14.3 million (2002)
Transportation Brazil
Railways:total: 29,412 km (1,567 km electrified)broad gauge: 4,907 km 1.600-m gauge (908 km electrified)standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gaugenarrow gauge: 23,915 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)dual gauge: 396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 kmelectrified) (2004)
Highways: total: 1,724,929 km paved: 94,871 km unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)
Waterways:50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 244 km; gas 10,739 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km;oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Gebig, Itaqui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, San Sebasttiao, Santos,Sepetiba Terminal, Tubarao, Vitoria
Merchant marine:total: 150 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,961,431 GRT/4,725,267 DWTby type: bulk carrier 28, cargo 25, chemical tanker 7, combinationore/oil 2, container 7, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12,petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off 9foreign-owned: 17 (Chile 2, Germany 7, Norway 1, Spain 7)registered in other countries: 8 (2005)
Airports:4,136 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 698 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 158 914 to 1,523 m: 461 under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3,438 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 78 914 to 1,523 m: 1,579 under 914 m: 1,780 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 417 (2004 est.)
Military Brazil
Military branches:Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines),Brazilian Air Force (FAB)
Military service age and obligation:19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript serviceobligation - 12 months; 17 years of age for voluntary service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 45,586,036 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 33,119,098 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 1,785,930 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$11 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.8% (2004)
Transnational Issues Brazil
Disputes - international:unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay bordersis locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcoticstrafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations;uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in theQuarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resultingtripoint with Argentina; in 2004 Brazil submitted its claims toUNCLOS to extend its maritime continental margin
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazonregion, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scaleeradication program to control cannabis; important transshipmentcountry for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed forEurope and the US; also used by traffickers as a way station fornarcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge indrug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market forColombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcoticsproceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financialsystem; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area
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@British Indian Ocean Territory
Introduction British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of theBritish Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred tothe Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently,BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising theChagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands,Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All ofthe remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers,earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily toMauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigrationorder that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld thespecial military status of Diego Garcia.
Geography British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half theway from Africa to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 60 sq kmland: 60 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area - comparative:about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:698 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest andsouthernmost island, occupies strategic location in central IndianOcean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
People British Indian Ocean Territory
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident inthe Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois,were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and1970s, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by aBritish High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personneland 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia(July 2005 est.)
Government British Indian Ocean Territory
Country name:conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territoryconventional short form: noneabbreviation: BIOT
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner,resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system:the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Commissioner Tony CROMBIE (since January 2004);Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - bothreside in the UKcabinet: NAelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner andadministrator appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK isin the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palmtree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy British Indian Ocean Territory
Economy - overview:All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island ofDiego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.Construction projects and various services needed to support themilitary installations are done by military and contract employeesfrom the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are noindustrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Iloisreturn, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.
Electricity - production:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Communications British Indian Ocean Territory
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: separate facilities for military and publicneeds are availabledomestic: all commercial telephone services are available, includingconnection to the Internetinternational: international telephone service is carried bysatellite (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.io
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Transportation British Indian Ocean Territory
Highways:total: NA kmpaved: short section of paved road between port and airfield onDiego Garciaunpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Diego Garcia
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military British Indian Ocean Territory
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on DiegoGarcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues British Indian Ocean Territory
Disputes - international:Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and itsformer inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation sinceeviction in 1965; the UK resists the Chagossians' demand for animmediate return to the islands; repatriation is complicated by theexclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access tothe largest island in the chain
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@British Virgin Islands
Introduction British Virgin Islands
Background:First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger andmore populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is thelegal currency.
Geography British Virgin Islands
Location:Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 153 sq kmland: 153 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabitedislands; includes the island of Anegada
Area - comparative:about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain:coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 20%permanent crops: 6.67%other: 73.33% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
People British Virgin Islands
Population:22,643 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 2,400/female 2,358)15-64 years: 73.9% (male 8,607/female 8,115)65 years and over: 5.1% (male 614/female 549) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 30.9 yearsmale: 31.1 yearsfemale: 30.7 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.06% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:14.96 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:10.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.49 yearsmale: 75.41 yearsfemale: 77.62 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.72 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: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Religions:Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%,Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Languages:English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8% (1991 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government British Virgin Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: British Virgin Islandsabbreviation: BVI
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Government type:NA
Capital:Road Town
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Territory Day, 1 July
Constitution:1 June 1977
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 Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)head of government: Chief Minister Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June2003)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members ofthe Legislative Councilelections: 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 chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected bydirect popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts,four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NDP 8, VIP 5
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court ofJustice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is aresident of the islands and presides over the High Court);Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; NationalDemocratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [GregoryMADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS(associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of theflag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by avertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latinword VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Economy British Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in theCaribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainlyfrom the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, thegovernment began offering offshore registration to companies wishingto incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generatesubstantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshoreregistry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurancelaw in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality withregulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses,is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractiveto international business. Livestock raising is the most importantagricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meetdomestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close linkswith the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used thedollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.498 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $38,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)
Labor force:12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:3% (1995)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $121.5 millionexpenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1997)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries:tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block,offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:36.28 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:33.74 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:420 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Imports:$187 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Debt - external:$36.1 million (1997)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:11,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: worldwide telephone servicedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:9,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.vg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:4,000 (2002)
Transportation British Virgin Islands
Highways: total: 177 km paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Road Town
Merchant marine: total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,825 GRT/155,909 DWT by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 7 (2005)
Airports: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military British Virgin Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues British Virgin Islands
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for theUS and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerableto money laundering
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Brunei
Introduction Brunei
Background:The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas ofnorthwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequentlyentered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royalsuccession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence wasachieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over sixcenturies. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gasfields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in thedeveloping world.
Geography Brunei
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates:4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 5,770 sq kmland: 5,270 sq kmwater: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Climate:tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 0.57% permanent crops: 0.76% other: 98.67% (2001)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues:seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:party to: Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian andPacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almostan enclave of Malaysia
People Brunei
Population:372,361 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.6% (male 54,342/female 52,084)15-64 years: 68.4% (male 134,908/female 119,814)65 years and over: 3% (male 5,301/female 5,912) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.04 yearsmale: 27.63 yearsfemale: 26.4 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.9% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:19.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:3.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 15.93 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.8 yearsmale: 72.36 yearsfemale: 77.36 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.3 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bruneian(s)adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions:Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenousbeliefs and other 10%
Languages:Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.9%male: 96.3%female: 91.4% (2002)
Government Brunei
Country name:conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalamconventional short form: Brunei
Government type:constitutional sultanate
Capital:Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions:4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei andMuara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was thedate of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date ofindependence from British protection
Constitution:29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State ofEmergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1January 1984)
Legal system:based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a lawsupersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage:none
Executive branch:chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief ofstate and head of governmenthead of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah(since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief ofstate and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over bythe monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also aReligious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises onreligious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by themonarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council ofSuccession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines thesuccession to the throne if the need ariseselections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutionalamendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members;Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a newcouncil with 29 members as of 2 September 2005elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarchfor three-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:National Development Party (NDP) [Yassin AFFENDI]; National UnityParty of Brunei (PPKB) [leader NA]; People's Awareness Party (PAKAR)[leader NA]note: parties are small and inactive (2005)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN,UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEHchancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Emil SKODONembassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar SeriBegawanmailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507telephone: [673] (2) 229670FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Flag description:yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width)and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem inred is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes aswallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturnedcrescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy Brunei
Economy - overview:This small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of foreign anddomestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures,and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production accountfor nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other ThirdWorld countries, and substantial income from overseas investmentsupplements income from domestic production. The government providesfor all medical services and free education through the universitylevel and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders areconcerned that steadily increased integration in the world economywill undermine internal social cohesion, although it became a moreprominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (AsianPacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future includeupgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening thebanking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening theeconomic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$6.842 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $23,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5%industry: 45%services: 50% (2001 est.)
Labor force:158,000note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporaryresidents make up about 40% of labor force (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, government 48% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.2% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.3% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.9 billionexpenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35billion (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Industries:petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:2.458 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.286 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:204,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:199,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:315 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:$7.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners:Japan 38.1%, South Korea 14%, Australia 11.2%, US 8.6%, Thailand7.9%, Indonesia 5.9%, China 4.5% (2004)
Imports:$5.2 billion c.i.f. (2003)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,chemicals
Imports - partners:Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 21.2%, UK 8.3%, Japan 7.2% (2004)
Debt - external:$0
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code:BND
Exchange rates:Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003),1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001), 1.724 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:90,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:137,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the USdomestic: every service availableinternational: country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarinecable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:201,900 (1998)
Internet country code:.bn
Internet hosts:6,409 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:35,000 (2002)
Transportation Brunei
Highways: total: 2,525 km paved: 2,525 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Lumut, Muara, Seria
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWTby type: liquefied gas 8foreign-owned: 8 (United Kingdom 8) (2005)
Airports:2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:3 (2004 est.)
Military Brunei
Military branches:Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal BruneiNavy, Royal Brunei Air Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 103,885 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: approx. 85,045 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 3,478 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$290.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.1% (2004)
Transnational Issues Brunei
Disputes - international:in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in theirdisputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations havestalemated prompting consideration of international legaladjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang isin dispute; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zoneencompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 butmakes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" haseased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legallybinding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants
Illicit drugs:drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances areserious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bulgaria
Introduction Bulgaria
Background:The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the localSlavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the firstBulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled withthe Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by theend of the 14th century the country was overrun by the OttomanTurks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all ofBulgaria became independent in 1908. Having fought on the losingside in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere ofinfluence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communistdomination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multipartyelection since World War II and began the contentious process ofmoving toward political democracy and a market economy whilecombating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today,reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventualintegration into the EU. The country joined NATO in 2004.
Geography Bulgaria
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 110,910 sq kmland: 110,550 sq kmwater: 360 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,808 kmborder countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km,Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km
Coastline:354 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 40.02% permanent crops: 1.92% other: 58.06% (2001)
Irrigated land:8,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, landslides
Environment - current issues:air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from rawsewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage fromair pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavymetals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routesfrom Europe to Middle East and Asia
People Bulgaria
Population:7,450,349 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.1% (male 539,005/female 512,762)15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,516,368/female 2,599,524)65 years and over: 17.2% (male 531,008/female 751,682) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 40.66 yearsmale: 38.59 yearsfemale: 42.66 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.89% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:9.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:14.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 20.55 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 24.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.03 yearsmale: 68.41 yearsfemale: 75.87 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.38 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:346 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bulgarian(s)adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups:Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (includingMacedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)
Religions:Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other4% (2001 census)
Languages:Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified1.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.1%female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Bulgaria
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Bulgariaconventional short form: Bulgaria
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Sofia
Administrative divisions:28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas,Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana,Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Independence:3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the OttomanEmpire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the OttomanEmpire)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution:adopted 12 July 1991
Legal system:civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002);Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August2005); Deputy Prime Minister Ivaylo KALFIN (since 16 August 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister andelected by the National Assemblyelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11 and 18November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman of the Council ofMinisters (prime minister) nominated by the president and elected bythe National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the primeminister and elected by the National Assemblyelection results: Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent of vote- Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%; Sergei STANISHEVelected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held June 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%,MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%; seats by party- CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, ATAKA 21, UDF 20, DSB 17, BPU 13
Judicial branch:Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation;Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-yearterms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of thetwo Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members;responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, andinvestigating magistrates in the justice system; members of theSupreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected bythe National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:Attack National Union [Volen Siderov]; ATAKA (Attack Coalition)(coalition of parties headed by the Attack National Union);Bulgarian Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [AnastasiaMOZER]; Bulgarian People's Union or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, andBANU); Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV];Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated byBSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB[Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization orIMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms orMRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [SimeonSAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of DemocraticForces or UDF [Nadezhda MIKHAYLOVA]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD[Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalitionof center-right parties dominated by UDF)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB;Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, andnational interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation:ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU(applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU(associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVAchancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973consulate(s) general: Chicago and New Yorkconsulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEWembassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100FAX: [359] (2) 937-5230
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; note -the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe,has been removed
Economy Bulgaria
Economy - overview:Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the EuropeanUnion, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growthsince a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the thensocialist government. As a result, the government became committedto economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. Minerals,including coal, copper, and zinc play an important role in industry.In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the imposition ofa fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark and thenegotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steadyprogress on structural reforms improved the business environment;Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth since 2000 and has begun to attractsignificant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in thepublic administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence oforganized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.