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 islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda,Jost van Dyke
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% (2005)
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:23,098 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.5% (male 2,403/female 2,331)15-64 years: 74.3% (male 8,811/female 8,340)65 years and over: 5.3% (male 636/female 577) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 31.4 yearsmale: 31.6 yearsfemale: 31.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.97% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:14.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:9.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 16.72 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.68 yearsmale: 75.56 yearsfemale: 77.84 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.72 children born/woman (2006 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:name: Road Towngeographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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, amended in 2000
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 David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)head of government: Chief Minister Dr. Orlando D. SMITH (since 17June 2003)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, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts,4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held in 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,made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive tointernational 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 theUS dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$853.4 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$839.7 million
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$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: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4%
Unemployment rate:3.6% (1997)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2005)
Budget:revenues: $204.7 millionexpenditures: $180.4 million; including capital expenditures of$33.8 million (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:34.55 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:32.13 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:410 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$134.3 million
Exports:$25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
Imports:$187 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners:Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)
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 hosts:525 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:4,000 (2002)
Transportation British Virgin Islands
Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 177 kmpaved: 177 km (2002)
Merchant marine:registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Road Town
Military British Virgin Islands
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,410 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 5,295 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 201 (2005 est.)
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 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@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: 2.08% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 97.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (2003)
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 within Malaysia
People Brunei
Population:379,444 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.1% (male 54,411/female 52,134)15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,129/female 123,017)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,584/female 6,169) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.4 yearsmale: 28 yearsfemale: 26.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.87% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:3.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 15.46 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.01 yearsmale: 72.57 yearsfemale: 77.59 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.28 children born/woman (2006 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: Bruneilocal long form: Negara Brunei Darussalamlocal short form: Brunei
Government type:constitutional sultanate
Capital:name: Bandar Seri Begawangeographic coordinates: 4 52 S, 114 55 Etime difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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 monarchfor three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in Londonis final court of appeal for civil cases; Shariah courts deal withIslamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders:Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin HajiZainal Abidin]; National Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi];People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad]note: parties are small and have limited activity (2005)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC,OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEHchancery: 3520 International Court NW #300, 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 SeriBegawan, BS8811mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, BandarSeri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalamtelephone: [673] 222-0384FAX: [673] 222-5293
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 and more than 90% of government revenues. Percapita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, andsubstantial income from overseas investment supplements income fromdomestic production. The government provides for all medicalservices and free education through the university level andsubsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned thatsteadily increased integration in the world economy will undermineinternal social cohesion, although it became a more prominent playerby serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific EconomicCooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the laborforce, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and touristsectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyondoil and gas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$6.842 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.486 billion
GDP - real growth rate:1.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$23,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3.6%industry: 56.1%services: 40.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:146,300note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporaryresidents make up about 40% of labor force (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 2.9%industry: 61.1%services: 36% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.8% (2004)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.9% (2004)
Budget:revenues: $3.765 billionexpenditures: $4.815 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, eggs
Industries:petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:7.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:2.906 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.726 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:200,800 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:10,770 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:192,700 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:11.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:$4.514 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners:Japan 36.8%, Indonesia 19.3%, South Korea 12.7%, US 9.5%, Australia9.3% (2005)
Imports:$1.641 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,chemicals
Imports - partners:Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 23.3%, Japan 6.9%, UK 5.3%, Thailand4.5%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)
Debt - external:$0 $NA
Economic aid - recipient:$770,000 (2004)
Currency (code):Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code:BND
Exchange rates:Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004),1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:90,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:205,900 (2004)
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 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmitstwo FM signals with English and Nepali service (2006)
Radios:329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: 4; note - including two UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service (2006)
Televisions:201,900 (1998)
Internet country code:.bn
Internet hosts:27 (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:56,000 (2005)
Transportation Brunei
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:3 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,525 km paved: 2,338 km unpaved: 187 km (2000)
Waterways:209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWTby type: liquefied gas 8foreign-owned: 8 (UK 8) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Lumut, Muara, Seria
Military Brunei
Military branches:Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal BruneiNavy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 103,885females age 18-49: 93,024 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 85,045females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 3,478females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$290.7 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.1% (2003 est.)
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 19 December, 2006
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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 from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Havingfought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell withinthe Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held itsfirst multiparty election since World War II and began thecontentious process of moving toward political democracy and amarket economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption,and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and is slated to join theEU in 2007.
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 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: 29.94% permanent crops: 1.9% other: 68.16% (2005)
Irrigated land:5,880 sq km (2003)
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:7,385,367 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 13.9% (male 527,881/female 502,334)15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,496,054/female 2,579,680)65 years and over: 17.3% (male 527,027/female 752,391) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.8 yearsmale: 38.7 yearsfemale: 42.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.86% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:14.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 23.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.3 yearsmale: 68.68 yearsfemale: 76.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (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: Bulgarialocal long form: Republika Balgariyalocal short form: Balgariya
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Sofiageographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
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 Ministers Ivaylo KALFIN, Daniel VULCHEV, andEmel ETEM (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 a five-year term (eligible for a second term);election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011);chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated bythe president and elected by the National Assembly; deputy primeministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by theNational Assemblyelection results: Georgi PURVANOV reelected president; percent ofvote - Georgi PURVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; 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, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17, BPU 13,independents 4
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:ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the AttackNational Union); Attack National Union [Volen Siderov]; BulgarianAgrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [Anastasia MOZER];Bulgarian People's Union or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, and BANU);Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition forBulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [SergeiSTANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV];Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [KrasimirKARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [AhmedDOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [SimeonSAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of DemocraticForces or UDF [Petar STOYANOV]; 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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174 FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Ross BEYRLE embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407 mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320
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 soon 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 inindustry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by theimposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the GermanD-mark - the currency is now fixed against the euro - 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$71.67 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$25.79 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$9,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.3% industry: 30.4% services: 60.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 3.34 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11% industry: 32.7% services: 56.3% (3rd qtr. 2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.9% (2005)
Population below poverty line:Below $2.15 per day (PPP) 4% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 23.7% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.9 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5% (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):23.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $11.18 billionexpenditures: $10.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:31.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugarbeets; livestock
Industries:electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery andequipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum,nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:7.9% (2005)
Electricity - production:45 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.8% hydro: 8.1% nuclear: 44.1% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:25.1 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:6.8 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:1.3 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:1,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:98,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:85,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:15 million bbl (1 January 2005)
Natural gas - production:1.13 million cu m (2003)
Natural gas - consumption:3.1 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2003)
Natural gas - imports:2.9 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - proved reserves:5.67 billion cu m (1 January 2005)
Current account balance:$-3.919 billion (2005)
Exports:$11.67 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:Italy 12%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 9.8%, Greece 9.5%, France 4.6%(2005)
Imports:$16.78 billion f.o.b. (2005)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics;fuels, minerals, and raw materials
Imports - partners:Russia 15.6%, Germany 13.6%, Italy 9%, Turkey 6.1%, Greece 5%,France 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$8.695 billion (2005)
Debt - external:$15.32 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$475 million per year in EU pre-accession aid (2004-06)
Currency (code):lev (BGL)
Currency code:BGN
Exchange rates:leva per US dollar - 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003),2.077 (2002), 2.1847 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Bulgaria
Telephones - main lines in use:2,483,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6.245 million (2005)
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:184,975 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):200 (2001)
Internet users:2.2 million (2005)
Transportation Bulgaria
Airports: 217 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 132 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: 96 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 85 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 72 (2006)
Heliports:4 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 2,505 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2006)
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 (2005)
Roadways:total: 102,016 kmpaved: 93,855 km (including 328 km of expressways)unpaved: 8,161 km (2003)
Waterways:470 km (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 75 ships (1000 GRT or over) 872,653 GRT/1,294,877 DWTby type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 17, chemical tanker 4, container 6,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Russia 1)registered in other countries: 41 (Cambodia 1, Comoros 1, Malta 13,Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17, Slovakia 7, unknown1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Burgas, Varna
Military Bulgaria
Military branches:Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian AirForce (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription into the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air Defense Forces and Naval Forces will become fully professional by end of 2006 (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,661,211females age 18-49: 1,660,982 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,302,037females age 18-49: 1,365,126 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 51,023females age 18-49: 48,651 (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 19 December, 2006
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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: 17.66% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 82.12% (2005)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (2003)
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:13,902,972note: 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 (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.8% (male 3,267,202/female 3,235,190)15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,513,559/female 3,538,623)65 years and over: 2.5% (male 140,083/female 208,315) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.3 yearsfemale: 16.7 years (2006 est.)