Читать книгу The 2004 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 37
ОглавлениеDebt - external:
$475 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA
Currency:
Belizean dollar (BZD)
Currency code:
BZD
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2
(2000), 2 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Belize
Telephones - main lines in use:
33,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
60,400 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
133,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
41,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bz
Internet hosts:
2,613 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
30,000 (2002)
Transportation Belize
Highways: total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Merchant marine:
total: 336 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT
registered in other countries: 25 (2004 est.)
by type: bulk 13, cargo 240, chemical tanker 11, combination bulk 4,
combination ore/oil 1, container 10, multi-functional large load
carrier 1, petroleum tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll
off 8, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: Bahamas 2, Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 11,
Cambodia 6, China 67, Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 8,
Germany 5, Greece 2, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia
4, Italy 2, Japan 5, Jordan 1, South Korea 13, Latvia 5, Liberia 2,
Malaysia 4, Malta 1, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 16, Mexico 1,
Netherlands 1, Nigeria 2, Panama 15, Philippines 4, Portugal 1,
Russia 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 9, Spain 6,
Switzerland 2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 3, Tunisia 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 3,
United Kingdom 1, United States 3, Yemen 1
Airports:
43 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)
Military Belize
Military branches:
Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and
Volunteer Guard)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15–49: 68,518 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15–49: 40,619 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 3,122 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$18 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Belize
Disputes - international:
Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border region; an
OAS brokered Differendum in 2002 created a small adjustment to the
land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a
joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial
US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to popular
referendum leaving Guatemala to continue to claim the southern half
of Belize
Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer
of cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering
activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Benin
Introduction Benin
Background:
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African
kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French
Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the
Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in
1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment
of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to
representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free
elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as
president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa
from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by
elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were
alleged.
Geography Benin
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and
Togo
Geographic coordinates:
9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 112,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km
Coastline:
121 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:
mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m
Natural resources:
small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use: arable land: 18.08% permanent crops: 2.4% other: 79.52% (2001)
Irrigated land:
120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to
March
Environment - current issues:
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife
populations; deforestation; desertification
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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural
harbors, river mouths, or islands
People Benin
Population:
7,250,033
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 and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2004 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 46.8% (male 1,711,075; female 1,679,439)
15–64 years: 51% (male 1,802,990; female 1,890,915)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 68,890; female 96,724) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16 years
female: 16.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.89% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
42.57 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
13.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 85.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 90.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.81 years
male: 50.25 years
female: 51.39 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
68,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
5,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja,
Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%
Languages:
French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in
south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.9%
male: 56.2%
female: 26.5% (2000)
Government Benin
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey local long form: Republique du Benin
Government type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism
December 1989; democratic reforms adopted February 1990; transition
to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991
Capital:
Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of
government
Administrative divisions:
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines,
Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Independence:
1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
National Day, 1 August (1960)
Constitution:
December 1990
Legal system:
based on French civil law and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)
note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round
presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%,
Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI
(National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of
State) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18
March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and
HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to
run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed
a "friendly match"
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of
vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other
small parties) 31
elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African
Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN];
Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU];
Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic
Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and
Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress
and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA];
Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and 4 other small
parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The
Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's
Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN FAX: [1] (202) 265–1996 telephone: [1] (202) 232–6656 chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou telephone: [229] 30–06-50 FAX: [229] 30–06-70
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red with a vertical
green band on the hoist side
Economy Benin
Economy - overview:
The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on
subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade.
Growth in real output has averaged a stable 5% in the past six
years, but rapid population rise has offset much of this increase.
Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to
raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign
investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the
development of new food processing systems and agricultural
products, and encourage new information and communication
technology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in
telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of
initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral
creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for
speeded-up structural reforms.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.742 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 36.4% industry: 14.5% services: 49.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.3% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
37% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
NA (1996)
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
revenues: $698.9 million
expenditures: $613.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts,
livestock (2001)
Industries:
textiles, food processing, chemical production, construction
materials (2001)
Industrial production growth rate:
8.3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:
274.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
631.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
376 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
608.8 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:
$-112 million (2003)
Exports:
$485 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa
Exports - partners:
China 21.1%, India 18%, Thailand 6.8%, Ghana 5.8%, Niger 4.4%,
Indonesia 4.1% (2003)
Imports:
$726 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
China 29.5%, France 14.9%, UK 4.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.7%, Thailand
4.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$636 million (2003)
Debt - external:
$1.6 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
$342.6 million (2000)
Currency:
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
XOF
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 581.2
(2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699
(1999)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Benin
Telephones - main lines in use:
66,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
236,200 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)
Radios:
660,000 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Televisions:
66,000 (2000)
Internet country code:
.bj
Internet hosts:
879 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2002)
Internet users:
70,000 (2003)
Transportation Benin
Railways: total: 578 km narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Cotonou, Porto-Novo
Merchant marine:
none
Airports:
5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Benin
Military branches:
Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15–49: 1,638,010
females age 15–49: 1,647,850 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15–49: 835,561
females age 15–49: 835,633 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 77,552
females: 81,841 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$98.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (2003)
Transnational Issues Benin
Disputes - international:
two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso;
accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger
boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and
ICJ ad hoc judges have been selected to rule on disputed Niger and
Mekrou River islands; several villages along the Okpara River are in
dispute with Nigeria; a joint boundary commission continues to
resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo
moved boundary stones
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian
trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western
Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly
regulated financial infrastructure
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Bermuda
Introduction Bermuda
Background:
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists
headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American
winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be
important to the island's economy, although international business
has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a
highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on
independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Geography Bermuda
Location:
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east
of South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
103 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:
low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources:
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:
asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space;
sustainable development
Geography - note:
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall,
but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US
Government from 1941 to 1995
People Bermuda
Population:
64,935 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 19.1% (male 6,192; female 6,186)
15–64 years: 69.3% (male 22,268; female 22,703)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 3,295; female 4,291) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.2 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 40.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.68% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
11.83 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 10.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.6 years
male: 75.54 years
female: 79.7 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality: noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:
black 58%, white 36%, other 6%
Religions:
non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%,
other 19%
Languages:
English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
Government Bermuda
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
parliamentary British overseas territory with internal
self-government
Capital:
Hamilton
Administrative divisions:
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*,
Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's,
Southampton, Warwick
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution:
8 June 1968, amended 1989 and 2003
Legal system:
English law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since NA April 2002)
head of government: Premier Alex SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy
Premier Ewart BROWN
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body
appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the
House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held
NA July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%;
seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Gombey Liberation Party or GLP [Gavin Sundjata SMITH]; National
Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or
PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant
GIBBONS];
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union
or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed
BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO,
Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520–5300 telephone: [1] (441) 295–1342 FAX: [1] (441) 295–1592, [1] (441) 296–9233
Flag description:
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion
holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea
Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy Bermuda
Economy - overview:
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world,
equal to that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing
financial services for international business and luxury facilities
for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both
positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive
side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located on the
island, contributing to the expansion of an already robust
international business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's
tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the
US - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel.
Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002–03. Most capital equipment and
food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small,
although construction continues to be important; the average cost of
a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited,
only 6% of the land being arable.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.33 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
19% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (mid-2003 est.)
Labor force:
37,470 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $671.1 million
expenditures: $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55
million (FY03/04)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Industries:
tourism, international business, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA
Electricity - production:
643.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
598.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Exports:
$879 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:
France 62%, Norway 13.8%, UK 7.5% (2003)
Imports:
$5.523 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,
chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners:
Kazakhstan 46.7%, France 32.5%, US 8.5% (2003)
Debt - external:
$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient:
NA
Currency:
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code:
BMD
Exchange rates:
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the
US dollar)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use:
56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
37,873 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1–441; 3 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2003)
Televisions:
66,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bm
Internet hosts:
5,161 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
20 (2000)
Internet users:
34,500 (2003)
Transportation Bermuda
Highways:
total: 450 km
paved: 450 km
note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors:
Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard
Merchant marine:
total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWT
foreign-owned: Croatia 5, Germany 2, Greece 21, Hong Kong 9,
Indonesia 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 33, United
States 12
registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)
by type: bulk 25, cargo 4, container 17, liquefied gas 9, passenger
6, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 10,
short-sea/passenger 3
Airports:
1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bermuda
Military branches:
Bermuda Regiment
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.03 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Bermuda
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Bhutan
Introduction Bhutan
Background:
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under
which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding
some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in
1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British
agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan
allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed
by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal
Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the
British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and
defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A
refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved;
90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.
Geography Bhutan
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers
in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrain:
mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use: arable land: 3.09% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.48% (2001)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's
name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent
landslides during the rainy season
Environment - current issues:
soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls
several key Himalayan mountain passes
People Bhutan
Population: 2,185,569 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 39.3% (male 445,548; female 414,338)
15–64 years: 56.6% (male 637,637; female 600,253)
65 years and over: 4% (male 44,298; female 43,495) (2004 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.2 years
male: 20 years
female: 20.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.12% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
34.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 102.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.99 years
male: 54.27 years
female: 53.68 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.87 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups:
Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of
several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religions:
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages:
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects,
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Government Bhutan
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
Government type:
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital:
Thimphu
Administrative divisions:
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel,
Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu,
Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse
Independence:
8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday:
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17
December (1907)
Constitution:
no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King
commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004
presented a draft to the Council of Ministers
Legal system:
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late
2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law
Executive branch:
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms
in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the
monarch with two-thirds vote
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo
Yeshey ZIMBA (since 20 August 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the
monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed,
five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council
(Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected
from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35
are designated by the monarch to represent government and other
secular interests; members serve three-year terms)
elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held
NA 2005)
election results: NA
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed
by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for
Democracy (exiled)
International organization participation:
AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2
United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1]
(212) 826–1919; FAX [1] (212) 826–2998; the Bhutanese mission to the
UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Flag description:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper
triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along
the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from
the hoist side
Economy Bhutan
Economy - overview:
The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is
based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood
for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of
subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate
the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure
difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's
through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's
financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically
backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most
development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian
migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for
tourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environment
programs are underway with support from multilateral development
organizations. Each economic program takes into account the
government's desire to protect the country's environment and
cultural traditions. For example, the government in its cautious
expansion of the tourist sector encourages the visits of upscale,
environmentally conscientious visitors. Detailed controls and
uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,
and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 10% services: 45% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5%
Unemployment rate:
NA
Budget:
revenues: $146 million
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)
expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Industries:
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate:
9.3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.896 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
379.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
1.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
16 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Exports:
$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,
cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners:
Bangladesh 60.5%, US 11.7%, Malaysia 5.7% (2003)
Imports:
$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics,
rice
Imports - partners:
Japan 36.6%, Austria 14.2%, Sweden 8.3%, China 7.5%, Thailand 6%,
Bangladesh 6%, Germany 5.5%, Italy 4% (2003)
Debt - external:
$245 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:
substantial aid from India and other nations
Currency:
ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:
BTN; INR
Exchange rates:
ngultrum per US dollar - 46.5806 (2003), 48.6103 (2002), 47.1864
(2001), 44.9416 (2000), 43.0554 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bhutan
Telephones - main lines in use:
25,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with few
telephones in use
international: country code - 975; international telephone and
telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth
station was planned (1990)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (1997)
Televisions:
11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bt
Internet hosts:
985 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA
Internet users:
15,000 (2003)
Transportation Bhutan
Highways: total: 3,690 km paved: 2,240 km unpaved: 1,450 km (1999 est.)
