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Flag description:

red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a

white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five

points represent the five pillars of Islam

Economy Bahrain

Economy - overview:

In well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account

for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and

30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport

facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with

business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil

granted as aid. A large share of exports consist of petroleum

products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on

several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among

the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources

are major long-term economic problems.

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $11.29 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $16,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 42.1% services: 57.2% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.9% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

−0.2% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

350,000

note: 44% of the population in the 15–64 age group is non-national

(2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government

20% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (1998 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.981 billion

expenditures: $3.019 billion, including capital expenditures of $700

million (2003 est.)

Public debt:

57.5% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:

fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish

Industries:

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore

banking, ship repairing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.257 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.819 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:

43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA (2001)

Oil - imports:

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

125 million bbl (1 January 2003)

Natural gas - production:

8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

46 billion cu m (1 January 2003)

Current account balance:

$53 million (2003)

Exports:

$6.492 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners:

US 3.5%, India 3.3%, South Korea 2.2% (2003)

Imports:

$5.126 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 30.7%, US 11.4%, Japan 7.8%, UK 5.7%, Germany 5.4%

(2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:

$1.785 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$4.682 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of

Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)

Currency:

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code:

BHD

Exchange rates:

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376

(2001), 0.376 (2000), 0.376 (1999)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Bahrain

Telephones - main lines in use:

185,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

443,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system

domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network

with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones

international: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and

UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to

Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat

(1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

338,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (1997)

Televisions:

275,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bh

Internet hosts:

1,334 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

195,700 (2003)

Transportation Bahrain

Highways: total: 3,261 km paved: 2,531 km unpaved: 730 km (2000)

Pipelines:

gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Merchant marine:

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT

registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)

foreign-owned: Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 1

by type: bulk 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1

Airports:

4 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2003 est.)

Military Bahrain

Military branches:

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense),

Navy, Air Force, National Guard

Military manpower - military age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:

males age 15–49: 221,661 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:

males age 15–49: 121,484 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:

males: 6,396 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$618.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

7.5% (2003)

Transnational Issues Bahrain

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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@Baker Island

Introduction Baker Island

Background:

The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano

deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second

half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at

colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland

Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.

Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US

Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle

of the west coast.

Geography Baker Island

Location:

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between

Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

0 13 N, 176 31 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 1.4 sq km

water: 0 sq km

land: 1.4 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4.8 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain:

low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location 8 m

Natural resources:

guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime

hazard

Environment - current issues:

no natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:

treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses,

prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting,

roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine

wildlife

People Baker Island

Population:

uninhabited

note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and

naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during

World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by

special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and

generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and

remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the

middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife

Service (2004 est.)

Government Baker Island

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,

DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the

Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy Baker Island

Economy - overview: no economic activity

Transportation Baker Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat

landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports:

1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with

vegetation and unusable (2003 est.)

Transportation - note:

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Military Baker Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US

Coast Guard

Transnational Issues Baker Island

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Bangladesh

Introduction Bangladesh

Background:

Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan

seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this

extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy

season, hampering economic development.

Geography Bangladesh

Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Geographic coordinates:

24 00 N, 90 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 144,000 sq km

land: 133,910 sq km

water: 10,090 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Iowa

Land boundaries: total: 4,246 km border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Coastline:

580 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin

contiguous zone: 18 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March

to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Land use: arable land: 62.11% permanent crops: 3.07% other: 34.82% (2001)

Irrigated land:

38,440 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during

the summer monsoon season

Environment - current issues:

many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate

flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water;

water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use

of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally

occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling

water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil

degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental

Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer

Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing

from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel

of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty

into the Bay of Bengal

People Bangladesh

Population:

141,340,476 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:

0–14 years: 33.5% (male 24,359,149; female 23,013,811)

15–64 years: 63.1% (male 45,557,963; female 43,626,950)

65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,575,519; female 2,207,084) (2004

est.)

Median age:

total: 21.5 years

male: 21.5 years

female: 21.5 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.08% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:

30.03 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:

8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:

−0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female

total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 64.32 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 63.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male: 65.41 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.71 years

male: 61.8 years

female: 61.61 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.15 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

13,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

650 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bangladeshi(s)

adjective: Bangladeshi

Ethnic groups:

Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)

Religions:

Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)

Languages:

Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 43.1%

male: 53.9%

female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

Government Bangladesh

Country name:

conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh

conventional short form: Bangladesh

former: East Pakistan

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Dhaka

Administrative divisions:

6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and

Sylhet

Independence:

16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the

date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known

as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state

of Bangladesh

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date

of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day

and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Constitution:

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following

coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002);

note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the

13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government

Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when

Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at

presidential direction - to supervise the elections

head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October

2001)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the

president

elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year

term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since

Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in

on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following

legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most

seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president

election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission

elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote

- NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected

by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the

constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above

the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve

five-year terms

elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October

2006)

election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance

partners 47%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 195, AL 58, JI 17, JP

(Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 3, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - the

election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned

with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami Oikya

Jote, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by

the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or

BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP

[Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul

Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya

Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party

(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),

ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,

Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB,

OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,

UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,

WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMAD

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

FAX: [1] (202) 244–5366

telephone: [1] (202) 244–0183

chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS, Jr.

embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212

mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000

telephone: [880] (2) 885–5500

FAX: [880] (2) 882–3744

Flag description:

green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center;

the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve

independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and

secondarily, the traditional color of Islam

Economy Bangladesh

Economy - overview:

Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve

economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor,

overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP is

generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of

Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as

the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth

include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned

enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor

force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting

energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and

slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled

in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all

levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition

from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested

interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda

ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms,

but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key

areas. One encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for the

past several years.

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $258.8 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 26.6% services: 51.7% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.2% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:

35.6% (FY95/96 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1995–96 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.6 (FY95/96)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.6% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

64.02 million

note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,

Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion

in 1998–99 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 63%, industry 11%, services 26% (FY95/96)

Unemployment rate:

40% (includes underemployment) (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.352 billion

expenditures: $7.55 billion, including capital expenditures of NA

(2003)

Public debt:

43.3% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:

rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses,

oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

Industries:

cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint,

cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar

Industrial production growth rate:

1.9% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

15.33 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

14.25 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:

3,581 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

71,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA (2001)

Oil - imports:

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

150.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$393 million (2003)

Exports:

$6.713 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood

(2001)

Exports - partners:

US 23.9%, Germany 13.6%, UK 9.7%, France 5.9% (2003)

Imports:

$9.459 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,

foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)

Imports - partners:

India 15.4%, China 11.3%, Singapore 10.8%, Japan 5.9%, Hong Kong

4.5% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:

$2.624 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$18.06 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.575 billion (2000 est.)

Currency:

taka (BDT)

Currency code:

BDT

Exchange rates:

taka per US dollar - 58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002), 55.8067 (2001),

52.1417 (2000), 49.0854 (1999)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications Bangladesh

Telephones - main lines in use:

740,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.365 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country

domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems

include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some

fiber-optic cable in cities

international: country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 2

Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications

and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

6.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (1999)

Televisions:

770,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bd

Internet hosts:

1 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2000)

Internet users:

243,000 (2003)

Transportation Bangladesh

Railways:

total: 2,706 km

broad gauge: 884 km 1.676-m gauge

narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)

Highways:

total: 207,486 km

paved: 19,773 km

unpaved: 187,713 km (1999)

Waterways: 8,372 km note: includes 2,575 km main cargo routes (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 2,012 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj

Merchant marine:

total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 319,897 GRT/440,575 DWT

by type: bulk 2, cargo 24, container 10, passenger 1, petroleum

tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1

foreign-owned: China 1, Singapore 9

registered in other countries: 10 (2004 est.)

Airports:

16 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Bangladesh

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Military manpower - availability:

males age 15–49: 39,523,128 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:

males age 15–49: 23,441,482 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$606.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (2003)

Transnational Issues Bangladesh

Disputes - international:

discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of

river boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries,

allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade,

migration, and violence; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to

fence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; dispute with

India over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of

Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim

refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 61,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Barbados

Introduction Barbados

Background:

The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in

1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island

until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily

dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the

20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political

reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the

UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the

sugar industry in economic importance.

Geography Barbados

Location:

Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of

Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 431 sq km

water: 0 sq km

land: 431 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

97 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain:

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 37.21% permanent crops: 2.33% other: 60.46% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note: easternmost Caribbean island

People Barbados

Population:

278,289 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:

0–14 years: 21% (male 29,294; female 29,020)

15–64 years: 70.3% (male 95,675; female 99,864)

65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,370; female 15,066) (2004 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.7 years

male: 32.6 years

female: 34.9 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.36% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:

12.98 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:

9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:

−0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male: 14.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.64 years

male: 69.51 years

female: 73.81 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)

adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

Ethnic groups:

black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%

Religions:

Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other

12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 97.4%

male: 98%

female: 96.8% (1995 est.)

Government Barbados

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Barbados

Government type:

parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the

Commonwealth

Capital:

Bridgetown

Administrative divisions:

11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint

James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint

Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may

be given parish status

Independence:

30 November 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution:

30 November 1966

Legal system:

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),

represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS

(since 1 June 1996)

head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6

September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May

2003)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of

the prime minister

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general

appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the

leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition

is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the

prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body

appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30

seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year

terms)

elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to be

held by May 2008)

election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;

seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service

Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)

Political parties and leaders:

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party

or DLP [Clyde Mascoll]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union

[David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY];

Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,

ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,

LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,

WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING

consulate(s): Los Angeles

consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

FAX: [1] (202) 332–7467

telephone: [1] (202) 339–9200

chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER

embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,

Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown

mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055

telephone: [1] (246) 436–4950

FAX: [1] (246) 429–5246, 429–3379

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue

with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the

trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the

colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Economy Barbados

Economy - overview:

Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane

cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years

has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance

and information services are important foreign exchange earners. The

government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to

encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining

state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002–03 mainly

due to a decline in tourism. Growth should be positive in 2004, the

precise level largely dependent on economic conditions in the US and

Europe.

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $4.355 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $15,700 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 16% services: 78% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

−0.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

128,500 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 10%, industry 15%, services 75% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.7% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $847 million (including grants)

expenditures: $886 million, including capital expenditures of NA

(2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Industries:

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Industrial production growth rate:

−3.2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

780 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

725.4 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:

1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA (2001)

Oil - imports:

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

70.79 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:

$206 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,

electrical components

Exports - partners:

US 18.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.5%, UK 14%, Jamaica 7.8%, Saint

Lucia 6.2%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.7% (2003)

Imports:

$1.039 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,

chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Imports - partners:

US 37.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 19.6%, UK 6.2%, Japan 4.4% (2003)

Debt - external:

$668 million (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

$9.1 million (1995)

Currency:

Barbadian dollar (BBD)

Currency code:

BBD

Exchange rates:

Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2

(2000), 2 (1999)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications Barbados

Telephones - main lines in use:

134,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

140,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA

domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system

international: country code - 1–246; satellite earth stations - 4

Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and

Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

237,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)

Televisions:

76,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bb

Internet hosts:

204 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2003)

Transportation Barbados

Highways: total: 1,793 km paved: 1,719 km unpaved: 74 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:

Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)

Merchant marine:

total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 427,465 GRT/668,195 DWT

by type: bulk 11, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 3,

petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 1

registered in other countries: 3 (2004 est.)

foreign-owned: Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Canada 5,

Greece 7, Hong Kong 7, Italy 2, Lebanon 1, Norway 9, United Kingdom

10

Airports:

1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military Barbados

Military branches:

Royal Barbados Defense Force (Troops Command and Coast Guard)

Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)

Military manpower - availability:

males age 15–49: 77,714 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:

males age 15–49: 53,127 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues Barbados

Disputes - international:

Barbados intends to take its claim before UNCLOS arbitration that

the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with

Venezuela extends into its waters; joins other Caribbean states to

counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human

habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to

extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the

Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for

Europe and the US; offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Bassas da India

Introduction Bassas da India

Background:

This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at

high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the

administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.

Geography Bassas da India

Location:

Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about

one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

21 30 S, 39 50 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 0.2 sq km

water: 0 sq km

land: 0.2 sq km

Area - comparative:

about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

35.2 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

volcanic rock

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide

and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a

long-extinct, submerged volcano

People Bassas da India

Population: uninhabited (July 2004 est.)

Government Bassas da India

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Bassas da India

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the

Republic, resident in Reunion

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy Bassas da India

Economy - overview: no economic activity

Transportation Bassas da India

Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only

Military Bassas da India

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues Bassas da India

Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Belarus

Introduction Belarus

Background:

After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus

attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political

and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet

republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union

on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic

integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the

accord, serious implementation has yet to take place.