Chapter IX: Front Matter (9)

Constitution:
15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996
giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective
27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing
presidential term limits

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKIY (since 19
December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since
December 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the
1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999,
however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a
November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001;
an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and
allowed the president to run in a third election, which was held on
19 March 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed
by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent
of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 82.6%, Aleksandr MILINKEVICH 6%,
Aleksandr KOZULIN 2.3%; note - election marred by electoral fraud

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of
the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56
members elected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by the
president, all for four-year terms) and the Chamber of
Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected
by universal adult suffrage to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 and 31 October 2004; international observers
widely denounced the elections as flawed and undemocratic, based on
massive government falsification; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won
every seat, after many opposition candidates were disqualified for
technical reasons
election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president);
Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president
and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)

Political parties and leaders:
pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKY];
Belarusian Communist Party or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic Movement
(Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolai ULAKHOVICH, chairman];
Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH]; Party of
Labor and Justice [Viktor SOKOLOV]; Social-Sports Party [Vladimir
ALEXANDROVICH]
opposition parties: 10 Plus Coalition [Alyaksandr MILINKEVICH],
includes: Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB [Syarhey KALYAKIN];
Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered) [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV,
Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Vintsyuk
VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Gramada [Stanislav
SHUSHKEVICH]; Green Party [Oleg GROMYKO]; Party of Freedom and
Progress (unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; United Civic Party or
UCP [Anatol LYABEDKA]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina
MATUSEVICH, chairperson]
other opposition includes: Belarusian Social-Democratic Party
Nardonaya Hromada or BSDP NH [Alyaksandr KOZULIN, chairman];
Christian Conservative BPF [Zyanon PAZNIAK]; Ecological Party of
Greens [Mikhail KARTASH]; Party of Popular Accord [Sergei YERMAKK];
Republican Party [Vladimir BELAZOR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH]; Belarusian
Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Alyaksandr YAROSHUK];
Belarusian Helsinki Committee [Tatiana PROTKO]; Belarusian
Organization of Working Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; Charter 97 [Andrey
SANNIKOV]; Lenin Communist Union of Youth (youth wing of the
Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB); National Strike Committee of
Entrepreneurs [Aleksandr VASILYEV, Valery LEVONEVSKY]; Partnership
NGO [Nikolay ASTREYKA]; Perspektiva kiosk watchdog NGO [Anatol
SHUMCHENKO]; Vyasna [Ales BYALATSKY]; Women's Independent Democratic
Movement [Ludmila PETINA]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Dzmitryy
DASHKEVICH, Syarhey BAKHUN]; Zubr youth group [Vladimir KOBETS]

International organization participation:
BSEC (observer), CEI, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Karen B. STEWART
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348
FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853

Flag description:
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the
width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side
bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red

Economy Belarus

Economy - overview:
Belarus's economy in 2006 posted more than 8% growth. The
government has succeeded in lowering inflation over the past several
years. Trade with Russia - by far its largest single trade partner -
decreased in 2006, largely as a result of a change in the way the
Value Added Tax (VAT) on trade was collected. Trade with European
countries increased. Belarus has seen little structural reform since
1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of
"market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO
reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange
rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management
of private enterprises. Since 2005, the government has
re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition,
businesses have been subject to pressure by central and local
governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous
rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business
regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory
owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at
the bottom of the ladder; the Gini coefficient is among the lowest
in the world. Because of these restrictive economic policies,
Belarus has had trouble attracting foreign investment, which remains
low. Growth has been strong in recent years, despite the roadblocks
in a tough, centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing,
rate of inflation. Belarus receives heavily discounted oil and
natural gas from Russia and much of Belarus' growth can be
attributed to the re-export of Russian oil at market prices. This
growth will be threatened in 2007, however, when Russia raises
energy prices closer to world market prices for Belarus. Russia is
planning to increase Belarusian gas prices from $47 per thousand
cubic meters (tcm) to $200 per tcm and introduce a first-time export
duty of $180 per ton on oil shipped to Belarus.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$80.74 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$28.56 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
8.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 31.6%
services: 59.1% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
4.3 million (31 December 2005)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 34.7%
services: 51.3% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
1.6% officially registered unemployed; large number of
underemployed workers (2005)

Population below poverty line:
27.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 20% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.4 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
25.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.578 billion
expenditures: $7.164 billion; including capital expenditures of $180
million (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk

Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers,
motorcycles, televisions, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles,
radios, refrigerators

Industrial production growth rate:
15.6% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
29.33 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
31.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
4.723 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
8.5 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
34,260 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
165,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
14,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - imports:
360,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:
180 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
20.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
16.22 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:
$-511.8 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$19.61 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals,
textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Russia 35.8%, Netherlands 15.1%, UK 7%, Ukraine 5.7%, Poland 5.3%,
Germany 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$21.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
Russia 60.6%, Germany 6.7%, Ukraine 5.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.329 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$5.498 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$194.3 million (1995)

Currency (code):
Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)

Currency code:
BYB/BYR

Exchange rates:
Belarusian rubles per US dollar - 2,220 (2006), 2,150 (2005),
2,160.26 (2004), 2,051.27 (2003), 1,790.92 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Belarus

Telephones - main lines in use:
3,284,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.098 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading
telecommunications infrastructure; state-owned Beltelcom, is the
sole provider of fixed line local and long distance service;
modernization of the network to digital switching progressing slowly
domestic: fixed line penetration is improving although rural areas
continue to be underserved; four GSM wireless networks are
experiencing rapid growth; strict government controls on
telecommunications technologies
international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the
Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line,
and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic
segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and
Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this
infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat,
Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios:
3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:
2.52 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.by

Internet hosts:
33,641 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
23 (2002)

Internet users:
3,394,400 (2005)

Transportation Belarus

Airports:
86 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 41
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 45
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 5,223 km; oil 2,321 km; refined products 1,686 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 5,512 km
broad gauge: 5,497 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge: 15 km 1.435 m (2005)

Roadways:
total: 93,310 km
paved: 81,180 km
unpaved: 12,130 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by
shallowness) (2003)

Ports and terminals:
Mazyr

Military Belarus

Military branches:
Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 2,520,644
females age 18-49: 2,564,696 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,657,984
females age 18-49: 2,102,793 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 85,202
females age 18-49: 82,037 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$420.5 million (2006)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Belarus

Disputes - international:
1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing
border security; the whole boundary with Latvia and more than half
the boundary with Lithuania remains undemarcated; discussions toward
economic and political union with Russia proceed slowly

Illicit drugs:
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the
domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via
Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly
regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislation
does not meet international standards; few investigations or
prosecutions of money-laundering activities

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Belgium

Introduction Belgium

Background:
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was
occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country
prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically
advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions
between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the
French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to
constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition
and autonomy.

Geography Belgium

Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the
Netherlands

Geographic coordinates:
50 50 N, 4 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative:
about the size of Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 1,385 km
border countries: France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km,
Netherlands 450 km

Coastline:
66.5 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Climate:
temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Terrain:
flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged
mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

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

Natural resources:
construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Land use:
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89%
note: includes Luxembourg (2005)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
flooding is a threat along rivers and 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-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
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:
10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 883,254/female 846,099)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 3,450,879/female 3,389,565)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 746,569/female 1,062,701) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 42.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.13% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.38 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.77 years
male: 75.59 years
female: 82.09 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 100 (2003 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: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government Belgium

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

Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Brussels
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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

Independence:
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from
the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)

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

Constitution:
7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create
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 formally appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional;
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.A-Spirit

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 May 2003
(next to be held 10 June 2007)
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
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

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
government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice
Council)

Political parties and leaders:
Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo
VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal and Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS];
GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish
Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or
SP.A [Johan Vande LANOTTE]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now
associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank
VANHECKE]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,
Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of
CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Reform
Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI
RUPO]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Christian, Socialist, and Liberal 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, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS; note -
Ambassador-designate Sam FOX may take his place in early 2007; must
face Senate confirmation hearing
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 more than 90% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has
succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is
relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in
January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of
the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-06.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$330.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$367.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$31,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 24%
services: 74.9% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
4.89 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.2% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
4% (1989 est.)

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
25 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $195.7 billion
expenditures: $195.5 billion; including capital expenditures of
$1.56 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
90.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

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

Industries:
engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly,
transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and
beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
80.22 billion kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
82.41 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
14.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
10,690 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
641,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

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

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

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
17.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
16.88 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:
$6.925 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$335.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 8.2%, US 6.4%,
Italy 5.3% (2005)

Imports:
$333.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals,
foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Imports - partners:
Netherlands 17.8%, Germany 17.2%, France 11.4%, UK 6.8%, Ireland
6.5%, US 5.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$9.626 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.053 trillion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)

Currency (code):
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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Belgium

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.801 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.46 million (2005)

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: country code - 32; submarine cables - 5; satellite
earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2005)

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 hosts:
2,870,770 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
61 (2000)

Internet users:
5.1 million (2005)

Transportation Belgium

Airports:
43 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,521 km
standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 150,567 km
paved: 117,442 km (including 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,125 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 66 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,952,159 GRT/6,521,645 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 10,
liquefied gas 15, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 4, Greece 4, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 113 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas
13, Bermuda 4, Cyprus 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 6,
Georgia 1, Gibraltar 2, Greece 12, Hong Kong 3, Luxembourg 9, Malta
10, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 4, Panama 11,
Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore
12, Sweden 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Military Belgium

Military branches:
Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations Commands
(2005)

Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise
approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,436,736
females age 16-49: 2,369,463 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,998,003
females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 64,263
females age 16-49: 61,402 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.999 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2003)

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; despite a strengthening of
legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering
related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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

@Belize

Introduction Belize

Background:
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their
decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and
Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it
formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of
Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation
until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current
concerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the South
American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.

Geography Belize

Location:
Central 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
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 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:
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
negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with
Guatemala
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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: 3.05%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 95.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
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:
287,730 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678)
15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.6 years
male: 19.5 years
female: 19.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.31% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.3 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 70.26 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 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% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican
5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (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:
name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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 - 6 on the advice of the prime
minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1
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 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, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER
embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: 3050 Belize Place, Washington DC 20521-3050
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 223-0802

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
marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in
September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in
1999-2006. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit
and unsustainable foreign debt. The government in 2006 announced it
would seek a restructuring of its sovereign debt and has been
negotiating with international creditors to find an acceptable
formula for doing so. A key short-term objective remains the
reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.307 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.141 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 14.8%
services: 62.6% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(2001 est.)

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

Unemployment rate:
12.9% (2003)

Population below poverty line:
33.5% (2002 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
18.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $302.5 million
expenditures: $357.5 million; including capital expenditures of $70
million (2006 est.)

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

Industries:
garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate:
4.6% (1999)

Electricity - production:
175 million kWh (2004)

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

Electricity - consumption:
162.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
6,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:
$-173.4 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$359.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$543 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Imports - partners:
US 31%, Mexico 11.6%, Russia 8.8%, Cuba 6%, Guatemala 5.6%, China
4.6%, Spain 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$78.96 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$NA

Currency (code):
Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code:
BZD

Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2
(2003), 2 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Belize

Telephones - main lines in use:
33,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
93,100 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8
(Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)

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:
3,905 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)

Internet users:
35,000 (2005)

Transportation Belize

Airports:
43 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999)

Waterways:
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/1,322,629 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7, container 4,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 12, roll
on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 3,
Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2, Indonesia 2, Italy 4,
Japan 2, North Korea 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1,
Malaysia 1, Mexico 1, Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6,
Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Belize City

Military Belize

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

Military service 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)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 61,201
females age 18-49: 60,048 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 44,238
females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 3,213
females age 18-49: 3,100 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.7% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Belize

Disputes - international:
Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited
rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS seeks to revive the 2002
failed Belize-Guatemala Differendum that created a small adjustment
to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint
ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK
financial package

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Belize is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked mainly
from Central America, and exploited in prostitution; children are
trafficked to Belize for labor exploitation; Belize's largely
unmonitored borders with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico facilitate
the movement of illegal migrants who are vulnerable to traffickers;
girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation,
sometimes with the consent and complicity of their close relatives;
there are unconfirmed reports that Indian and Chinese migrants are
trafficked for involuntary servitude in homes and shops
tier rating: Tier 3 - Belize has failed to show evidence of
significant law enforcement or victim protection efforts

Illicit drugs:
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 8 February, 2007

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

@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. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006
and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI BONI, a political outsider and
independent.

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
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 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: 23.53%
permanent crops: 2.37%
other: 74.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:
120 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
7,862,944
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 1,751,709/female 1,719,138)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 2,067,248/female 2,138,957)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 75,694/female 110,198) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.73% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
38.85 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 84.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 74.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 53.04 years
male: 51.9 years
female: 54.22 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
5.2 children born/woman (2006 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:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high
risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)

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: 33.6%
male: 46.4%
female: 22.6% (2002 est.)

Government Benin

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Porto-Novo (official capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cotonou (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:
adopted by referendum 2 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 Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006
(next to be held March 2011)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of
vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats;
members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held 25 March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, Alliance MDC-PC-CPP, IPD,
AFP, MDS, RDP) 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small
parties) 31

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or
Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy
and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Democratic Renewal Party or
PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD;
Key Force or FC; Movement for Development and Solidarity or MDS;
Movement for Development by the Culture-Salute Party-Congress of
People for Progress Alliance or Alliance MDC-PS-CPP; New Alliance or
NA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; Renaissance Party du
Benin or RB [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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gayleatha B. BROWN
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 (bottom) 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 around 5% in the past six years,
but rapid population growth 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. Many of these proposals were included in Benin's $307
million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006.
The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications,
water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of government
reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the
external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt
reduction announced in July 2005, while pressing for more rapid
structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade
protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from
Benin and elsewhere, which has resulted in increased smuggling and
criminality in the border region.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.931 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.622 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 32.8%
industry: 13.7%
services: 53.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
3.211 million (1996)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:
33% (2001 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $836.8 million
expenditures: $1.064 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

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

Industries:
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Industrial production growth rate:
8.3% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:
82 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 14.2%
hydro: 85.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
576.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
500 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:
4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$-342.7 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$563.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
China 31.3%, Indonesia 8.1%, India 7.4%, Niger 6%, Togo 4.8%,
Thailand 4.8%, Nigeria 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$927.3 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
France 21.8%, Ghana 7.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, China 6.7%, UK 5.2%,
Belgium 4.9%, Togo 4.5%, Thailand 4.2%, Nigeria 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$607.3 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.6 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:
$342.6 million (2000)

Currency (code):
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 -
513.168 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Benin

Telephones - main lines in use:
76,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
386,700 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 7
(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:
867 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2002)

Internet users:
425,000 (2005)

Transportation Benin

Airports:
5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

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 (2006)

Railways:
total: 578 km
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 16,000 km
paved: 1,400 km
unpaved: 14,600 km (2005)

Waterways:
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
Cotonou

Military Benin

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service 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)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 21-49: 1,295,230
females age 21-49: 1,301,936 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 21-49: 749,774
females age 21-49: 751,329 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 76,661
females: 75,068 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$100.9 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.3% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Benin