Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November2005)note: 100 members of the current parliament were elected on thebasis of single mandate constituencies, while 25 were elected basedon proportional balloting; as a result of a 24 August 2002 nationalreferendum on changes to the constitution, all 125 members of thenext parliament will be elected from single mandate constituencieselection results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NAP and allies 108, APF "Reform" 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2,CPA 2, APF "Classic" 1, Compatriot Party 1note: PNIA, Musavat, and APF "Classic" parties refused to take theirseats
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform"faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; CivicSolidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party[Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [RamizAHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party forAzerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [IlyasISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA];Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP[vacant]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA[Etibar MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijanor SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV]note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-AzerbaijaniForces (UPAF)
International organization participation:AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Reno L. HARNISH III embassy: 83 Azadlyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37 FAX: [9] (9412) 656-671
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; acrescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
Economy Azerbaijan
Economy - overview:Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil productiondeclined through 1997 but has registered an increase every yearsince. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) withforeign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion tolong-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed tospur future industrial development. Oil production under the firstof these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company,began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidableproblems of the former Soviet republics in making the transitionfrom a command to a market economy, but its considerable energyresources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recentlybegun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties andstructures are slowly being replaced. One obstacle to economicprogress is the need for stepped up foreign investment in thenon-energy sector. A second obstacle is the continuing conflict withArmenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and theother former Soviet republics is declining in importance while tradeis building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-termprospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of newpipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oilwealth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$30.01 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.1% industry: 45.7% services: 40.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:5.09 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture and forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52% (2001)
Unemployment rate:1.2% (official rate) (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:49% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.6% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):65.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.715 billionexpenditures: $2.801 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:18.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco;cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Industries:petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:17.55 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.7% hydro: 10.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:17.37 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:505 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:1.558 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:312,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:140,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:589 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-2.899 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$3.168 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Italy 26.6%, Czech Republic 11.9%, Germany 8.1%, Indonesia 6.4%,Romania 6.2%, Georgia 6%, Russia 5.3%, Turkey 5.2%, France 4.1%(2004)
Imports:$3.622 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:Russia 16.1%, UK 12.5%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 7.8%, Ukraine 5.6%,Netherlands 4.9%, US 4.1%, Italy 4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$875 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.832 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $140 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
Currency code:AZM
Exchange rates:Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73(2003), 4,860.82 (2002), 4,656.58 (2001), 4,474.15 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Azerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:923,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:870,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion andmodernization; teledensity of 10 main lines per 100 persons is low(2002)domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku and otherindustrial centers - about 700 villages still without publictelephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modernswitch in its exclave of Naxcivaninternational: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cableand microwave is still serviceable; a satellite connection to Turkeyenables Baku to reach about 200 additional countries, some of whichare directly connected to Baku by satellite providers other thanTurkey (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:170,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.az
Internet hosts:586 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:300,000 (2002)
Transportation Azerbaijan
Railways: total: 2,957 km broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2004)
Highways: total: 28,030 km paved: 25,890 km unpaved: 2,130 km (2002)
Pipelines:gas 4,451 km; oil 1,518 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Baku (Baki)
Merchant marine:total: 81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 253,004 GRT/318,922 DWTby type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker41, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 2registered in other countries: 3 (2005)
Airports:50 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 27 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 15 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Azerbaijan
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; law passed December 2001 raises maximum conscription age from 28 to 35 (December 2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,961,973 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,314,955 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 82,358 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$121 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Azerbaijan
Disputes - international:Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakhand since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnicAzerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijaninto Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia toconnect to Naxcivan exclave; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russiaratify Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance,while Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation andchallenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters;bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabedand contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan andGeorgia cannot resolve the alignment of their boundary at certaincrossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 571,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)
Illicit drugs:limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly forCIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit pointfor Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extentthe rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bahamas, The
Introduction Bahamas, The
Background:Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbusfirst set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. Britishsettlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colonyin 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, TheBahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking andinvestment management. Because of its geography, the country is amajor transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipmentsto the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrantsinto the US.
Geography Bahamas, The
Location:Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeastof Florida, northeast of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 13,940 sq kmland: 10,070 sq kmwater: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,542 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 0.8% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 98.8% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and winddamage
Environment - current issues:coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chainof which 30 are inhabited
People Bahamas, The
Population:301,790note: 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: 27.9% (male 42,142/female 42,096)15-64 years: 65.9% (male 97,865/female 101,047)65 years and over: 6.2% (male 7,616/female 11,024) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.55 yearsmale: 26.78 yearsfemale: 28.34 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.67% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:17.87 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 31.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.54 yearsmale: 62.11 yearsfemale: 69.04 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups:black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religions:Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%,none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.6%male: 94.7%female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Government Bahamas, The
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamasconventional short form: The Bahamas
Government type:constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:Nassau
Administrative divisions:21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island,Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay,Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, MarshHarbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands,Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution:10 July 1973
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Dame Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002)and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the primeminister's recommendationelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; theprime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member bodyappointed by the governor general upon the advice of the primeminister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and theHouse of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular voteto serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve theparliament and call elections at any timeelections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%,independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts
Political parties and leaders:Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; ProgressiveLiberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOM,IOC, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ROODembassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassaumailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC20521-3370telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, andaquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
Economy Bahamas, The
Economy - overview:The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavilydependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accountsfor more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half ofthe archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts anda boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences hadled to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the USeconomy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth inthese sectors in 2001-03. Financial services constitute thesecond-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting forabout 15% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the governmentenacted new regulations on the financial sector, many internationalbusinesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing and agriculturetogether contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show littlegrowth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors.Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on thefortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US,the source of more than 80% of the visitors. In addition to tourismand banking, the government supports the development of a "thirdpillar," e-commerce.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$5.295 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 7% services: 90% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 156,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: 27% (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.2% (year ending September 2004)
Budget:revenues: $1 billionexpenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $106.7million (FY03/04)
Agriculture - products:citrus, vegetables; poultry
Industries:tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite,pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:1.716 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.596 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:transhipments of 29,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$636 million (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals; fruitand vegetables
Exports - partners:US 40.2%, Poland 13.3%, Spain 11.6%, Germany 5.9%, France 4.3%(2004)
Imports:$1.63 billion (2003)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineralfuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners:US 22.4%, South Korea 18.9%, Brazil 9.2%, Japan 7.9%, Italy 7.8%,Venezuela 6.6% (2004)
Debt - external:$308.5 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$9.8 million (1995)
Currency (code):Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Currency code:BSD
Exchange rates:Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1(2001), 1 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Bahamas, The
Telephones - main lines in use:131,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:121,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern facilitiesdomestic: totally automatic system; highly developedinternational: country code - 1-242; tropospheric scatter andsubmarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:215,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (2004)
Televisions:67,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bs
Internet hosts:302 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):19 (2000)
Internet users:84,000 (2003)
Transportation Bahamas, The
Highways: total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
Merchant marine:total: 1,119by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 183, cargo 259, chemicaltanker 54, combination ore/oil 17, container 74, liquefied gas 28,livestock carrier 2, passenger 116, passenger/cargo 40, petroleumtanker 168, refrigerated cargo 130, roll on/roll off 20, specializedtanker 2, vehicle carrier 24foreign-owned: 968 (Angola 4, Australia 4, Belgium 17, Canada 9,China 3, Croatia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 13, Denmark 18, Estonia 1,Finland 7, France 28, Germany 15, Greece 194, Hong Kong 11,Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 1, Italy 7, Japan 49, Jordan 2, Kenya1, Latvia 1, Malaysia 12, Monaco 15, Netherlands 24, New Zealand 1,Nigeria 2, Norway 229, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 2, Saudi Arabia12, Serbia & Montenegro 2, Singapore 11, Slovenia 1, South Korea 1,Spain 6, Sweden 9, Switzerland 4, Thailand 1, Trinidad & Tobago 2,Turkey 7, UAE 12, United Kingdom 55, United States 154, Uruguay 2)registered in other countries: 35 (2005)
Airports:63 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bahamas, The
Military branches:Royal Bahamaian Defense Force (naval forces) (2004)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Bahamas, The
Disputes - international:have not been able to agree on the alignment of a maritime boundarywith the US; continues to monitor and interdict Haitian refugeesfleeing economic privation and political instability
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US andEurope; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bahrain
Introduction Bahrain
Background:Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulfcountries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreignaffairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves,Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and hastransformed itself into an international banking center. The newamir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reformsand has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. InFebruary 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the NationalAction Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's politicalliberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa AlKhalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis electedmembers of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicamerallegislature, the National Assembly.
Geography Bahrain
Location:Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 665 sq kmland: 665 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Climate:arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Land use: arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2001)
Irrigated land:50 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; dust storms
Environment - current issues:desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arableland, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation(damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resultingfrom oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oilrefineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources,groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategiclocation in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world'spetroleum must transit to reach open ocean
People Bahrain
Population: 688,345 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.8% (male 96,807/female 94,863)15-64 years: 68.7% (male 275,792/female 197,424)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 12,078/female 11,381) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 29.19 yearsmale: 32.16 yearsfemale: 25.54 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.51% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:1.04 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: 1.4 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.23 yearsmale: 71.76 yearsfemale: 76.78 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.63 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Bahraini(s)adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups:Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Religions:Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001census)
Languages:Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.1%male: 91.9%female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Bahrain
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrainconventional short form: Bahrainlocal long form: Mamlakat al Bahraynlocal short form: Al Bahraynformer: Dilmun
Government type:constitutional hereditary monarchy
Capital:Manama
Administrative divisions:12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, AlManamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqahash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah,Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrahnote: all municipalities administered from Manama
Independence:15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the dateof independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date ofindependence from British protection
Constitution:new constitution 14 February 2002
Legal system:based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,born 21 October 1969)head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa(since NA 1971)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime ministerappointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 membersappointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directlyelected to serve four-year terms)elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (nextelection to be held NA 2006)election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral NationalAssembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter createdbicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25December 2002
Judicial branch:High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders:Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demandingthe return of an elected National Assembly and an end tounemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamicfundamentalist groups are active
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir al-BALUSHI chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700 FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)
Flag description:red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with awhite serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the fivepoints represent the five pillars of Islam
Economy Bahrain
Economy - overview:In well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refining accountfor about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transportfacilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms withbusiness in the Gulf. A large share of exports consist of petroleumproducts made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds onseveral major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially amongthe young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resourcesare major long-term economic problems. In September 2004 Bahrainsigned a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - thefirst such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state. Both countries mustratify the FTA before it is enforced.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$13.01 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 0.7%industry: 41%services: 58.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:370,000note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national(2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.825 billionexpenditures: $3.262 billion, including capital expenditures of $700million (2004 est.)
Public debt:63.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries:petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, ironpelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:6.86 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.379 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:44,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:126 million bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:46 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$586.1 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$8.205 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:Saudi Arabia 3%, US 2.9%, UAE 2.2% (2004)
Imports:$5.87 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 32.4%, Japan 7.3%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.6%, UK 5.4%,France 4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.141 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$6.215 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each ofSaudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
Currency (code):Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Currency code:BHD
Exchange rates:Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376(2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bahrain
Telephones - main lines in use:185,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:443,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern systemdomestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital networkwith rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephonesinternational: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar andUAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable toQatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat(1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:338,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (1997)
Televisions:275,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bh
Internet hosts:1,334 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:195,700 (2003)
Transportation Bahrain
Highways: total: 3,459 km paved: 2,653 km unpaved: 806 km (2002)
Pipelines:gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWTby type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 1foreign-owned: 2 (Kuwait 2) (2005)
Airports:4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 21524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2004 est.)
Military Bahrain
Military branches:Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense),Navy, Air Force, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 202,126 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 161,372 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 6,013 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$628.9 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6.3% (2004)
Transnational Issues Bahrain
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Baker Island
Introduction Baker Island
Background:The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guanodeposits were mined by US and British companies during the secondhalf of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt atcolonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby HowlandIsland - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the USDepartment of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middleof the west coast.
Geography Baker Island
Location:Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way betweenHawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:0 13 N, 176 31 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 1.4 sq kmland: 1.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4.8 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marinewildlife
People Baker Island
Population:uninhabitednote: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air andnaval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military duringWorld War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is byspecial-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only andgenerally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery andremnants of structures from early settlement are located near themiddle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and WildlifeService (2005 est.)
Government Baker Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of theInterior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Baker Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Baker Island
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boatlanding area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered withvegetation and unusable (2004 est.)
Transportation - note:there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Military Baker Island
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the USCoast Guard
Transnational Issues Baker Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Bangladesh
Introduction Bangladesh
Background:Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistanseceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of thisextremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainyseason, hampering economic development.
Geography Bangladesh
Location:Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates:24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 144,000 sq kmland: 133,910 sq kmwater: 10,090 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries: total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate:tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (Marchto June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use: arable land: 62.11% permanent crops: 3.07% other: 34.82% (2001)
Irrigated land:38,440 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated duringthe summer monsoon season
Environment - current issues:many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivateflood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water;water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the useof commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturallyoccurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of fallingwater tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soildegradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowingfrom the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channelof the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually emptyinto the Bay of Bengal
People Bangladesh
Population:144,319,628 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.1% (male 24,590,207/female 23,162,420)15-64 years: 63.5% (male 46,764,824/female 44,868,733)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,650,683/female 2,282,761) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 21.87 yearsmale: 21.88 yearsfemale: 21.85 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.09% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:30.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 62.6 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 63.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 61.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)