GDP (purchasing power parity):$61.63 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.5% industry: 30.1% services: 58.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 3.398 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 11%, industry 32.7%, services 56.3% (3rd quarter 2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.7% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:13.4% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.5% highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:26.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $9.67 billionexpenditures: $9.619 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:41.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley,sunflowers, sugar beets
Industries:electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machineryand equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refinedpetroleum, nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:5.2% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:43.07 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.8% hydro: 8.1% nuclear: 44.1% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:32.71 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:8.3 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:960 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:603 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:94,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:8.1 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.804 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:5.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.724 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$682.9 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$9.134 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:Italy 13.1%, Germany 11.6%, Turkey 9.3%, Belgium 6.1%, Greece 5.6%,US 5.3%, France 4.9% (2004)
Imports:$12.23 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics;fuels, minerals, and raw materials
Imports - partners:Germany 15.1%, Italy 10.2%, Russia 7.9%, Greece 7.5%, Turkey 6.9%,France 4.4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$7.526 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$16.1 billion (November 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$300 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):lev (BGL)
Currency code:BGN
Exchange rates:leva per US dollar - 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003), 2.077 (2002),2.1847 (2001), 2.1233 (2000)note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:2,868,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,597,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: extensive but antiquateddomestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential;telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly moderndigital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most ofthe regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radiorelayinternational: country code - 359; direct dialing to 58 countries;satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:4.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.bg
Internet hosts:53,421 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):200 (2001)
Internet users:630,000 (2002)
Transportation Bulgaria
Railways:total: 4,294 kmstandard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 37,077 kmpaved: 34,111 km (including 328 km of expressways)unpaved: 2,966 km (2002)
Waterways:470 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Burgas, Varna
Merchant marine:total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 757,972 GRT/1,115,238 DWTby type: bulk carrier 34, cargo 13, chemical tanker 4, container 6,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3registered in other countries: 45 (2005)
Airports:213 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 128 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 92 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 85 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 72 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bulgaria
Military branches:Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 9 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,661,211 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,302,037 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 51,023 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$356 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Bulgaria
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and,to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market;limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering ofdrug-related proceeds through financial institutions
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Burkina Faso
Introduction Burkina Faso
Background:Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence fromFrance in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980swere followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. BurkinaFaso's high population density and limited natural resources resultin poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recentunrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the abilityof several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to findemployment in neighboring countries.
Geography Burkina Faso
Location:Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 274,200 sq kmland: 273,800 sq kmwater: 400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 3,193 kmborder countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km,Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west andsoutheast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 mhighest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Natural resources:manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates,pumice, salt
Land use: arable land: 14.43% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 85.38% (2001)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black,Red, and White Voltas
People Burkina Faso
Population:13,925,313note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 3,213,436/female 3,193,253)15-64 years: 51.2% (male 3,487,201/female 3,635,673)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 164,418/female 231,332) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 16.82 yearsmale: 16.43 yearsfemale: 17.22 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.53% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:44.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 97.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 105.55 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 89.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 48.45 yearsmale: 46.96 yearsfemale: 49.99 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.23 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:300,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:29,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly RomanCatholic) 10%
Languages:French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanicfamily spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 26.6%male: 36.9%female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government Burkina Faso
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Burkina Fasoformer: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:Ouagadougou
Administrative divisions:45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala,Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence:5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution:2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted;amended April 2000
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6November 2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); inApril 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidentialterm from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowingthe president to be reelected only once; it is unclear whether thisamendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime ministerappointed by the president with the consent of the legislatureelection results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5%percent of the vote
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next tobe held May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation orRDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracyor CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progressor CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance andProgress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for AfricanIndependence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy andProgress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party or PS [leaderNA]; Union of Greens for the Development of Burkina Faso or UVDB[Ram OVEDRAGO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; BurkinabeMovement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; NationalConfederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization ofFree Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout thecountry in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGOchancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMESembassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S.Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC20521-2440telephone: [226] 306723FAX: [226] 303890
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellowfive-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colorsof Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Fasohas few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% ofthe population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which isvulnerable to harsh climatic conditions. Cotton is the key crop andthe government has joined with other cotton producing countries inthe region to lobby for improved access to Western markets. GDPgrowth has largely been driven by increases in world cotton prices.Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlledcorporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation inJanuary 1994 the government updated its development program inconjunction with international agencies; exports and economic growthhave increased. The government devolved macroeconomic policy andinflation targeting to the West African regional central bank(BCEAO), but maintains control over microeconomic policies,including reducing the trade deficit and implementing reforms toencourage private investment. The bitter internal crisis inneighboring Cote d'Ivoire continues to hurt trade and industrialprospects and deepens the need for international assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$15.74 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 39.5%industry: 19.3%services: 41.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:5 millionnote: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually toneighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 90% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:45% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:48.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):29.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $695.2 millionexpenditures: $876.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice;livestock
Industries:cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:361 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.9% hydro: 30.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:335.7 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-471.7 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$418.6 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:China 32.1%, Singapore 11.5%, Ghana 4.7%, Bangladesh 4.3% (2004)
Imports:$866.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:France 29.3%, Cote d'Ivoire 16%, Togo 9.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$474.9 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.3 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$484.1 million (1995)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:65,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:227,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: all services only fairdomestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephonecommunication stationsinternational: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:131,340 (2002)
Internet country code:.bf
Internet hosts:442 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:48,000 (2003)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Railways:total: 622 kmnarrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gaugenote:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire(2004)
Highways: total: 12,506 km paved: 2,001 km unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)
Airports: 33 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches:Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,664,572 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,323,548 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$64.2 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (2004)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Beninaccuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso borderregions remain a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebelsand an asylum for refugees caught in local fighting; the IvoirianGovernment accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering Ivoirian rebels
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Burma
Introduction Burma
Background:Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) andincorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as aprovince of India until 1937 when it became a separate,self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth wasattained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, andlater as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative electionsin 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the NationalLeague for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the rulingjunta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prizerecipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and is currentlyunder house arrest. In December 2004, the junta announced it wasextending her detention for at least an additional year. Hersupporters, as well as all those who promote democracy and improvedhuman rights, are routinely harassed or jailed.
Geography Burma
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal,between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates:22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 678,500 sq kmland: 657,740 sq kmwater: 20,760 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,876 kmborder countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:1,930 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwestmonsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mildtemperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,December to April)
Terrain:central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 mhighest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources:petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead,coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 15.19%permanent crops: 0.97%other: 83.84% (2001)
Irrigated land:15,920 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslidescommon during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
People Burma
Population:42,909,464note: estimates for this country take into account the effects ofexcess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower lifeexpectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.2% (male 5,967,487/female 5,717,795)15-64 years: 67.8% (male 14,448,887/female 14,641,419)65 years and over: 5% (male 939,092/female 1,194,784) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 26.14 yearsmale: 25.57 yearsfemale: 26.72 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.42% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:12.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.8 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 67.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 73.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 61.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 60.7 yearsmale: 57.8 yearsfemale: 63.78 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.01 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:330,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:20,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2004)
Nationality:noun: Burmese (singular and plural)adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups:Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,Mon 2%, other 5%
Religions:Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages:Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.3%male: 89.2%female: 81.4% (2002)
Government Burma
Country name:conventional long form: Union of Burmaconventional short form: Burmalocal long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by theUS Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union ofMyanmar)local short form: Myanma Naingngandawformer: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burmanote: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted thename Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decisionwas not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the USGovernment did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of theBurmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw
Government type:military junta
Capital:Rangoon (government refers to the capital as Yangon)
Administrative divisions:7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyine-myar, singular - pyi ne): divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing,Tanintharyi, Yangon: states: Chin State, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, MonState, Rakhine State, Shan State
Independence:4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Constitution:3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; nationalconvention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution butcollapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not includeparticipation of democratic opposition
Legal system:has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development CouncilSr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)head of government: Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October2004)cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta,so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18September 1988 under the name State Law and Order RestorationCouncil (SLORC); the SPDC oversees the cabinetelections: none
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed byjunta to conveneelection results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),other 60
Judicial branch:remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there isno guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is notindependent of the executive
Political parties and leaders: National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (pro-government) [THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [KHUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-government, a social and political organization) [THAN AUNG, general secretary]
International organization participation:APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW(signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: vacantchancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Carmen M. MARTINEZembassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546telephone: [95] (1) 379 880, 379 881FAX: [95] (1) 256 018
Flag description:red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalkof rice; the 14 stars represent the 7 administrative divisions and 7states
Economy Burma
Economy - overview:Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from governmentcontrols, inefficient economic policies, and abject rural poverty.The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economyafter decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism", butthose efforts have since stalled and some of the liberalizationmeasures have been rescinded. Burma has been unable to achievemonetary or fiscal stability, resulting in an economy that suffersfrom serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation andmultiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat. Inaddition, most overseas development assistance ceased after thejunta began to suppress the democracy movement in 1988 andsubsequently ignored the results of the 1990 legislative elections.Economic sanctions against Burma by the United States - including aban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision offinancial services by US persons in response to the government ofBurma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy -further slowed the inflow of foreign exchange. Official statisticsare inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatlyunderstated because of the size of the black market and unofficialborder trade - often estimated to be one to two times the size ofthe official economy. Though the Burmese government has goodeconomic relations with its neighbors, a better investment climateand an improved political situation are needed to promote foreigninvestment, exports, and tourism. In February 2003, a major bankingcrisis hit the country's 20 private banks, shutting them down anddisrupting the economy. As of January 2004, the largest privatebanks remained moribund, leaving the private sector with littleformal access to credit.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$74.3 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 56.6% industry: 8.8% services: 34.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:27.01 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):17.2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):10.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $474.9 millionexpenditures: $955.5 million, including capital expenditures of $5.7billion (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fishand fish products
Industries:agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and woodproducts; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:5.068 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.5% hydro: 43.4% nuclear: 0% other: 12.1% (2002)
Electricity - consumption:3.484 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:17,550 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:60,950 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:3,356 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:49,230 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:3.2 billion bbl (2003)
Natural gas - production:9.98 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.569 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:8.424 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.46 trillion cu m (2003)
Current account balance:$-185 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.137 billion f.o.b.note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to thevalue of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggledto Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Exports - partners:Thailand 37.8%, India 11.7%, China 6%, Japan 5.3% (2004)
Imports:$1.754 billion f.o.b.note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value ofconsumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in fromThailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transportequipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products
Imports - partners:China 29.8%, Singapore 20.8%, Thailand 19.3%, South Korea 5.2%,Malaysia 4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$590 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$6.752 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$127 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):kyat (MMK)
Currency code:MMK
Exchange rates:kyats per US dollar - 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003), 6.5734 (2002),6.6841 (2001), 6.4257 (2000)note: these are official exchange rates; unofficial exchange ratesranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:357,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:66,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: barely meets minimum requirements for local andintercity service for business and government; international serviceis fairdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2,Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1 (2004)
Radios:4.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (2004)
Televisions:320,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.mm
Internet hosts:3 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only forthe government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)
Internet users:28,000 (2003)
Transportation Burma
Railways: total: 3,955 km narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 28,200 km paved: 3,440 km unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Waterways:12,800 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe
Merchant marine:total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 429,144 GRT/659,622 DWTby type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 19, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 3,roll on'roll off 3, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 10 (Germany 4, Japan 5, United Kingdom 1) (2005)
Airports:78 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Burma
Military branches:Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (May2002)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 11,254,374females age 18-49: 11,303,100 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 6,512,923females age 18-49: 6,789,720 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 440,914females: 427,382 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$39 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Burma
Disputes - international:over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groupswith substantial numbers of kin beyond its borders; despitecontinuing border committee talks, significant differences remainwith Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnicrebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; ethnic Karensflee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels andBurmese troops, in 2004 Thailand sheltered about 118,000 Burmeserefugees; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmesehydroelectric dam on the Salween River near the border;environmentalists in Burma and Thailand continue to voice concernover China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on theNujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province; India seeks cooperationfrom Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists from hiding in remoteBurmese uplands
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 600,000 - 1,000,000 (government offensives against ethnicinsurgent groups near borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni,Shan, and Mon) (2004)
Illicit drugs:remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimatedproduction in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due toeradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will andability to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of seriouscommitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overallantidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin forregional consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Forcecountermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequatemoney-laundering controls (2005)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Burundi
Introduction Burundi
Background:Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinatedin October 1993 after only one hundred days in office. Since then,some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intenseethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds ofthousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees inneighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure theirborders, briefly intervened in the conflict in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo in 1998. A new transitional government,inaugurated on 1 November 2001, signed a power-sharing agreementwith the largest rebel faction in December 2003 and set in place aprovisional constitution in October 2004. Implementation of theagreement has been problematic, however, as one remaining rebelgroup refuses to sign on and elections have been repeatedly delayed,clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.
Geography Burundi
Location:Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 27,830 sq kmland: 25,650 sq kmwater: 2,180 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 974 kmborder countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varieswith altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generallymoderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annualrainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May andSeptember to November, and dry seasons from June to August andDecember to January
Terrain:hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 mhighest point: Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum,vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin,tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Land use:arable land: 35.05%permanent crops: 14.02%other: 50.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, drought
Environment - current issues:soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion ofagriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested landremains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitatloss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; theKagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remoteheadstream of the White Nile
People Burundi
Population:6,370,609note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 1,479,941/female 1,450,808)15-64 years: 51.3% (male 1,617,864/female 1,653,331)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 66,199/female 102,466) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 16.6 yearsmale: 16.27 yearsfemale: 16.95 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.22% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:39.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:17.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 69.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 75.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 62.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 50.29 yearsmale: 49.61 yearsfemale: 50.99 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:250,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:25,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality:noun: Burundian(s)adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups:Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions:Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenousbeliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Languages:Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along LakeTanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51.6%male: 58.5%female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Government Burundi
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Burundiconventional short form: Burundilocal long form: Republika y'u Burundilocal short form: Burundiformer: Urundi
Government type:republic
Capital:Bujumbura
Administrative divisions:16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke,Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro,Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural politicalsystem; supplanted on 20 October 2004 by a provisional constitutionapproved by the parliament which extended the transition; a 28February 2005 popular referendum ratified the new constitution whichset ethnic quotas for government positions, and tentativelyscheduled general elections for April 2005
Legal system:based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003);note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the secondhalf of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1November 2001; Vice President Frederic NGENZEBUHORO (since 11November 2004)head of government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for thesecond half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on1 November 2001; Vice President Frederic NGENZEBUHORO (since 11November 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by presidentelections: NA; current president assumed power on 30 April 2003 aspart of the transitional government established by the 2000 ArushaAccord; note - next presidential election is scheduled for 22 April2005
Legislative branch:bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale(expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitionalgovernment inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; termlength is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out thethree-year transition period)elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996; electionsare currently planned to be held by April 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16,civilians 27, other parties 13