Coastline:
7,491 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate:
mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use:
arable land: 6.93%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
29,200 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
8,233 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 59.3 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)
per capita: 318 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
Environment - current issues:
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador
People ::Brazil
Population:
201,103,330 country comparison to the world: 5 note: Brazil conducted a census in August 2000, which reported a population of 169,872,855; that figure was about 3.8% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 27,092,880/female 26,062,244)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 65,804,108/female 67,047,725)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 5,374,230/female 7,358,082) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 29.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.166% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Birth rate:
18.11 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Death rate:
6.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Net migration rate:
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Urbanization:
urban population: 86% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 93 male: 25.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.26 years country comparison to the world: 123 male: 68.7 years
female: 76 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.19 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
730,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 16
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
15,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Nationality:
noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups:
white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); note - less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and a large number of minor Amerindian languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.6%
male: 88.4%
female: 88.8% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 61
Government ::Brazil
Country name:
conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil
Government type:
federal republic
Capital:
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends third Sunday in February
note: Brazil is divided into three time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands
Administrative divisions:
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Independence:
7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Constitution:
5 October 1988
Legal system:
based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel TEMER (since 1 January 2011); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Dilma ROUSSEFF (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Michel TEMER (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held on 3 October 2010 with runoff on 31 October 2010 (next to be held on 5 October 2014 and, if necessary, a runoff election on 2 November 2014)
election results: Dilma ROUSSEFF (PT) elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Dilma ROUSSEFF 56.01%, Jose SERRA (PSDB) 43.99%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third and two-thirds of members elected every four years, alternately) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held on 3 October 2010 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held in October 2014 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 3 October 2010 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PMDB 20, PT 13, PSDB 10, DEM (formerly PFL) 7, PTdoB 6, PP 5, PDT 4, PR 4, PSB 4, PPS 1, PRB 1, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PT 87, PMDB 80, PSDB 53, DEM (formerly PFL) 43, PP 41, PR 41, PSB 34, PDT 28, PTdoB 21, PSC 17, PCdoB 15, PV 15, PPS 12, other 18
Judicial branch:
Supreme Federal Tribunal or STF (11 ministers are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life); note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federal employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70
Political parties and leaders:
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy MichelTEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Roberto JEFFERSON]; BrazilianRenewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy FIDELIX da Cruz]; BrazilianRepublican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo Araujo DOS SANTOS]; BrazilianSocial Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Sergio GUERRA]; BrazilianSocialist Party or PSB [Governor Eduardo Henrique Accioly CAMPOS];Christian Labor Party or PTC [Daniel TOURINHO]; Communist Party ofBrazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT[Carlos Roberto LUPI]; the Democrats or DEM [Federal Deputy RodrigoMAIA] (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); Freedom and SocialismParty or PSOL [Heloisa HELENA]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz deFranca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or PHS [Paulo RobertoMATOS]; Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB [Luis Henrique de OliveiraRESENDE]; Liberal Front Party or PFL (now known as the Democrats orDEM); National Mobilization Party or PMN [Oscar Noronha FILHO];Party of the Republic or PR [Sergio TAMER]; Popular Socialist Partyor PPS [Federal Deputy Fernando CORUJA]; Progressive Party or PP[Francisco DORNELLES]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor JorgeAbdala NOSSEIS]; Workers' Party or PT [Jose Eduardo DUTRA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Landless Workers' Movement or MST
other: labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic Church
International organization participation:
AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, CAN (associate), CPLP, FAO, FATF,G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur,MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,Paris Club (associate), PCA, RG, SICA (observer), UN, UN SecurityCouncil (temporary), UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,Union Latina, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker VIEIRA
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
note: temporary address - 1025 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, Suite 300 W, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2805
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas A. SHANNON
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 7500, DPO, AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife
Flag description:
green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress); the current flag was inspired by the banner of the former Empire of Brazil (1822-1889); on the imperial flag, the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow stood for the Habsburg Family of his wife; on the modern flag the green represents the forests of the country and the yellow rhombus its mineral wealth; the blue circle and stars, which replaced the coat of arms of the original flag, depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889 - the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has changed with the creation of new states and has risen from an original 21 to the current 27 (one for each state and the Federal District)
National anthem:
name: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
note: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years before it was adopted
Economy ::Brazil
Economy - overview:
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets. Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After record growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in September 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. Consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth returned to positive in 2010, boosted by an export recovery. Brazil's strong growth and high interest rates make it an attractive destination for foreign investors. Large capital inflows over the past year have contributed to the rapid appreciation of its currency and led the government to raise taxes on some foreign investments. President Dilma ROUSSEFF has pledged to retain the previous administration's commitment to inflation targeting by the Central Bank, a floating exchange rate, and fiscal restraint.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.194 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $2.041 trillion (2009 est.)
$2.045 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.024 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 -0.2% (2009 est.)
5.1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $10,300 (2009 est.)
$10,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.1%
industry: 26.4%
services: 67.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
103.6 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 14%
services: 66% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 8.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 43% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.7 (2005) country comparison to the world: 10 60.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Public debt:
60.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 59.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 4.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
15.17% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 9 20.48% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
44.65% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 47.25% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$165.8 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 21 $125.3 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.522 trillion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 11 $972.8 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.104 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $1.542 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.167 trillion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 15 $589.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.37 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef
Industries:
textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate:
11.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - production:
438.8 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - consumption:
404.3 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - exports:
2.034 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
42.06 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.572 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Oil - consumption:
2.46 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Oil - exports:
570,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Oil - imports:
632,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Oil - proved reserves:
13.2 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Natural gas - production:
10.28 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - consumption:
18.72 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - exports:
NA (2009 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
8.44 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - proved reserves:
364.2 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Current account balance:
-$52.73 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 -$24.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$199.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $153 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos
Exports - partners:
China 12.49%, US 10.5%, Argentina 8.4%, Netherlands 5.39%, Germany 4.05% (2009)
Imports:
$187.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $127.7 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics
Imports - partners:
US 16.12%, China 12.61%, Argentina 8.77%, Germany 7.65%, Japan 4.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$290.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $238.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$310.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $273.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$349.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13 $319.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$131 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 $117.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
reals (BRL) per US dollar - 1.77 (2010), 1.9976 (2009), 1.8644 (2008), 1.85 (2007), 2.1761 (2006)
Communications ::Brazil
Telephones - main lines in use:
41.497 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 6
Telephones - mobile cellular:
173.959 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 5
Telephone system:
general assessment: good working system including an extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations; mobile-cellular usage has more than tripled in the past 5 years
domestic: fixed-line connections have remained relatively stable in recent years and stand at about 20 per 100 persons; less expensive mobile-cellular technology has been a major driver in expanding telephone service to the lower-income segments of the population with mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 90 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 55; landing point for a number of submarine cables, including Americas-1, Americas-2, Atlantis-2, GlobeNet, South Amrica-1, South American Crossing/Latin American Nautilius, and UNISUR that provide direct connectivity to South and Central America, the Caribbean, the US, Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a television network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating - mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2007)
Internet country code:
.br
Internet hosts:
19.316 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 5
Internet users:
75.982 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 4
Transportation ::Brazil
Airports:
4,072 (2010) country comparison to the world: 2
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 726
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 176
914 to 1,523 m: 460
under 914 m: 55 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3,346
1,524 to 2,437 m: 87
914 to 1,523 m: 1,617
under 914 m: 1,642 (2010)
Heliports:
13 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate/gas 62 km; gas 9,989 km; liquid petroleum gas 353 km; oil 4,517 km; refined products 4,465 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 28,857 km country comparison to the world: 10 broad gauge: 5,709 km 1.600-m gauge (459 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 22,954 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 1,751,868 km country comparison to the world: 4 paved: 96,353 km
unpaved: 1,655,515 km (2004)
Waterways:
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2010) country comparison to the world: 3
Merchant marine:
total: 126 country comparison to the world: 45 by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 18, chemical tanker 6, container 12, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker 42, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 26 (Chile 1, Denmark 3, Germany 6, Greece 1, Norway 3, Spain 12)
registered in other countries: 27 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 1, Ghana 1, Liberia 20, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
cargo ports (tonnage): Ilha Grande (Gebig), Paranagua, Rio Grande, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao
container ports (TEUs): Santos (2,677,839), Itajai (693,580)
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Atlantic Ocean as a significant risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Military ::Brazil
Military branches:
Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha doBrasil (MB), includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo deFuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira,FAB) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are "long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 52,942,805
females age 16-49: 53,038,688 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 38,518,822
females age 16-49: 44,560,717 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,712,427
female: 1,652,491 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 88
Transnational Issues ::Brazil
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; two uncontested boundary disputes with Uruguay over Isla Brasilera at the tripoint with Argentina at the confluence of the Quarai/Cuareim and Uruguay rivers, and in the 235 square kilometer Invernada River region over which tributary represents the legitimate source of the Quarai/Cuareim River; the Itaipu Dam reservoir covers over a once contested section of Brazil-Paraguay boundary west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana; an accord placed the long-disputed Isla Suarez/Ilha de Guajara-Mirim, a fluvial island on the Rio Mamore, under Bolivian administration in 1958, but sovereignty remains in dispute
Illicit drugs:
second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area (2008)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
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@British Indian Ocean Territory (South Asia)
Introduction ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Background:
Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians.
Geography ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Location:
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:
6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 54,400 sq km country comparison to the world: 127 land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km
water: 54,340 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
Area - comparative:
land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
698 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Natural resources:
coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
Geography - note:
archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
People ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2004, approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors were living on the island of Diego Garcia
Government ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Country name:
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system:
the laws of the UK where applicable apply
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner Colin ROBERTS (since July 2008); Administrator Joanne YEADON (since December 2007); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia
cabinet: NA (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown (the symbols of the territory) centered on the outer half of the flag; the wavy stripes represent the Indian Ocean; although not officially described, the six blue stripes may stand for the six main atolls of the archipelago
Economy ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Economy - overview:
All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. The territory earns foreign exchange by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps.
Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Telephones - main lines in use:
Telephone system:
general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available
domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet
international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
Broadcast media:
Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) broadcasts over 3 separate frequencies for US and UK military personnel stationed on the islands (2009)
Internet country code:
.io
Internet hosts:
827 (2010) country comparison to the world: 169
Transportation ::British Indian Ocean Territory
Airports:
1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 232
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
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
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 November 17, 2010
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@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:
24,939 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 216
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) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.6 years
male: 32.7 years
female: 32.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.784% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Birth rate:
14.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Death rate:
4.41 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Net migration rate:
7.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
Urbanization:
urban population: 40% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.045 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.11 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 128 male: 16.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.45 years country comparison to the world: 58 male: 76.18 years
female: 78.78 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
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 82%, white 6.8%, other 11.2% (includes Indian and mixed) (2008)
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: 16 years
female: 19 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 145
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