Flag description:
a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle; the triangle approximates the shape of the country and its three points stand for the constituent peoples - Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe and are meant to be continuous (thus the half stars at top and bottom); the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are often associated with neutrality and peace, and traditionally are linked with Bosnia
National anthem:
name: "Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
lyrics/music: Dusan SESTIC and Benjamin ISOVIC/Dusan SESTIC
note: music adopted 1999; lyrics adopted 2009
Economy ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Economy - overview:
The interethnic warfare in Bosnia and Herzegovina caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in output was made up in 2003-08 when GDP growth exceeded 5% per year. However, the country experienced negative GDP growth of almost 3% in 2009 due in large part to a reduction in exports caused by the global economic crisis. One of Bosnia's main economic challenges in 2010 has been to reduce spending on public sector wages and social benefits to meet the IMF's criteria for obtaining funding for budget shortfalls. Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were shut down; foreign banks, primarily from Austria and Italy, now control most of the banking sector. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency introduced in 1998 - is pegged to the euro, and confidence in the currency and the banking sector has increased. Bosnia's private sector is growing and foreign investment is slowly increasing, but government spending, at roughly 50% of GDP, remains high because of redundant government offices at the state, entity and municipal level. Privatization of state enterprises, however, has been slow, particularly in the Federation where political division between ethnically-based political parties makes agreement on economic policy more difficult. A sizeable current account deficit and high unemployment rate remain the two most serious macroeconomic problems. Successful implementation of a value-added tax in 2006 provided a predictable source of revenue for the government and helped rein in gray market activity. National-level statistics have also improved over time but a large share of economic activity remains unofficial and unrecorded. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a full member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement in September 2007.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$30.56 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 $30.23 billion (2009 est.)
$31.23 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$16.2 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 -3.2% (2009 est.)
5.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $6,600 (2009 est.)
$6,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.8%
industry: 25.9%
services: 64.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.863 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 123
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20.5%
industry: 32.6%
services: 47% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
27.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 24.1% (2009 est.)
note: official rate
Population below poverty line:
25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.4% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.2 (2007) country comparison to the world: 11
Public debt:
39% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 35% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 -0.4% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.93% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 6.98% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$4.098 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 99 $4.182 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.307 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $9.236 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$10.09 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $10.01 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:
steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - production:
14.58 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Electricity - consumption:
11.62 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - exports:
6.024 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
3.04 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Oil - consumption:
30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - exports:
192 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Oil - imports:
25,990 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Natural gas - consumption:
310 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - imports:
310 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Current account balance:
-$887 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 -$1.283 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.787 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $4.057 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
metals, clothing, wood products
Exports - partners:
Croatia 19.07%, Slovenia 18.58%, Italy 16.87%, Germany 13.38%,Austria 10.25% (2009)
Imports:
$9.403 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $8.788 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Croatia 22.17%, Germany 14.04%, Slovenia 13.45%, Italy 11.89%,Austria 6.61%, Hungary 5.74% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $3.245 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$7.996 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $8.048 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar - 1.5088 (2010), 1.4079 (2009), 1.3083 (2008), 1.4419 (2007), 1.5576 (2006)
Communications ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Telephones - main lines in use:
998,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 78
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.257 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 110
Telephone system:
general assessment: post-war reconstruction of the telecommunications network, aided by a internationally sponsored program under EBRD, resulting in sharp increases in the number of fixed telephone lines available
domestic: fixed-line teledensity roughly 22 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly and, in 2009, reached 70 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations (2009)
Broadcast media:
3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and Serb Republic Radio-TV; a local commercial network of 5 TV stations; 2 private, near-national TV stations and dozens of small independent TV stations broadcasting; 3 large public radio broadcasters and a large number of private radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.ba
Internet hosts:
95,234 (2010) country comparison to the world: 79
Internet users:
1.422 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 85
Transportation ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Airports:
25 (2010) country comparison to the world: 129
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 11 (2010)
Heliports:
5 (2010)
Railways:
total: 1,000 km country comparison to the world: 89 standard gauge: 1,000 km 1.435-m gauge (590 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 21,846 km country comparison to the world: 107 paved: 11,425 km (4,714 km of interurban roads)
unpaved: 10,421 km (2006)
Waterways:
Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited (2009)
Ports and terminals:
Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava River), Orasje
Military ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH): Army of Bosnia andHerzegovina, Air and Air Defense Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina(Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzracna Obrana, ZPO) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in January 2006; 4-month service obligation; mandatory retirement at age 35 or after 15 years of service (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,194,832
females age 16-49: 1,156,698 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 980,425
females age 16-49: 948,791 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 26,134
female: 24,518 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Transnational Issues ::Bosnia and Herzegovina
Disputes - international:
sections along the Drina River remain in dispute between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputed sections of the boundary related to maritime access that hinder final ratification of the 1999 border agreement
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,269 (Croatia)
IDPs: 131,600 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced in 1992-95 war) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly a transit point for heroin being trafficked to Western Europe; minor transit point for marijuana; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement, and instances of corruption
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Botswana (Africa)
Introduction ::Botswana
Background:
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.
Geography ::Botswana
Location:
Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 581,730 sq km country comparison to the world: 47 land: 566,730 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain:
predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m
Natural resources:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use:
arable land: 0.65%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.34% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
14.7 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.19 cu km/yr (41%/18%/41%)
per capita: 107 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Environment - current issues:
overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country
People ::Botswana
Population:
2,029,307 country comparison to the world: 144 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.8% (male 352,399/female 340,058)
15-64 years: 61.4% (male 613,714/female 608,003)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 31,155/female 45,547) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22 years
male: 21.8 years
female: 22.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.843% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Birth rate:
22.54 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Death rate:
9.02 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Net migration rate:
4.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 17 note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2010 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.79 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 143 male: 12.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.93 years country comparison to the world: 183 male: 61.11 years
female: 60.75 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.54 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
23.9% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
300,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups:
Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, includingKgalagadi and white 7%
Religions:
Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)
Languages:
Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.2%
male: 80.4%
female: 81.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
8.1% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 10
Government ::Botswana
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
local long form: Republic of Botswana
local short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Gaborone
geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern
Independence:
30 September 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Constitution:
March 1965; effective 30 September 1966
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 October 2009 (next to be held in October 2014); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body with 8 ex-officio members consisting of the chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving 5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63 seats; 57 members directly elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and Attorney General, serve as ex-officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held on 16 October 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 53.3%, BNF 21.9%, BCP 19.2%, 2.3%, other 4.3%; seats by party - BDP 45, BNF 6, BCP 4, BAM 1, other 1
Judicial branch:
High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)
Political parties and leaders:
Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO];Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Gilson SALESHANDO]; BotswanaDemocratic Party or BDP [Daniel KWELAGOBE]; Botswana National Frontor BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP [BernardBALIKANI]; MELS Movement of Botswana or MELS [Themba JOINA]; NewDemocratic Front or NDF [Dick BAYFORD]
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form theBAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes theUnited Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the IndependenceFreedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; the Botswana Progressive Union[D. K. KWELE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
First People of the Kalahari (Bushman organization); Pitso Ya Ba Tswana; Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (Kalanga elites)
other: diamond mining companies
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen J. NOLAN
embassy: Embassy Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 395-3982
Flag description:
light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center; the blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, while the black and white bands represent racial harmony
National anthem:
name: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
note: adopted 1966
Economy ::Botswana
Economy - overview:
Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966, though growth fell below 5% in 2007-08, and turned sharply negative in 2009, with industry falling nearly 30%. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $13,100 in 2010. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of export earnings, and about half of the government's revenues. Botswana's heavy reliance on a single luxury export was a critical factor in the sharp economic contraction of 2009. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. Although unemployment was 7.5% in 2007 according to official reports, unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is second highest in the world and threatens Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production within the next two decades overshadows long-term prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$26.56 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $25.76 billion (2009 est.)
$27.23 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$12.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 -5.4% (2009 est.)
2.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,100 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $12,900 (2009 est.)
$13,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 45.8%
services: 51.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
685,300 formal sector employees (2007) country comparison to the world: 151
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Population below poverty line:
30.3% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
63 (1993) country comparison to the world: 4
Investment (gross fixed):
28.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Public debt:
22.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 18.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 8.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
10% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 19 15% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.76% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 16.54% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.146 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 136 $939.1 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$6.679 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $5.357 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.361 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $2.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.991 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 86 $3.556 billion (31 December 2008)
$5.887 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts
Industries:
diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; livestock processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
6.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - production:
1.052 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
2.648 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
2.181 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Oil - imports:
15,180 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Current account balance:
-$552 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118 -$762 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$4.419 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $3.385 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles
Imports:
$4.518 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $4.243 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.834 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $8.704 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.222 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137 $1.681 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
pulas (BWP) per US dollar - 6.7413 (2010), 7.1602 (2009), 6.7907 (2008), 6.2035 (2007), 5.8447 (2006)
Communications ::Botswana
Telephones - main lines in use:
144,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 133
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.874 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 136
Telephone system:
general assessment: Botswana is participating in regional development efforts; expanding fully digital system with fiber-optic cables linking the major population centers in the east as well as a system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relays links, and radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: fixed-line teledensity has declined in recent years and now stands at roughly 7 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is rapidly approaching a teledensity of 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 267; international calls are made via satellite, using international direct dialing; 2 international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
Broadcast media:
2 TV stations - 1 state-owned and 1 privately-owned; privately-owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 3 privately-owned radio stations broadcast locally (2007)
Internet country code:
.bw
Internet hosts:
2,739 (2010) country comparison to the world: 148
Internet users:
120,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 153
Transportation ::Botswana
Airports:
78 (2010) country comparison to the world: 71
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 69
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 52
under 914 m: 13 (2010)
Railways:
total: 888 km country comparison to the world: 97 narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 25,798 km country comparison to the world: 103 paved: 8,410 km
unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)
Military ::Botswana
Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air ArmCommand, Logistics Command (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; official minimum age is unknown (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 543,097
females age 16-49: 520,896 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 347,070
females age 16-49: 315,743 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 23,496
female: 22,944 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 38
Transnational Issues ::Botswana
Disputes - international:
Botswana still struggles to seal its border from thousands of Zimbabweans who flee economic collapse and political persecution; Namibia has long supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River at Kazungula crossing, thereby de facto recognizing the short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary
page last updated on January 19, 2011
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@Bouvet Island (Antarctica)
Introduction ::Bouvet Island
Background:
This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, it has run an automated meteorological station on the island.
Geography ::Bouvet Island
Location:
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 49 sq km country comparison to the world: 232 land: 49 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29.6 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain:
volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (93% ice) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
Geography - note:
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve by Norway
People ::Bouvet Island
Population:
uninhabited
Government ::Bouvet Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Dependency status:
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Oslo Police
Legal system:
the laws of Norway where applicable apply
Flag description:
the flag of Norway is used
Economy ::Bouvet Island
Economy - overview:
no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications ::Bouvet Island
Internet country code:
.bv
Internet hosts:
6 (2010) country comparison to the world: 225
Communications - note:
automatic meteorological station
Transportation ::Bouvet Island
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Bouvet Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues ::Bouvet Island
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 17, 2010
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@Brazil (South America)
Introduction ::Brazil
Background:
Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getulio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil underwent more than half a century of populist and military government until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader, one of the first in the area to begin an economic recovery. Highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems. In January 2010, Brazil assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2010-11 term.
Geography ::Brazil
Location:
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 8,514,877 sq km country comparison to the world: 5 land: 8,459,417 sq km
water: 55,460 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 16,885 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia 1,644 km, French Guiana 730 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365 km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 km, Venezuela 2,200 km