Chapter VIII: Front Matter (8)

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Natural resources:
coal, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
note: includes Luxembourg (1998 est.)
other: 75%

Irrigated land:
40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected
from the sea by concrete dikes

Environment - current issues:
the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human
activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry,
extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water
pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;
uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now
resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto
Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals
within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and
NATO

People Belgium

Population:
10,289,088 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 905,856; female 865,589)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 3,400,419; female 3,346,182)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 725,162; female 1,045,880) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 40 years
male: 38.7 years
female: 41.3 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.14% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
10.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
10.07 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.29 years
male: 74.97 years
female: 81.78 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian

Ethnic groups:
Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Languages:
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less
than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government Belgium

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local short form: Belgique/Belgie
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie

Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

Capital:
Brussels

Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:
provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;
Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles),
Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur,
Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen

Independence:
4 October 1830 a provisional government declared independence from
the Netherlands; 21 July 1831 the ascension of King Leopold I to the
throne

National holiday:
21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I

Constitution:
7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a
constitutional package creating a federal state

Legal system:
civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory;
judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent
Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved
by Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch and then approved by Parliament
note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat
in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular
vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and
a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch,
Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation
to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 June 2003
(next to be held in NA May 2007)
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered
devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of
government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a
complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six
governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other
acronyms of the listed parties see the Political parties and leaders
entry
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit
15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH
5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5,
VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected
senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD
15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR
11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit
23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de
Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the monarch,
although selected by the Government)

Political parties and leaders:
AGALEV (Flemish Greens) [Dirk HOLEMANS]; Christian Democrats and
Flemish or CD & V [Yves LETERME]; note - used to be the Flemish
Christian Democrats or CVP; Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel
JAVAUK, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Flemish Liberal
Democrats or VLD [Karel DE GUCHT]; Francophone Humanist and
Democratic Center of CDH (used to be Social Christian Party or PSC)
[Joelle MILQUET]; Francophone Reformist Movement or MR (used to be
Liberal Reformation Party or PRL) [Antoine DUQUESNE]; Francophone
Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; National Front or FN [Daniel
FERET]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Geert BOURGEOIS]; note - new
party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;
Social Progressive Alternative Party or SP.A [Steve STEVAERT]; note
- was Flemish Socialist Party or SP; Spirit [Els VAN WEERT]; note -
new party that emerged after the demise of the People's Union or VU;
Vlaams Blok or VB [Frank VANHECKE]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian
Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers,
manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical
professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests
of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi
and groups representing immigrants

International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL,
WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen Franklin BRAUER
embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red;
the design was based on the flag of France

Economy Belgium

Economy - overview:
This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its
central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and
diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated
mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural
resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw
materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its
economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly
three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt
is about 100% of GDP, and the government has succeeded in balancing
its budget. Belgium, together with 11 of its EU partners, began
circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in
2001-03 dropped sharply due to the global economic slowdown.
Prospects for 2004 again depend largely on recovery in the EU and
the US.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $299.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $29,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.4%
services: 74.3% (2001)

Population below poverty line:
4%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
28.7 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
4.44 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:
services 73%, industry 25%, agriculture 2% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.2% (2002 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $113.4 billion
expenditures: $106 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.17
billion (2000)

Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, processed
food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass,
petroleum, coal

Industrial production growth rate:
4.5% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
74.28 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 1.8% (2001)
nuclear: 59.3%

Electricity - consumption:
78.18 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
6.712 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
15.82 billion kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
595,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
450,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
1.042 million bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
15.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal,
pork, milk

Exports:
$162 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal
products, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Germany 18.6%, France 16.3%, Netherlands 11.6%, UK 9.6%, US 7.9%,
Italy 5.4% (2002)

Imports:
$152 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals and metal products,
foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 15.6%, France 12.8%, UK 7.3%, Ireland
7%, US 6.4%, Italy 4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$28.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $764 million (1997)

Currency:
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the
euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of
member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole
currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94
(1999), 36.3 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Belgium

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.769 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
974,494 (1997)

Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and
completely automated domestic and international telephone and
telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable
network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations:
FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
8.075 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
4.72 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.be

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
61 (2000)

Internet users:
3.76 million (2002)

Transportation Belgium

Railways:
total: 3,471 km
standard gauge: 3,471 km 1.435-m gauge (2,631 km electrified) (2002)

Highways:
total: 148,216 km
paved: 116,687 km (including 1,727 km of expressways)
unpaved: 31,529 km (2000)

Waterways:
1,570 km (route length in regular commercial use) (2001)

Pipelines:
gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:
Antwerp (one of the world's busiest ports), Brugge, Gent, Hasselt,
Liege, Mons, Namur, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Merchant marine:
total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,215 GRT/55,725 DWT
ships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, petroleum tanker 4,
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Finland 1, Netherlands 3 (2002 est.)

Airports:
42 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 15 (2002)

Heliports:
1 (2002)

Military Belgium

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Components, Federal Police

Military manpower - military age:
19 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,497,423 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,059,131 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 60,921 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.077 billion (FY01/02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY01/02)

Transnational Issues Belgium

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound
ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine
processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and
marijuana entering Western Europe; money laundering related to
trafficking of drugs, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@Belize

Introduction Belize

Background:
Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the
independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.
Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism
has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued
by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug
trade, and increased urban crime.

Geography Belize

Location:
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and
Mexico

Geographic coordinates:
17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 22,966 sq km
water: 160 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline:
386 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM in the north, 3 NM in the south; note - from
the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's
territorial sea is 3 NM; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act,
1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences
with Guatemala

Climate:
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry
season (February to May)

Terrain:
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Natural resources:
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 2.81%
permanent crops: 1.1%
other: 96.09% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal
flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents,
agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

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

Geography - note:
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North
Pacific Ocean

People Belize

Population:
266,440 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.1% (male 55,880; female 53,706)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 74,612; female 72,813)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,571; female 4,858) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 19 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
2.44% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
30.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 30.56 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.36 years
male: 65.19 years
female: 69.63 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.86 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
300 (2001 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups:
mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

Religions:
Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist
3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)

Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

Government Belize

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Belmopan

Administrative divisions:
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence:
21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution:
21 September 1981

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 General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28
August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September
1998)
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; prime
minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members
appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime
minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and
Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce
and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National
Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee;
members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next
to be held NA March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PUP 21, UDP 8

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister)

Political parties and leaders:
People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party
or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele
CATZIM]

International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 30802

Flag description:
blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges;
centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of
arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany
tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the
Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

Economy Belize

Economy - overview:
In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism
industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane
sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in
September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000,
4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the
sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective
remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international
donors.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
33% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.9% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:
9.1% (2002)

Budget:
revenues: $224 million
expenditures: $209 million, including capital expenditures of $70
million (2002 est.)

Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate:
4.6% (1999)

Electricity - production:
199.5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption:
185.5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber;
garments

Exports:
$290 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners:
US 40.5%, UK 23.2%, Peru 8.3% (2002)

Imports:
$430 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Imports - partners:
US 35.7%, Mexico 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 6.1%, Japan 5.9%, Cuba
5.7%, UK 5.4% (2002)

Debt - external:
$475 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency:
Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code:
BZD

Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2
(1999), 2 (1998)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Belize

Telephones - main lines in use:
31,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,023 (1997)

Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: 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 Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
18,000 (2002)

Transportation Belize

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
825 km (river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally
navigable)

Ports and harbors:
Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Merchant marine:
total: 292 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,030,141 GRT/1,499,777 DWT
ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 200, chemical tanker 7, combination
ore/oil 1, container 12, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 18,
roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Albania 2, Belgium 3, British Virgin Islands 6,
Cambodia 1, China 38, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 1, Equatorial
Guinea 1, Eritrea 1, Estonia 7, Germany 3, Greece 4, Grenada 1,
Honduras 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 6, Italy 2, Japan 4, Jordan 1,
Lebanon 1, Liberia 5, Malaysia 3, Malta 2, Man, Isle of 1, Marshall
Islands 13, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 1, Panama 12,
Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Romania 1, Russia 3, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, South Korea 10,
Spain 4, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, Thailand 6, Tunisia 1, Turkey 1,
Ukraine 3, United Arab Emirates 9, United Kingdom 2, United States
4, Virgin Islands (UK) 6, Yemen 1 (2002 est.)

Airports:
42 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 27 (2002)

Military Belize

Military branches:
Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and
Volunteer Guard)

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 66,332 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 39,337 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 3,046 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$7.7 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.87% (FY00/01)

Transnational Issues Belize

Disputes - international:
Guatemala has claimed half of southern Belize; Guatemalan squatters
continue to settle along the border despite a 2000 agreement; OAS
brokered a Differendum in 2002 that created a small adjustment to
land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in the
Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and
a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought
to a popular referendum

Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer
of cannabis for the international drug trade; some money-laundering
activity related to offshore sector

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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

@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: 15.28%
permanent crops: 1.36%
other: 83.36% (1998 est.)

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, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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:
7,041,490
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
2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,668,817; female 1,638,291)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 1,739,517; female 1,834,231)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 67,504; female 93,130) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 15.9 years
female: 16.9 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
2.95% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
43.15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 86.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 81.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 91.79 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.08 years
male: 50.35 years
female: 51.84 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
6.04 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
120,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
8,100 (2001 est.)

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:
ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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 - $7.38 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 38%
industry: 15%
services: 47% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:
37% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2002 est.)

Labor force:
NA

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $377.4 million
expenditures: $561.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(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 - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.2%
hydro: 85.8%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

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 (37257)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
608.8 million cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts,
livestock (2001)

Exports:
$207 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners:
India 25%, Italy 11.1%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.2%, Thailand 6.7%,
Brazil 6.1%, UK 4.4%, Niger 4% (2002)

Imports:
$479 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
China 30.7%, France 15.7%, UK 4.8%, Italy 4.2% (2002)

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 - 696.99
(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Benin

Telephones - main lines in use:
51,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
55,500 (2000)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); submarine cable

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 Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2002)

Internet users:
25,000 (2002)

Transportation Benin

Railways:
total: 578 km
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
streams navigable along small sections, important only locally

Ports and harbors:
Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Merchant marine:
none (2002 est.)

Airports:
5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

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 (2002)

Military Benin

Military branches:
Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie

Military manpower - military age:
18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - availability:
note: both sexes are liable for military service
females age 15-49: 1,536,036 (2003 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,597,562

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 805,603
females age 15-49: 809,961 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 75,021
females: 78,998 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$80.8 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Benin

Disputes - international:
two villages are in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso;
much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria,
remains undemarcated, but states accept 2001 arbitration over
disputed Niger River islands; several villages along the Okpara
River are in dispute with Nigeria; in 2001, Benin claimed Togo moved
the boundary stones - joint commission presently resurveying the
boundary

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 18 December, 2003

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

@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 North 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:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 94% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (1998 est.)

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:
64,482 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.2% (male 6,195; female 6,205)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 22,110; female 22,574)
65 years and over: 11.5% (male 3,215; female 4,183) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.8 years
female: 39.6 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
0.72% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
12.13 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
7.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.77 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.41 years
male: 75.38 years
female: 79.49 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.9 children born/woman (2003 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

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)
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 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:
National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive
Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; United Bermuda Party or UBP
[Chairman Wayne FURBERT]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union
or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or
BPSA [leader NA]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Denis Patrick COLEMAN, Jr.
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,
with its economy 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 - has been severely hit as American
tourists have chosen not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in
2002, but remains below the pre-11 September level. Most capital
equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is
small, although construction continues to be important. Agriculture
is limited, only 6% of the land being arable.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.25 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
0.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $35,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (July 2002)

Labor force:
37,472 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
clerical 22%, services 20%, laborers 17%, professional and
technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%,
agriculture and fishing 3% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.5% (1993)

Budget:
revenues: $609.5 million
expenditures: $574.6 million, including capital expenditures of
$54.8 million (FY 00/01)

Industries:
tourism, international business, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:
NA%

Electricity - production:
643.7 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

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)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products

Exports:
$51 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:
reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners:
France 77.4%, UK 2.8%, US 2.4% (2002)

Imports:
$719 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,
chemicals, food and live animals

Imports - partners:
Kazakhstan 30.9%, France 24.7%, Italy 10.5%, US 9.7%, South Korea
8.4%, Mexico 4.3% (2002)

Debt - external:
$145 million (FY 99/00)

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:
52,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
7,980 (1996)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 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:
3 (1997)

Televisions:
66,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.bm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
20 (2000)

Internet users:
25,000 (2000)

Transportation Bermuda

Railways:
0 km

Highways:
total: 450 km
paved: 450 km
note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
unpaved: 0 km

Waterways:
none

Ports and harbors:
Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard

Merchant marine:
total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,993,227 GRT/7,089,760 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Croatia 5, Denmark 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 9,
Indonesia 1, Norway 2, Sweden 11, United Kingdom 52, United States
13 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, container 14,
liquefied gas 9, passenger 5, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated
cargo 13, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 4

Airports:
1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Military Bermuda

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda
Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$4.028 million (January 2002)

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 18 December, 2003

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

@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. Maoist Assamese
separatists from India, who have established themselves in the
southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border
incursions.

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: 2.98%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.59% (1998 est.)

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, Nuclear Test Ban
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:
2,139,549
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2003 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.6% (male 438,784; female 407,919)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 621,666; female 585,550)
65 years and over: 4% (male 43,262; female 42,368) (2003 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.1 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 20.3 years (2002)

Population growth rate:
2.14% (2003 est.)

Birth rate:
34.82 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate:
13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 104.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 106.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 102.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.58 years
male: 53.9 years
female: 53.25 years (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.94 children born/woman (2003 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 - the King
commissioned a committee to draft a constitution in 2001, but has
yet to be approved

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

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
Jigme Y. THINLEY (since 30 August 2003)
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, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, 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; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York