1 (1997)
Internet country code:
.io
Internet hosts:
160 (2009) country comparison to the world: 194
Transportation ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Airports:
1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 225
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
note: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
Ports and terminals:
Diego Garcia
Military ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Overseas Police Officers (ROPOs) (2008)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
Transnational Issues ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Disputes - international:
Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2007, the UK Court of Appeals upheld the May 2006 High Court of London judgment reversing the UK government's 2004 Orders of Council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@British Virgin Islands (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::British Virgin Islands
Background:
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the VirginIslands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by theEnglish in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of theLeeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967.The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous USVirgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Geography ::British Virgin Islands
Location:
Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 151 sq km country comparison to the world: 219 land: 151 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; 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 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 73.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
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:
24,491 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 215
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 2,454/female 2,387)
15-64 years: 74.4% (male 9,346/female 8,881)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 734/female 689) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 32.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.837% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71
Birth rate:
14.62 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Death rate:
4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Net migration rate:
8.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Urbanization:
urban population: 40% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 129 male: 16.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.26 years country comparison to the world: 58 male: 76.03 years
female: 78.55 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:
black 83.4%, white 7%, other 9.6% (includes Indian and mixed) (2004 Census)
Religions:
Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 15 years
female: 19 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 123
Government ::British Virgin Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Government type:
Capital:
name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Constitution:
13 June 2007
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: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1
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:
The Family Support Network; The Women's Desk
other: environmentalists
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU
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 and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
Economy ::British Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:
The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 820,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2005. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$853.4 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
GDP (official exchange rate):
$839.7 million (2003)
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,500 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2%
services: 92% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
12,770 (2004) country comparison to the world: 206
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 40%
services: 59.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (1997) country comparison to the world: 43
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $204.7 million
expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% (2005) country comparison to the world: 17
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries:
tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
45 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - consumption:
41.85 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - imports:
691.4 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Current account balance:
$134.3 million (1999) country comparison to the world: 55
Exports:
$25.3 million (2002) country comparison to the world: 202 $25.3 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Imports:
$187 million f.o.b.
Imports - commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Debt - external:
$36.1 million (1997) country comparison to the world: 194
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::British Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
18,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 196
Telephones - mobile cellular:
23,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 204
Telephone system:
general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: fixed line connections exceed 75 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is approaching 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997)
Internet country code:
.vg
Internet hosts:
581 (2009) country comparison to the world: 169
Internet users:
4,000 (2002) country comparison to the world: 206
Transportation ::British Virgin Islands
Airports:
4 (2009) country comparison to the world: 185
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 200 km country comparison to the world: 206 paved: 200 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008) country comparison to the world: 153
Ports and terminals:
Road Town
Military ::British Virgin Islands
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,101 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,979
females age 16-49: 5,738 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 178
female: 173 (2009 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 the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Brunei (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Brunei
Background:
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.
Geography ::Brunei
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5,765 sq km country comparison to the world: 172 land: 5,265 sq km
water: 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)
Total renewable water resources:
8.5 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.09
per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)
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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia
People ::Brunei
Population:
388,190 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 53,282/female 50,141)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 135,640/female 136,292)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 6,199/female 6,636) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.7 years
female: 27.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.759% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Birth rate:
18.2 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Death rate:
3.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
Net migration rate:
2.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Urbanization:
urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.27 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 144 male: 14.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.74 years country comparison to the world: 74 male: 73.52 years
female: 78.07 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.91 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2000) country comparison to the world: 59
Government ::Brunei
Country name:
conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei
Government type:
constitutional sultanate
Capital:
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
1 January 1984 (from the UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
Constitution:
29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system:
based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Sharia law supersedes civil law in a number of areas; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age for village elections; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
The Sultan appointed a council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005; the council has met in March of each year since then
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
note: The Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases; Sharia courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders:
National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]
note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] were deregistered; parties are small and have limited activity
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angela SHIM
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William E. TODD
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone: [673] 222-0384
Flag description:
yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
Economy ::Brunei
Economy - overview:
Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration into the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, increasing agricultural production, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$19.58 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $19.96 billion (2007 est.)
$19.92 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.55 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 0.2% (2007 est.)
4.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$51,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $53,300 (2007 est.)
$54,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 75%
services: 25% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
188,800 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 63.1%
services: 32.4% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 44 4% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.889 billion
expenditures: $4 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 139 5.5% (February 2009)
Stock of money:
$3.046 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 63 $2.674 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$4.551 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 72 $4.258 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.274 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 104 $2.38 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - production:
3.091 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - consumption:
2.926 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
157,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - exports:
207,500 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - imports:
237.6 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - production:
13.4 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - consumption:
4.2 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - exports:
9.2 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 22
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - proved reserves:
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Current account balance:
$7.101 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Exports:
$8.25 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 93 $6.767 billion (2006)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, garments
Exports - partners:
Japan 40.8%, Indonesia 21.6%, South Korea 15.4%, Australia 10% (2008)
Imports:
$2.055 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 $2 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 36.5%, Malaysia 19%, Japan 7.7%, China 5.5%, Thailand 5%,US 4.7%, UK 4.7% (2008)
Debt - external:
$0 (2005) country comparison to the world: 202
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
Communications ::Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:
76,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 151
Telephones - mobile cellular:
376,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 162
Telephone system:
general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits two FM signals with English and Nepali service) (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service) (2006)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet hosts:
14,978 (2009) country comparison to the world: 108
Internet users:
217,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 133
Transportation ::Brunei
Airports:
2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 210
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Heliports:
3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,650 km country comparison to the world: 159 paved: 2,819 km
unpaved: 831 km (2005)
Waterways:
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2008) country comparison to the world: 97
Merchant marine:
total: 8 country comparison to the world: 119 by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 1 (UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Lumut, Muara, Seria
Military ::Brunei
Military branches:
Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 108,356
females age 16-49: 110,153 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 92,543
females age 16-49: 95,301 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,460
female: 3,399 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 24
Transnational Issues ::Brunei
Disputes - international:
Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration, and renounce any territorial claims on land; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants
Illicit drugs:
drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Bulgaria (Europe)
Introduction ::Bulgaria
Background:
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.