Chapter M: Major infectious diseases (8)
23 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - consumption:
10.12 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 47
Natural gas - exports:
5.564 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - proved reserves:
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Current account balance:
$15.96 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $10.18 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$28.07 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $21.1 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Italy 20.69%, India 10.67%, US 9.24%, France 8.15%, Germany 7.62%, Indonesia 6.63%, Canada 5.13% (2009)
Imports:
$7.035 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $6.514 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Turkey 18.69%, Russia 16.98%, Germany 7.87%, Ukraine 7.3%, China 6.18%, UK 5.73% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.33 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $5.364 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.221 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $3.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$8.918 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $8.318 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.058 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $5.558 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8035 (2010), 0.8038 (2009), 0.8219 (2008), 0.8581 (2007), 0.8934 (2006)
Communications ::Azerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.397 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 68
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.757 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 74
Telephone system:
general assessment: requires considerable expansion and modernization; fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market with four providers in 2009
domestic: teledensity of 17 fixed lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity has increased and is rapidly approaching 100 telephones per 100 persons; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Nakhchivan
international: country code - 994; the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic link transits Azerbaijan providing international connectivity to neighboring countries; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2009)
Broadcast media:
1 state-run and 1 public television channel; 4 domestic commercial TV stations and about 15 regional TV stations; Turkish, Russian, and Iranian TV and radio broadcasts are available, especially in border regions; cable TV services are available in Baku; 1 state-run and 1 public radio network operating; a small number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting; local FM relays of Baku commercial stations are available in many localities; local relays of several international broadcasters had been available until late 2008 when their broadcasts were banned from FM frequencies (2008)
Internet country code:
.az
Internet hosts:
22,737 (2010) country comparison to the world: 105
Internet users:
2.42 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 70
Transportation ::Azerbaijan
Airports:
35 (2010) country comparison to the world: 109
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 1 km; gas 3,361 km; oil 1,424 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 2,918 km country comparison to the world: 57 broad gauge: 2,918 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 59,141 km country comparison to the world: 76 paved: 29,210 km
unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 92 country comparison to the world: 54 by type: cargo 27, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Malta 1, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Baku (Baki)
Military ::Azerbaijan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; length of military service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,336,611
females age 16-49: 2,329,275 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,753,878
females age 16-49: 1,958,408 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 84,441
female: 78,905 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Transnational Issues ::Azerbaijan
Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters; bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 2,400 (Russia)
IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Azerbaijan is primarily a source and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to Russia for the purpose of forced labor; Azerbaijan serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons, particularly efforts to investigate, prosecute, and punish traffickers; to address complicity among law enforcement personnel; and to adequately identify and protect victims in Azerbaijan; the government has yet to develop a much-needed mechanism to identify potential trafficking victims and refer them to safety and care; poor treatment of trafficking victims in courtrooms continues to be a problem (2008)
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe
page last updated on January 18, 2011
======================================================================
@Bahamas, The (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Bahamas, The
Background:
Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
Geography ::Bahamas, The
Location:
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:
24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,880 sq km country comparison to the world: 160 land: 10,010 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,542 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources:
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 0.58%
permanent crops: 0.29%
other: 99.13% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Environment - current issues:
coral reef decay; solid 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
People ::Bahamas, The
Population:
310,426 country comparison to the world: 177 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.3% (male 39,493/female 38,355)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 103,889/female 107,528)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 6,998/female 11,289) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.9 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 31 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.935% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Birth rate:
16.25 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Death rate:
6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Urbanization:
urban population: 84% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 129 male: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.84 years country comparison to the world: 140 male: 68.48 years
female: 73.27 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Nationality:
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups:
black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religions:
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2000) country comparison to the world: 127
Government ::Bahamas, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Nassau
geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions:
31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama
Independence:
10 July 1973 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution:
10 July 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held on 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%; seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18
Judicial branch:
Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Friends of the Environment
other: trade unions
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole A. AVANT
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 328-2206
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea
National anthem:
name: "March On, Bahamaland!"
lyrics/music: Timothy GIBSON
note: adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Bahamas, The
Economy - overview:
The Bahamas is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism together with tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Prior to 2006, a steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences led to solid GDP growth but since then tourism receipts have begun to drop off. The global recession in 2009 took a sizeable toll on the Bahamas, resulting in a contraction in GDP and a widening budget deficit. The decline continued in 2010 as tourism from the US and sector investment lagged. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 36% of GDP. However, the financial sector currently is smaller than it has been in the past because of the enactment of new and more strict financial regulations in 2000 that caused many international businesses to relocate elsewhere. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$8.878 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $8.923 billion (2009 est.)
$9.285 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$7.538 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193 -3.9% (2009 est.)
-1.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$28,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $29,000 (2009 est.)
$30,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 14.7%
services: 84.1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:
184,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 173
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5%
industry: 5%
tourism: 50%
other services: 40% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Population below poverty line:
9.3% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: 27% (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Central bank discount rate:
5.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 82 5.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 5.5% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.284 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 130 $1.275 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$5.991 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $5.893 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.993 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 101 $7.883 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables; poultry
Industries:
tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - consumption:
1.902 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - consumption:
36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Oil - exports:
transshipments of 41,570 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Oil - imports:
20,560 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 200
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
Current account balance:
-$283.2 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 -$1.442 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$674 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 162
Exports - commodities:
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
Exports - partners:
US 35.99%, Singapore 18.64%, Poland 12.1%, Germany 6.24% (2009)
Imports:
$2.401 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 148
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners:
US 27.23%, South Korea 20.08%, Japan 14.55%, Singapore 5.89%, China 4.75%, Venezuela 4.26%, Italy 4.12% (2009)
Debt - external:
$342.6 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2009), 1 (2008), 1 (2007), 1 (2006)
Communications ::Bahamas, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
129,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 140
Telephones - mobile cellular:
358,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 166
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links 14 of the islands and is designed to satisfy increasing demand for voice and broadband internet services
international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)
Broadcast media:
2 television stations operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB); multi-channel cable TV subscription service is available; about 15 radio stations operating with BCB operating a multi-channel radio broadcasting network alongside privately-owned radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.bs
Internet hosts:
21,939 (2010) country comparison to the world: 107
Internet users:
115,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 156
Transportation ::Bahamas, The
Airports:
62 (2010) country comparison to the world: 78
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 22 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,717 km country comparison to the world: 168 paved: 1,560 km
unpaved: 1,157 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 1,170 country comparison to the world: 10 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 229, cargo 191, carrier 2, chemical tanker 80, combination ore/oil 8, container 50, liquefied gas 78, passenger 100, passenger/cargo 29, petroleum tanker 222, refrigerated cargo 106, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 60
foreign-owned: 1,080 (Angola 5, Belgium 9, Bermuda 12, Brazil 1, Canada 102, China 4, Croatia 1, Cyprus 14, Denmark 59, Finland 8, France 19, Germany 39, Greece 209, Guernsey 6, Hong Kong 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 3, Italy 5, Japan 93, Jordan 2, Kuwait 2, Malaysia 13, Monaco 14, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 22, Nigeria 2, Norway 198, Poland 32, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 7, Slovenia 1, Spain 9, Sweden 6, Switzerland 2, Thailand 4, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 3, UAE 27, UK 24, US 100)
registered in other countries: 10 (Bolivia 1, Malta 1, Panama 7, Peru 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
Military ::Bahamas, The
Military branches:
Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 84,903 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 62,779
females age 16-49: 63,954 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,840
female: 2,758 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 152
Transnational Issues ::Bahamas, The
Disputes - international:
disagrees with the US on the alignment the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary; continues to monitor and interdict drug dealers and Haitian and Cuban refugees in Bahamian waters
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
page last updated on January 26, 2011
======================================================================
@Bahrain (Middle East)
Introduction ::Bahrain
Background:
In 1783, the al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms to improve relations with the Shia community. Shia political societies participated in 2010 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shia discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.
Geography ::Bahrain
Location:
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 760 sq km country comparison to the world: 187 land: 760 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Natural resources:
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Land use:
arable land: 2.82%
permanent crops: 5.63%
other: 91.55% (2005)
Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; dust storms
Environment - current issues:
desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs)
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
People ::Bahrain
Population:
738,004 country comparison to the world: 163 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 95,258/female 93,256)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 293,340/female 217,815)
65 years and over: 4% (male 15,274/female 13,766) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 33.5 years
female: 27.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.243% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Birth rate:
16.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Death rate:
4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Urbanization:
urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.76 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 126 male: 17.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.4 years country comparison to the world: 84 male: 72.87 years
female: 78.01 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Nationality:
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups:
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 149
Government ::Bahrain
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
Independence:
15 August 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday:
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection
Constitution:
adopted 14 February 2002
Legal system:
based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014)
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - al Wifaq (Shia) 18, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 3, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17
Judicial branch:
High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators
other: several small leftist and other groups are active
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Huda Azra Ibrahim NUNU
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph Adam ERELI
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 1724-2700
FAX: [973] 1727-0547
Flag description:
red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
National anthem:
name: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom
Economy ::Bahrain
Economy - overview:
Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian Gulf. Highly developed communication and transport facilities make Bahrain home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy, however, continues to depend heavily on oil. Petroleum production and refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries). Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain competes with Malaysia as a worldwide center for Islamic banking and continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, is a long-term economic problem Bahrain struggles to address. In 2009, to help lower unemployment among Bahraini nationals, Bahrain reduced sponsorship for expatriate workers, increasing the costs of employing foreign labor. The global financial crisis caused funding for many non-oil projects to dry up and resulted in slower economic growth for Bahrain. Other challenges facing Bahrain include the slow growth of government debt as a result of a large subsidy program, the financing of large government projects, and debt restructuring, such as the bailout of state-owned Gulf Air.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.82 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $28.7 billion (2009 est.)
$27.83 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.73 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 3.1% (2009 est.)
6.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$40,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $39,400 (2009 est.)
$38,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 56.6%
services: 42.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
611,000 country comparison to the world: 154 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
26.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
Public debt:
59.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 38.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 2.8% (2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$6.372 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 80 $5.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$21.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $18.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$18.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $16.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$16.93 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 60 $21.18 billion (31 December 2008)
$28.13 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries:
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - production:
10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Electricity - consumption:
10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
48,560 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Oil - consumption:
39,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Oil - exports:
238,300 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - imports:
228,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Oil - proved reserves:
124.6 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Natural gas - production:
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - consumption:
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - proved reserves:
92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Current account balance:
$589 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $560.2 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$15.13 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $12.05 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:
India 4.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.78% (2009)
Imports:
$12.14 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $9.613 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 22.91%, France 9.76%, US 7.95%, China 6.4%, South Korea 5.26%, Japan 5.19%, Germany 5.01%, UK 4.34% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.766 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $3.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$14.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $10.55 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 $15 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$8.399 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 $7.549 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2010), 0.376 (2009), 0.376 (2008), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006)
Communications ::Bahrain
Telephones - main lines in use:
238,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 123
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.578 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 137
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones
international: country code - 973; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2007)
Broadcast media:
state-run broadcast media; Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; state-run BRTC broadcasts over several radio stations; 1 private FM station directs broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.bh
Internet hosts:
53,944 (2010) country comparison to the world: 86
Internet users:
419,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 122
Transportation ::Bahrain
Airports:
4 (2010) country comparison to the world: 183
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 3,851 km country comparison to the world: 158 paved: 3,121 km
unpaved: 730 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 7 country comparison to the world: 126 by type: bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 5)
registered in other countries: 6 (Honduras 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Military ::Bahrain
Military branches:
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 208,365
females age 16-49: 174,375 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 170,633
females age 16-49: 146,243 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,590
female: 6,475 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 19
Transnational Issues ::Bahrain
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Bangladesh (South Asia)
Introduction ::Bangladesh
Background:
Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. A military-backed, emergency caretaker regime suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. In contrast to the strikes and violent street rallies that had marked Bangladeshi politics in previous years, the parliamentary elections finally held in late December 2008 were mostly peaceful and Sheikh HASINA Wajed was elected prime minister. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.
Geography ::Bangladesh
Location:
Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates:
24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 143,998 sq km country comparison to the world: 94 land: 130,168 sq km
water: 13,830 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries:
total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
Coastline:
580 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:
mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use:
arable land: 55.39%
permanent crops: 3.08%
other: 41.53% (2005)
Irrigated land:
47,250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,210.6 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 79.4 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 560 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Environment - current issues:
many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal
People ::Bangladesh
Population:
156,118,464 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.6% (male 27,065,625/female 26,913,961)
15-64 years: 61.4% (male 45,222,182/female 50,537,052)
65 years and over: 4% (male 3,057,255/female 3,254,808) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.9 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 23.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.55% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Birth rate:
23.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71
Death rate:
5.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Net migration rate:
-2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Urbanization:
urban population: 27% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 52.54 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 48 male: 55.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.44 years country comparison to the world: 148 male: 67.64 years
female: 71.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.65 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups:
Bengali 98%, other 2% (includes tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims) (1998)
Religions:
Muslim 89.5%, Hindu 9.6%, other 0.9% (2004)
Languages:
Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.9%
male: 54%
female: 41.4% (2001 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 8 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
2.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 163
Government ::Bangladesh
Country name:
conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
local short form:
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
7 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Independence:
16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Constitution:
4 November 1972; effective 16 December 1972; suspended following coup of 24 March 1982; restored 10 November 1986; amended many times
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Zillur RAHMAN (since 12 February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wajed (since 6 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 11 February 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Zillur RAHMAN declared president-elect by the Election Commission on 11 February 2009 (sworn in on 12 February); he ran unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies; members serve five-year terms
elections: last held on 29 December 2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - AL 49%, BNP 33.2%, JP 7%, JIB 4.6%, other 6.2%; seats by party - AL 230, BNP 30, JP 27, JIB 2, other 11
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Manjurul A. KHAN]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA]; Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh or BDB [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [multiple leaders]; Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or JIB [Matiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Advocacy to End Gender-based Violence through the MoWCA (Ministry of Women's and Children's Affairs)
other: environmentalists; Islamist groups; religious leaders; teachers; union leaders
International organization participation:
ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Akramul QADER
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-7830/2771
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500
FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744
Flag description:
green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
National anthem:
name: "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
note: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem
Economy ::Bangladesh
Economy - overview:
The economy has grown 5-6% per year since 1996 despite political instability, poor infrastructure, corruption, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the service sector, 45% of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Bangladesh's growth was resilient during the 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession. Garment exports, totaling $12.3 billion in FY09 and remittances from overseas Bangladeshis totaling $9.7 billion in FY09 accounted for almost 25% of GDP.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$259.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $244.6 billion (2009 est.)
$231.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$105.4 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 5.7% (2009 est.)
6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 $1,600 (2009 est.)
$1,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 18.4%
industry: 28.7%
services: 52.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
73.87 million country comparison to the world: 8 note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $10.9 billion in 2009-10 (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 45%
industry: 30%
services: 25% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
5.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 5.1% (2009 est.)
note: about 40% of the population is underemployed; many participants in the labor force work only a few hours a week, at low wages
Population below poverty line:
36.3% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 8.8%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2008 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
33.2 (2005) country comparison to the world: 94 33.6 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48
Public debt:
39.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 39.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188 5.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
5% (31 October 2010) country comparison to the world: 86 5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.6% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 16.38% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$13.98 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 67 $10.92 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$57.21 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 $63.03 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of domestic credit:
$62.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $53.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$7.068 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 74 $6.671 billion (31 December 2008)
$6.793 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry
Industries:
cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar
Industrial production growth rate:
6.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - production:
25.62 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - consumption:
23.94 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
5,733 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - consumption:
96,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Oil - exports:
2,612 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Oil - imports:
87,660 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Oil - proved reserves:
28 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - production:
19.7 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Natural gas - consumption:
19.7 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - proved reserves:
195.4 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Current account balance:
$3.734 billion (2010) country comparison to the world: 34 $2.416 billion (2009)
Exports:
$16.24 billion (2010) country comparison to the world: 73 $15.58 billion (2009)
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The 2010 CIA World FactbookChapter M: Major infectious diseases (8)
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