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. CurrentPresident Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup andhas won every election since then. Burkina Faso's high populationdensity and limited natural resources result in poor economicprospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Coted'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of severalhundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employmentin 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.)
Population growth rate:3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:45.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:15.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 91.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 99.17 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 48.85 yearsmale: 47.33 yearsfemale: 50.42 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:300,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:29,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)
Nationality:noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups:Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani
Religions:Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian (mainly RomanCatholic) 10%
Languages:French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanicfamily spoken by 90% of the population
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 26.6%male: 36.9%female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Government Burkina Faso
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Burkina Fasolocal long form: nonelocal short form: Burkina Fasoformer: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:name: Ouagadougougeographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou,Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo,Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga,Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga, Nayala,Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga,Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro,Zondoma, Zoundweogo
Independence:5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Constitution:2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted;amended April 2000 and January 2002
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law
Suffrage:universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)head of government: Prime Minister Paramanga Ernest YONLI (since 6November 2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 November 2005(next to be held in 2010); in April 2000, the constitution wasamended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years,enforceable as of 2005; prime minister appointed by the presidentwith the consent of the legislatureelection results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent ofpopular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA4.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next tobe held May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, other 17
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation orADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; Confederation for Federation andDemocracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracyand Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement forTolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Partyfor African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party forDemocracy and Progress/Socialist Party or PDP/PS [Ali LANKOANDE];Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO];Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS [CyrilGOUNGOUNGA]; Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel COULIBALY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Burkinabe General Confederation of Labor or CGTB; BurkinabeMovement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; NationalConfederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization ofFree Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout thecountry in both organizations and communities
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGOchancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSONembassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - USDepartment of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC20521-2440telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90, 50-31-23-68
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellowfive-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colorsof Ethiopia
Economy Burkina Faso
Economy - overview:One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Fasohas few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% ofthe population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which isvulnerable to periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash crop and thegovernment has joined with three other cotton producing countries inthe region - Mali, Niger, and Chad - to lobby for improved access toWestern markets. GDP growth has largely been driven by increases inworld cotton prices. Industry remains dominated by unprofitablegovernment-controlled corporations. Following the CFA franc currencydevaluation in January 1994, the government updated its developmentprogram in conjunction with international agencies; exports andeconomic growth have increased. The government devolvedmacroeconomic policy and inflation targeting to the West Africanregional central bank (BCEAO), but maintains control over fiscal andmicroeconomic policies, including implementing reforms to encourageprivate investment. The bitter internal crisis in neighboring Coted'Ivoire continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects anddeepens the need for international assistance. Burkina Faso iseligible for a Millenium Challenge Account grant, which wouldincrease investment in the country's human capital.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$17.87 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.821 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 32.6%industry: 19.7%services: 47.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force:5 millionnote: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually toneighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 90%industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:45% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:48.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.158 billionexpenditures: $1.714 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice;livestock
Industries:cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes,textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate:14% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:400 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.9% hydro: 30.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:372 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:8,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-604.6 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$543.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, livestock, gold
Exports - partners:China 39.8%, Singapore 13.1%, Thailand 5.9%, Ghana 5.4%, Taiwan4.6%, Niger 4% (2005)
Imports:$1.016 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum
Imports - partners:France 23.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 23.3%, Togo 6.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.328 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.85 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$468.4 million (2003)
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 -523.721 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99(2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Burkina Faso
Telephones - main lines in use:97,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:572,200 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: all services only fairdomestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephonecommunication stationsinternational: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:394,020 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:131,340 (2002)
Internet country code:.bf
Internet hosts:399 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:64,600 (2005)
Transportation Burkina Faso
Airports: 34 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 321,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Railways:total: 622 kmnarrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gaugenote:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire(2005)
Roadways: total: 15,272 km paved: 4,766 km unpaved: 10,506 km (2004)
Military Burkina Faso
Military branches:Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso),National Gendarmerie (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of agefor voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,651,687 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$74.83 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Burkina Faso
Disputes - international:two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Beninaccuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso borderregions remain a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebelsand an asylum for refugees caught in local fighting; the IvoirianGovernment accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering Ivoirian rebels
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Burma
Introduction Burma
Background:Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) andincorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as aprovince of India until 1937 when it became a separate,self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth wasattained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, andlater as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative electionsin 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the NationalLeague for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the rulingjunta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prizerecipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and subsequentlytransferred to house arrest, where she remains virtuallyincommunicado. In February 2006, the junta extended her detentionfor another year. Her supporters, as well as all those who promotedemocracy and improved human rights, are routinely harassed orjailed.
Geography Burma
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal,between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates:22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 678,500 sq kmland: 657,740 sq kmwater: 20,760 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,876 kmborder countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:1,930 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwestmonsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mildtemperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,December to April)
Terrain:central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 mhighest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources:petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead,coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 14.92%permanent crops: 1.31%other: 83.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:18,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslidescommon during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
People Burma
Population:47,382,633note: estimates for this country take into account the effects ofexcess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower lifeexpectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.4% (male 6,335,236/female 6,181,216)15-64 years: 68.5% (male 16,011,723/female 16,449,626)65 years and over: 5.1% (male 1,035,853/female 1,368,979) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27 yearsmale: 26.4 yearsfemale: 27.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.81% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:17.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 61.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 72.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 50.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 60.97 yearsmale: 58.07 yearsfemale: 64.03 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.98 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:330,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:20,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks insome locationsnote: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identifiedamong birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses anegligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizenswho have close contact with birds (2007)
Nationality:noun: Burmese (singular and plural)adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups:Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%,Mon 2%, other 5%
Religions:Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim4%, animist 1%, other 2%
Languages:Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.3%male: 89.2%female: 81.4% (2002)
Government Burma
Country name:conventional long form: Union of Burmaconventional short form: Burmalocal long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by theUS Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union ofMyanmar)local short form: Myanma Naingngandawformer: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burmanote: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted thename Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decisionwas not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the USGovernment did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of theBurmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw
Government type:military junta
Capital:name: Rangoon (Yangon)geographic coordinates: 16 47 N, 96 10 Etime difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)note: Nay Pyi Taw is administrative capital
Administrative divisions:7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyine-myar, singular - pyi ne)divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi,Yangonstates: Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, MonState, Rakhine State, Shan State
Independence:4 January 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Constitution:3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; nationalconvention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution butcollapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not includeparticipation of democratic opposition
Legal system:has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council(SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)head of government: Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October2004)cabinet: Cabinet is overseen by SPDC; military junta, so named 15November 1997, assumed power 18 September 1988 under name State Lawand Order Restoration Council (SLORC)elections: none
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed byjunta to conveneelection results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government),other 60
Judicial branch:remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there isno guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is notindependent of the executive
Political parties and leaders:National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SANSUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP(pro-regime) [TUN YE]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy orSNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC (based in Thailand); Federation of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor advocates); National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Organization or KIO; Karen National Union or KNU; Karenni National People's Party or KNPP; National Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of opposition groups); several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general secretary]; 88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement) [MIN KO]
International organization participation:APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MYINT LWIN chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ShariVILLAROSAembassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546telephone: [95] (1) 379-880, 379-881FAX: [95] (1) 256-018
Flag description:red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing,14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalkof rice; the 14 stars represent the seven administrative divisionsand seven states
Economy Burma
Economy - overview:Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive governmentcontrols, inefficient economic policies, and rural poverty. Thejunta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy afterdecades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism," but thoseefforts stalled, and some of the liberalization measures wererescinded. Lacking monetary or fiscal stability, the economy suffersfrom serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation,multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat,and a distorted interest rate regime. Most overseas developmentassistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the democracymovement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the results ofthe 1990 legislative elections. In response to the government ofBurma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy, theUS imposed new economic sanctions against Burma - including a ban onimports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of financialservices by US persons. A poor investment climate further slowed theinflow of foreign exchange. The most productive sectors willcontinue to be in extractive industries, especially oil and gas,mining, and timber. Other areas, such as manufacturing and services,are struggling with inadequate infrastructure, unpredictableimport/export policies, deteriorating health and education systems,and corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003 shuttered thecountry's 20 private banks and disrupted the economy. As of 2006,the largest private banks operate under tight restrictions limitingthe private sector's access to formal credit. Official statisticsare inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatlyunderstated because of the size of the black market and unofficialborder trade - often estimated to be as large as the officialeconomy. Burma's trade with Thailand, China, and India is rising.Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with itsneighbors, better investment and business climates and an improvedpolitical situation are needed to promote foreign investment,exports, and tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$83.84 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.845 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 54.7% industry: 10.6% services: 34.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 28.49 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 7% services: 23% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.2% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:25% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):21.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):11.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $494.1 millionexpenditures: $947.3 million; including capital expenditures of NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fishand fish products
Industries:agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and woodproducts; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials;pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement; natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:6.31 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.5% hydro: 43.4% nuclear: 0% other: 12.1% (2002)
Electricity - consumption:5.869 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:18,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:37,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:3,356 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:49,230 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:less than 1 billion bbl (2005)
Natural gas - production:10.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:7.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$1.247 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$5.289 billion f.o.b.note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to thevalue of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggledto Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice
Exports - partners:Thailand 43.8%, India 12.1%, China 6.7%, Japan 5% (2005)
Imports:$2.049 billion f.o.b.note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value ofconsumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in fromThailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transportequipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products
Imports - partners:China 28.8%, Thailand 21.8%, Singapore 18.4%, Malaysia 7.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$932 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$7.162 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$127 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):kyat (MMK)
Currency code:MMK
Exchange rates:kyats per US dollar - 1,310 (2006), 5.761 (2005), 5.7459 (2004),6.0764 (2003), 6.5734 (2002), note, these are official exchangerates; unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/USdollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by year-end 2005, theunofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Burma
Telephones - main lines in use:476,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:183,400 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: barely meets minimum requirements for local andintercity service for business and government; international serviceis fairdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2,Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1 (2004)
Radios:4.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (2004)
Televisions:320,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.mm
Internet hosts:42 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only forthe government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)
Internet users:78,000 (2005)
Transportation Burma
Airports: 85 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 32 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 2,224 km; oil 558 km (2006)
Railways: total: 3,955 km narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 27,000 km paved: 3,200 km unpaved: 23,800 km (2005)
Waterways:12,800 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 34 ships (1000 GRT or over) 402,699 GRT/620,642 DWTby type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 20, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 9 (Germany 5, Japan 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe
Military Burma
Military branches:Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 12,268,850females age 18-49: 12,469,771 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 7,946,701females age 18-49: 8,543,705 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 469,841females: 455,689 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$39 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Burma
Disputes - international:over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groupswith substantial numbers of kin beyond its borders; despitecontinuing border committee talks, significant differences remainwith Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnicrebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; ethnic Karensflee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels andBurmese troops; in 2005 Thailand sheltered about 121,000 Burmeserefugees; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmesehydroelectric dam on the Salween River near the border;environmentalists in Burma and Thailand continue to voice concernover China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on theNujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province; India seeks cooperationfrom Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists from hiding in remoteBurmese uplands
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 540,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgentgroups near the eastern borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen,Karenni, Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Burma is a source country for men, women, andchildren trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for sexualexploitation, domestic service, and forced commercial labor; asignificant number of victims are economic migrants who wind up inforced or bonded labor and forced prostitution; to a lesser extent,Burma is a country of transit and destination for women traffickedfrom China for sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of personsoccurs primarily for labor in industrial zones and agriculturalestates; internal trafficking of women and girls for sexualexploitation occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas;the military junta's economic mismanagement, human rights abuses,and policy of using forced labor are driving factors behind Burma'slarge trafficking problemtier rating: Tier 3 - Burma does not fully comply with the minimumstandards for the elimination of trafficking and is not makingsignificant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimatedproduction in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due toeradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will to takeon major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitmentagainst money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrugeffort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regionalconsumption; currently under Financial Action Task Forcecountermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequatemoney-laundering controls (2005)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Burundi
Introduction Burundi
Background:Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinatedin October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespreadethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Over 200,000Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozenyears. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displacedor became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationallybrokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominatedgovernment and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for atransition process that led to an integrated defense force,established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutugovernment in 2005. The new government, led by President PierreNKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered ceasefire with thecountry's last rebel group in September of 2006 but still faces manychallenges.
Geography Burundi
Location:Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 27,830 sq kmland: 25,650 sq kmwater: 2,180 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 974 kmborder countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varieswith altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generallymoderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annualrainfall is about 150 cm; two wet seasons (February to May andSeptember to November), and two dry seasons (June to August andDecember to January)
Terrain:hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 mhighest point: Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum,vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin,tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Land use:arable land: 35.57%permanent crops: 13.12%other: 51.31% (2005)
Irrigated land:210 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, drought
Environment - current issues:soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion ofagriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested landremains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitatloss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; theKagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remoteheadstream of the White Nile
People Burundi
Population:8,090,068note: 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: 46.3% (male 1,884,825/female 1,863,200)15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,051,451/female 2,082,017)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 83,432/female 125,143) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.6 yearsmale: 16.4 yearsfemale: 16.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:3.7% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:42.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:13.46 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:8.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 63.13 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 70.26 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 55.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 50.81 yearsmale: 50.07 yearsfemale: 51.58 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:250,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:25,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2007)
Nationality:noun: Burundian(s)adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups:Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions:Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenousbeliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Languages:Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along LakeTanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51.6%male: 58.5%female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Government Burundi
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Burundiconventional short form: Burundilocal long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundilocal short form: Burundiformer: Urundi
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Bujumburageographic coordinates: 3 23 S, 29 22 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale, Bururi,Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba,Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum
Legal system:based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005);First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29 August2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8September 2006)head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August2005); First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29August 2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8September 2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by presidentelections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-yearterm (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adoptedin February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be electedby a two-thirds majority of the parliament; vice presidentsnominated by the president, endorsed by parliamentelection results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by theparliament by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted inFebruary 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected bya two-thirds majority of the legislature
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a National Assemblyor Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats - 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsiwith at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by aNational Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnicrepresentation; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 by indirect vote toserve five year terms, with remaining seats assigned to ethnicgroups and former chiefs of state)elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to beheld in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in2010)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%,MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59,FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30,FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts ofAppeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of FirstInstance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Political parties and leaders:the three national, mainstream, governing parties are: BurundiDemocratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA, president];National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Front for the Defenseof Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Hussein RADJABU, president]; Unity forNational Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA, president]note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD; NationalResistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen orMRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for NationalRedress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABOchancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLERembassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumburamailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumburatelephone: [257] 223454FAX: [257] 222926
Flag description:divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom)and green panels (hoist side and fly side) with a white disksuperimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed starsoutlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,two stars below)
Economy Burundi
Economy - overview:Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with anunderdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantlyagricultural with more than 90% of the population dependent onsubsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and teaexports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Theability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weatherconditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsiminority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and thecoffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of thepopulation. An ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decaderesulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced more than 48,000refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally.Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in 10adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in shortsupply. Political stability and the end of the civil war haveimproved aid flows and economic activity has increased, butunderlying weaknesses - a high poverty rate, poor education rates, aweak legal system, and low administrative capacity - riskundermining planned economic reforms. Burundi grew about 5 percentin 2006. Delayed disbursements of funds from the World Bank may addto budget pressures in 2007. Burundi will continue to remain heavilydependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$5.744 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$778.9 million (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 44.9% industry: 20.9% services: 34.1% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 2.99 million (2002)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 93.6% industry: 2.3% services: 4.1% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:68% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):11% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):11.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $239.9 millionexpenditures: $297 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc(tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Industries:light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly ofimported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate:18% (2001)
Electricity - production:137 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.6% hydro: 99.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:157.4 million kWh (2004)