Illicit drugs:growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-boundecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaineprocessors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, andmarijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening oflegislation, the country remains vulnerable to money launderingrelated to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Belize
Introduction Belize
Background:Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until theirdecline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British andSpanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; itformally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorialdisputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence ofBelize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nationuntil 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Currentconcerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the SouthAmerican drug trade, and increasing urban crime.
Geography Belize
Location:Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala andMexico
Geographic coordinates:17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 22,966 sq kmland: 22,806 sq kmwater: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Coastline:386 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - fromthe mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize'sterritorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework fornegotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences withGuatemalaexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dryseason (February to May)
Terrain:flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3.05% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastalflooding (especially in south)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,agricultural runoff; solid and sewage 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, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:only country in Central America without a coastline on the NorthPacific Ocean
People Belize
Population:287,730 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678)15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046)65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 19.6 yearsmale: 19.5 yearsfemale: 19.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.31% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 28.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.3 yearsmale: 66.43 yearsfemale: 70.26 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups:mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Religions:Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%,Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
Languages:English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.1%male: 94.1%female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Government Belize
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Belmopangeographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 Wtime difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during StandardTime)
Administrative divisions:6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Independence:21 September 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Constitution:21 September 1981
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 General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17November 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September1998)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: 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; primeminister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 membersappointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the primeminister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and EvangelicalAssociation of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industryand the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade UnionCongress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members areappointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (nextto be held March 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PUP 21, UDP 8
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governorgeneral on the advice of the prime minister)
Political parties and leaders:People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Partyor UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [AdeleCATZIM]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMANchancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETERembassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo Districtmailing address: 3050 Belize Place, Washington DC 20521-3050telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163FAX: [501] 223-0802
Flag description:blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat ofarms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahoganytree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in theShade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
Economy Belize
Economy - overview:In this small, essentially private-enterprise economy the tourismindustry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed bymarine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. Thegovernment's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated inSeptember 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in1999-2006. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficitand unsustainable foreign debt. The government in 2006 announced itwould seek a restructuring of its sovereign debt and has beennegotiating with international creditors to find an acceptableformula for doing so. A key short-term objective remains thereduction of poverty with the help of international donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.307 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.141 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$8,400 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 22.5%industry: 14.8%services: 62.6% (2006 est.)
Labor force:90,000note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 27%industry: 18%services: 55% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.9% (2003)
Population below poverty line:33.5% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $302.5 millionexpenditures: $357.5 million; including capital expenditures of $70million (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Industries:garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate:4.6% (1999)
Electricity - production:175 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:162.8 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:6,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-173.4 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$359.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners:US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005)
Imports:$543 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners:US 31%, Mexico 11.6%, Russia 8.8%, Cuba 6%, Guatemala 5.6%, China4.6%, Spain 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$78.96 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:BZD
Exchange rates:Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2(2003), 2 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:33,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:93,100 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: above-average systemdomestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8(Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:41,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bz
Internet hosts:3,905 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:35,000 (2005)
Transportation Belize
Airports: 43 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 382,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999)
Waterways:825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/1,322,629 DWTby type: bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7, container 4,passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 12, rollon/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 3,Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2, Indonesia 2, Italy 4,Japan 2, North Korea 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1,Malaysia 1, Mexico 1, Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6,Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Belize City
Military Belize
Military branches:Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, andVolunteer Guard
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 61,201females age 18-49: 60,048 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 44,238females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 3,213females age 18-49: 3,100 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$19 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Belize
Disputes - international:Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabitedrain forests of Belize's border region; OAS seeks to revive the 2002failed Belize-Guatemala Differendum that created a small adjustmentto land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, jointecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UKfinancial package
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Belize is a source, transit, and destinationcountry for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes oflabor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked mainlyfrom Central America, and exploited in prostitution; children aretrafficked to Belize for labor exploitation; Belize's largelyunmonitored borders with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico facilitatethe movement of illegal migrants who are vulnerable to traffickers;girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation,sometimes with the consent and complicity of their close relatives;there are unconfirmed reports that Indian and Chinese migrants aretrafficked for involuntary servitude in homes and shopstier rating: Tier 3 - Belize has failed to show evidence ofsignificant law enforcement or victim protection efforts
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer ofcannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activityrelated to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Benin
Introduction Benin
Background:Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West Africankingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a FrenchColony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as theRepublic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishmentof a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move torepresentative government began in 1989. Two years later, freeelections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO aspresident, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africafrom a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power byelections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities werealleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI BONI, a political outsider andindependent.
Geography Benin
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria andTogo
Geographic coordinates:9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 112,620 sq kmland: 110,620 sq kmwater: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 1,989 kmborder countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,Togo 644 km
Coastline:121 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use: arable land: 23.53% permanent crops: 2.37% other: 74.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:120 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December toMarch
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlifepopulations; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no naturalharbors, river mouths, or islands
People Benin
Population:7,862,944note: 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: 44.1% (male 1,751,709/female 1,719,138)15-64 years: 53.5% (male 2,067,248/female 2,138,957)65 years and over: 2.4% (male 75,694/female 110,198) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17.6 yearsmale: 17.2 yearsfemale: 18 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.73% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:38.85 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 79.56 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 84.09 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 74.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 53.04 yearsmale: 51.9 yearsfemale: 54.22 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:68,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:5,800 (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: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Beninese (singular and plural)adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups:African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja,Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars insouth), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 33.6%male: 46.4%female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
Government Benin
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Beninconventional short form: Beninlocal long form: Republique du Beninlocal short form: Beninformer: Dahomey
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Porto-Novo (official capital)geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)note: Cotonou (seat of government)
Administrative divisions:12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines,Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Independence:1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:National Day, 1 August (1960)
Constitution:adopted by referendum 2 December 1990
Legal system:based on French civil law and customary law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006(next to be held March 2011)election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent ofvote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held 25 March 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, Alliance MDC-PC-CPP, IPD,AFP, MDS, RDP) 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other smallparties) 31
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court orCour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracyand Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Democratic Renewal Party orPRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD;Key Force or FC; Movement for Development and Solidarity or MDS;Movement for Development by the Culture-Salute Party-Congress ofPeople for Progress Alliance or Alliance MDC-PS-CPP; New Alliance orNA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; Renaissance Party duBenin or RB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile)[Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gayleatha B. BROWN embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30-06-50 FAX: [229] 30-06-70
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with avertical green band on the hoist side
Economy Benin
Economy - overview:The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent onsubsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years,but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase.Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order toraise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreigninvestment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate thedevelopment of new food processing systems and agriculturalproducts, and encourage new information and communicationtechnology. Many of these proposals were included in Benin's $307million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006.The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications,water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of governmentreluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased theexternal debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debtreduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapidstructural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian tradeprotection that bans imports of a growing list of products fromBenin and elsewhere, which has resulted in increased smuggling andcriminality in the border region.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.931 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.622 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 32.8% industry: 13.7% services: 53.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force:3.211 million (1996)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:33% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $836.8 millionexpenditures: $1.064 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts; livestock
Industries:textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Industrial production growth rate:8.3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:82 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.2% hydro: 85.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:576.3 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:500 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-342.7 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$563.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners:China 31.3%, Indonesia 8.1%, India 7.4%, Niger 6%, Togo 4.8%,Thailand 4.8%, Nigeria 4.6% (2005)
Imports:$927.3 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:France 21.8%, Ghana 7.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, China 6.7%, UK 5.2%,Belgium 4.9%, Togo 4.5%, Thailand 4.2%, Nigeria 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$607.3 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.6 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$342.6 million (2000)
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 -513.168 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99(2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Benin
Telephones - main lines in use:76,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:386,700 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, andcellular connectionsinternational: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 7(Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios:660,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:66,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.bj
Internet hosts:867 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2002)
Internet users:425,000 (2005)
Transportation Benin
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Railways: total: 578 km narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 16,000 km paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2005)
Waterways:150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005)
Ports and terminals:Cotonou
Military Benin
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 21-49: 1,295,230females age 21-49: 1,301,936 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 21-49: 749,774females age 21-49: 751,329 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 76,661females: 75,068 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$100.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Benin
Disputes - international:Benin and Burkina Faso military clash in 2006 over sections ofriverine boundary involving disputed villages and squatters; much ofBenin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remainsundemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin as aconsequence of a 2004 joint task force to resolve maritime and landboundary disputes, but clashes among rival gangs along the borderpersist; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey theboundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundarystones
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 26,632 (Togo) (2006)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigeriantrafficking organizations and most commonly destined for WesternEurope and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorlyregulated financial infrastructure
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Bermuda
Introduction Bermuda
Background:Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonistsheaded for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North Americanwinters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to beimportant to the island's economy, although international businesshas overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into ahighly successful offshore financial center. Although a referendumon independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, thepresent government has reopened debate on the issue.
Geography Bermuda
Location:North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, eastof South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:North America
Area:total: 53.3 sq kmland: 53.3 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:103 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:sustainable development
Geography - note:consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall,but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by USGovernment from 1941 to 1995
People Bermuda
Population:65,773 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098)15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954)65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.2 yearsmale: 39.3 yearsfemale: 41 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.61% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.96 yearsmale: 75.85 yearsfemale: 80.1 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.297% (2005)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:163 (2005)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:392 (2005)
Nationality:noun: Bermudian(s)adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified0.4% (2000 census)
Religions:Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%,other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%,none 14% (2000 census)
Languages:English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 99% (2005 est.)
Government Bermuda
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:parliamentary; self-governing territory
Capital:name: Hamiltongeographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 46 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*,Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's,Southampton, Warwick
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution:8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
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 Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002)head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006);Deputy Premier Paula COXcabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governorelections: 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 premier by the governor
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member bodyappointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and theHouse of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve up to five-year terms)elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be heldnot later than July 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%;seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Partyor UBP [Wayne FURBERT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Unionor BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [EdBALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation:Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342 FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Flag description:red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lionholding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship SeaVenture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy Bermuda
Economy - overview:Bermuda enjoys the highest per capita income in the world, morethan 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is primarily basedon providing financial services for international business andluxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance companiesrelocated to the island following 11 September 2001 and again afterHurricane Katrina, contributing to the expansion of an alreadyrobust international business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry -which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - continues tostruggle but remains the island's number two industry. Most capitalequipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector issmall, although construction continues to be important; the averagecost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture islimited with only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$69,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 38,360 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 3%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 19%, services 19% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:19% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (November 2005)
Budget:revenues: $738 millionexpenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - products:bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
Industries:international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:682.5 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:616.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$1.469 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:France 65.9%, Spain 11.8%, US 4.5% (2005)
Imports:$982 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, constructionmaterials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners:France 38.9%, South Korea 20.9%, US 15.5% (2005)
Debt - external:$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code:BMD
Exchange rates:Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to theUS dollar)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use:56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:49,000 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: gooddomestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optictrunk linesinternational: country code - 1-441; submarine cables - 3 (fiberoptic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Radios:82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (2005)
Televisions:66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bm
Internet hosts:8,114 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):20 (2000)
Internet users:39,000 (2005)
Transportation Bermuda
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWTby type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24, liquefied gas 23,passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 16, refrigeratedcargo 13, roll on/roll off 5foreign-owned: 116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1, Germany 21,Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2,Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27)registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 4,Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Hamilton, Saint George
Military Bermuda
Military branches:no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 15,151 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.03 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Bermuda
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Bhutan
Introduction Bhutan
Background:In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, underwhich Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for cedingsome border land to British India. Under British influence, amonarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signedwhereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internalaffairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs.This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two yearslater, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutanannexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the countryreceived, and defined India's responsibilities in defense andforeign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese inNepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in sevenUnited Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)camps. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled thegovernment's draft constitution - which would introduce majordemocratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum forits approval. A referendum date has yet to be named.
Geography Bhutan
Location:Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 47,000 sq kmland: 47,000 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summersin central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrain:mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Land use: arable land: 2.3% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 97.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country'sname, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequentlandslides during the rainy season
Environment - current issues:soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastessigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea