Chapter V (7)

Other political or pressure groups: committees for the defense of
the revolution; watchdog/political action groups throughout the
country in both organizations and communities

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gaetan R. OUEDRAOGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577, 6895

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. MCCONNELL
embassy: Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou
telephone: [226] 306723 through 306725
FAX: [226] 303890

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a
yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African
colors of Ethiopia

Economy -------

Economic overview: One of the poorest countries in the world,
Burkina Faso has a high population density and a high population
growth rate, few natural resources, and a fragile soil. Economic
development is hindered by a poor communications network within a
landlocked country. Agriculture is mainly subsistence farming.
Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled
corporations. Following the Communaute Financiere Africaine currency
devaluation on 12 January 1994, exports appear to have risen, but no
official figures have been released yet. The upswing apparently
continued in 1995, with growth perhaps at 4%. The government has
updated its development program in conjunction with international
agencies, yet even with the best of plans, the government faces
formidable problems on all sides.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 4% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $700 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 32%
industry: 24%
services: 44% (1990 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1995 est.)

Labor force: NA (most adults are employed in subsistence
agriculture)
by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry 15%, commerce, services,
and government 5%
note: 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring
countries for seasonal employment (1984)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $483 million
expenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $189
million (1992)

Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap,
cigarettes, textiles, gold

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 60,000 kW
production: 190 million kWh
consumption per capita: 17 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton, sorghum, millet,
corn, rice; livestock

Exports: $273 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: cotton, gold, animal products
partners: EC, Cote d'Ivoire, Taiwan, Thailand

Imports: $636 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: machinery, food products, petroleum
partners: EC, Africa, Japan

External debt: $1 billion (December 1993 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994 the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 622 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge (517 km Ouagadougou to Cote
d'Ivoire border and 105 km opened in 1993 from Ouagadougou to Kaya)

Highways:
total: 16,400 km
paved: 1,280 km
unpaved: 15,120 km (1987 est.)

Ports: none

Airports:
total: 23
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 8
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 21,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open wire, and radiotelephone
communication stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1987 est.)

Televisions: 49,000 (1991 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police,
People's Militia

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,149,485
males fit for military service: 1,101,184 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $104 million,
6.4% of GDP (1994)

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

@Burma -----

Map ---

Location: 22 00 N, 98 00 E -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the
Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Flag ----

Description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a
cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14
administrative divisions

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay
of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 678,500 sq km
land area: 657,740 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Coastline: 1,930 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
(southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall,
mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)

Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones,
natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 1%
forest and woodland: 49%
other: 34%

Irrigated land: 10,180 sq km (1989)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil,
and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to
disease
natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and
landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic
droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea, Tropical
Timber 94

Geographic note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean
shipping lanes

People ------

Population: 45,975,625 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 8,637,102; female 8,308,282)
15-64 years: 59% (male 13,577,232; female 13,571,312)
65 years and over: 4% (male 853,403; female 1,028,294) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.84% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 30.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 11.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 80.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.14 years
male: 54.46 years
female: 57.92 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.83 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese

Ethnic divisions: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%,
Chinese 3%, Mon 2%, Indian 2%, other 5%

Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic
1%), Muslim 4%, animist beliefs 1%, other 2%

Languages: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 83.1%
male: 88.7%
female: 77.7%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Union of Burma
conventional short form: Burma
local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the
US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of
Myanmar)
local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma

Data code: BM

Type of government: military regime

Capital: Rangoon (regime refers to the capital as Yangon)

Administrative divisions: 7 divisions* (yin-mya, singular - yin)
and 7 states (pyine-mya, singular - pyine); Chin State, Ayeyarwady*,
Bago*, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Magway*, Mandalay*,
Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing*, Shan State, Tanintharyi*, Yangon*

Independence: 4 January 1948 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948)

Constitution: 3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988);
national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new
constitution; chapter headings and three of 15 sections have been
approved

Legal system: does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman
of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since
23 April 1992)
State Law and Order Restoration Council: military junta which
assumed power 18 September 1988

Legislative branch:
People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw): election last held 27 May 1990,
but Assembly never convened; results - NLD 80%; seats - (485 total)
NLD 396, NUP 10, other 79

Judicial branch: limited; remnants of the British-era legal system
in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the
judiciary is not independent of the executive

Political parties and leaders: Union Solidarity and Development
Association (USDA; pro-regime), THAN AUNG, secretary; National Unity
Party (NUP), pro-regime, THA KYAW; National League for Democracy
(NLD), AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary; and eight minor legal
parties

Other political or pressure groups: National Coalition Government
of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), headed by the elected prime minister
SEIN WIN - consists of individuals legitimately elected to the
People's Assembly but not recognized by the military regime; the
group fled to a border area and joined with insurgents in December
1990 to form a parallel government; Kachin Independence Army (KIA);
United Wa State Army (UWSA); Karen National Union (KNU); several
Shan factions, including the Mong Tai Army (MTA); All Burma Student
Democratic Front (ABSDF)

International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Mekong Group,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador U THAUNG
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044, 9045
consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marilyn A.
MEYERS
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 82055, 82182 (operator assistance required)
FAX: [95] (1) 80409

Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel
containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 14
administrative divisions

Economy -------

Economic overview: Burma has a mixed economy with about 75%
private activity, mainly in agriculture, light industry, and
transport, and with about 25% state-controlled activity, mainly in
energy, heavy industry, and foreign trade. Government policy in the
last seven years, 1989-95, has aimed at revitalizing the economy
after three decades of tight central planning. Thus, private
activity has markedly increased; foreign investment has been
encouraged, so far with moderate success; and efforts continue to
increase the efficiency of state enterprises. Published estimates of
Burma's foreign trade are greatly understated because of the volume
of black market trade. A major ongoing problem is the failure to
achieve monetary and fiscal stability. Although Burma remains a poor
Asian country, its rich resources furnish the potential for
substantial long-term increases in income, exports, and living
standards.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $47 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6.8% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,000 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 60%
industry: 10%
services: 30% (1995 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 38% (1994 est.)

Labor force: 16.007 million (1992)
by occupation: agriculture 65.2%, industry 14.3%, trade 10.1%,
government 6.3%, other 4.1% (FY88/89 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $5.3 billion
expenditures: $10 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)

Industries: agricultural processing; textiles and footwear; wood
and wood products; petroleum refining; copper, tin, tungsten, iron;
construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer

Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (FY92/93 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 845,000 kW
production: 3.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 46 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture: paddy rice, corn, oilseed, sugarcane, pulses; hardwood

Illicit drugs: world's largest illicit producer of opium (2,340
metric tons in 1995) and source for over 60% of US heroin imports;
minor producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
Rangoon's antinarcotic programs hindered by lack of resources,
government commitment; growing role in methamphetamine production
for regional consumption

Exports: $879 million (FY94/95 est.)
commodities: pulses and beans, teak, rice, hardwood
partners: Singapore, China, Thailand, India, Hong Kong

Imports: $1.5 billion (FY94/95 est.)
commodities: machinery, transport equipment, construction materials,
food products, consumer goods
partners: Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia

External debt: $5.5 billion (FY94/95 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $61 million (1993)

Currency: 1 kyat (K) = 100 pyas

Exchange rates: kyats (K) per US$1 - 5.8475 (January 1996), 5.9170
(1995), 5.9749 (1994), 6.1570 (1993), 6.1045 (1992), 6.2837 (1991);
unofficial - 120

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 3,569 km
narrow gauge: 3,569 km 1.000-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 26,861 km
paved: 3,181 km
unpaved: 23,680 km (1988 est.)

Waterways: 12,800 km; 3,200 km navigable by large commercial
vessels

Pipelines: crude oil 1,343 km; natural gas 330 km

Ports: Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina,
Rangoon, Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy

Merchant marine:
total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 444,957 GRT/610,420 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 15, chemical tanker 5, container 1,
oil tanker 3, passenger-cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 74
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 10
with paved runways under 914 m: 28
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 17 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 122,195 (1993 est.)

Telephone system: meets minimum requirements for local and
intercity service for business and government; international service
is good
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1985 est.)
note: radiobroadcast coverage is limited to the most populous areas

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1988 est.)

Televisions: 88,000 (1992 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 11,759,636
females age 15-49: 11,588,181
males fit for military service: 6,291,986
females fit for military service: 6,184,667
males reach military age (18) annually: 473,255
females reach military age (18) annually: 454,786 (1996 est.)
note: both sexes liable for military service

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $135 million, NA%
of GDP (FY95/96)

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

@Burundi -------

Map ---

Location: 3 30 S, 30 00 E -- Central Africa, east of Zaire

Flag ----

Description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels
(top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a
white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed
stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star
above, two stars below)

Geography ---------

Location: Central Africa, east of Zaire

Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 27,830 sq km
land area: 25,650 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:
total: 974 km
border countries: Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km, Zaire 233 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: temperate; warm; occasional frost in uplands; dry season
from June to September

Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east,
some plains
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Mount Heha 2,760 m

Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat,
cobalt, copper, platinum (not yet exploited), vanadium

Land use:
arable land: 43%
permanent crops: 8%
meadows and pastures: 35%
forest and woodland: 2%
other: 12%

Irrigated land: 720 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the
expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little
forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for
fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
natural hazards: flooding, landslides
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species; signed, but
not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of
the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo
watershed

People ------

Population: 5,943,057 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47% (male 1,404,375; female 1,398,228)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,454,545; female 1,527,644)
65 years and over: 3% (male 62,955; female 95,310) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.54% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 43.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 15.15 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -12.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: in a number of waves since October 1993, hundreds of thousands
of refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi
factions in Burundi and crossed into Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zaire;
the refugee flows are continuing in 1996 as the ethnic violence
persists

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 102.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.33 years
male: 48.28 years
female: 50.42 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundi

Ethnic divisions:
Africans: Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%
non-Africans: Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Religions: Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%),
indigenous beliefs 32%, Muslim 1%

Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along
Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 35.3%
male: 49.3%
female: 22.5%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi

Data code: BY

Type of government: republic

Capital: Bujumbura

Administrative divisions: 15 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura,
Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo,
Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian
administration)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution: 13 March 1992; provides for establishment of a
plural political system

Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil codes and
customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Sylvestre NTIBANTUNGANYA (acting president
from 8 April 1994 to 30 September 1994, president since 1 October
1994); note - NTIBANTUNGANYA, in his capacity as President of the
National Assembly, became acting president upon the death of
President Cyprien NTARYAMIRE in an airplane crash on 6 April 1994;
NTIBANTUNGANYA was sworn in on 1 October 1994 as president by the
"Convention on Government" to serve a four year transitional term
head of government: Prime Minister Antoine NDUWAYO (since February
1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): election last held 29 June
1993 (next to be held NA); results - FRODEBU 71%, UPRONA 21.4%;
seats - (81 total) FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16; other parties won too
small shares of the vote to win seats in the assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)

Political parties and leaders: Unity for National Progress
(UPRONA); Burundi Democratic Front (FRODEBU); Organization of the
People of Burundi (RBP); Socialist Party of Burundi (PSB); People's
Reconciliation Party (PRP); opposition parties, legalized in March
1992, include Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation (ABASA);
Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development (RADDES);
and Party for National Redress (PARENA)

Other political or pressure groups: NA

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,
CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Severin NTAHOMVUKIYE
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles YELLIN
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] (2) 23454
FAX: [257] (2) 22926

Flag: divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and
bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white
disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars
outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,
two stars below)

Economy -------

Economic overview: Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country
in an early stage of economic development. The economy is
predominately agricultural with roughly 90% of the population
dependent on subsistence agriculture. Its economic health depends on
the coffee crop, which accounts for 80% of foreign exchange
earnings. The ability to pay for imports therefore rests largely on
the vagaries of the climate and the international coffee market. As
part of its economic reform agenda, launched in February 1991 with
IMF and World Bank support, Burundi is trying to diversify its
agricultural exports, attract foreign investment in industry, and
modernize government budgetary practices. Since October 1993 the
nation has suffered from massive ethnic-based violence which has
resulted in the death of perhaps 100,000 persons and the
displacement of a million others; production has fallen sharply, and
an impoverished and disorganized government can hardly implement
these needed reform programs.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.7% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $600 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 54.1%
industry: 16.8%
services: 29.1% (1993 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1993 est.)

Labor force: 1.9 million (1983 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 93.0%, government 4.0%, industry and
commerce 1.5%, services 1.5%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $318 million
expenditures: $326 million, including capital expenditures of $150
million (1991 est.)

Industries: light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap;
assembly of imported components; public works construction; food
processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 55,000 kW
production: 100 million kWh
consumption per capita: 20 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes,
bananas, manioc; meat, milk, hides

Exports: $68 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: coffee 81%, tea, cotton, hides
partners: EC 57%, US 19%, Asia 1%

Imports: $203 million (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities: capital goods 31%, petroleum products 15%, foodstuffs,
consumer goods
partners: EC 45%, Asia 29%, US 2%

External debt: $1.05 billion (1994 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency: 1 Burundi franc (FBu) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Burundi francs (FBu) per US$1 - 268.13 (November
1995), 252.66 (1994), 242.78 (1993), 208.30 (1992), 181.51 (1991),
171.26 (1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 14,473 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 13,445 km (1992 est.)

Waterways: Lake Tanganyika

Ports: Bujumbura

Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 7,200 (1987 est.)

Telephone system: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open wire, radiotelephone communications,
and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1

Televisions: 4,500 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches: Army (includes naval and air units), paramilitary
Gendarmerie

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,312,458
males fit for military service: 683,073
males reach military age (16) annually: 67,990 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $25 million, 2.6%
of GDP (1993)

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

@Cambodia --------

Map ---

Location: 13 00 N, 105 00 E -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the
Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand and Vietnam

Flag ----

Description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double
width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing
Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band

Geography ---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand,
between Thailand and Vietnam

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: 181,040 sq km
land area: 176,520 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Land boundaries:
total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

Coastline: 443 km

Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: offshore islands and sections of the
boundary with Vietnam are in dispute; maritime boundary with Vietnam
not defined; parts of border with Thailand in dispute; maritime
boundary with Thailand not clearly defined

Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry
season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Natural resources: timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese,
phosphates, hydropower potential

Land use:
arable land: 16%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 76%
other: 4%

Irrigated land: 920 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: logging activities throughout the country and strip
mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand
are resulting in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural
fisheries); deforestation; soil erosion; in rural areas, a majority
of the population does not have access to potable water
natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding;
occasional droughts
international agreements: party to - Marine Life Conservation, Ship
Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the
Mekong River and Tonle Sap

People ------

Population: 10,861,218 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,505,998; female 2,432,620)
15-64 years: 51% (male 2,579,986; female 3,007,838)
65 years and over: 4% (male 143,759; female 191,017) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.77% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 43.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 15.78 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.93 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 107.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.86 years
male: 48.39 years
female: 51.39 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian

Ethnic divisions: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Religions: Theravada Buddhism 95%, other 5%

Languages: Khmer (official), French

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 35%
male: 48%
female: 22%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
local short form: Kampuchea

Data code: CB

Type of government: multiparty liberal democracy under a
constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Capital: Phnom Penh

Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (khett, singular and
plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Phnum Penh, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu
(Sihanoukville), Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab,
Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
note: a new province of Otdar Mean Cheay may have been created from
parts of Banteay Mean Cheay and Siem Reab

Independence: 9 November 1949 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November 1949

Constitution: promulgated 21 September 1993

Legal system: currently being defined

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)
is a constitutional monarch
head of government: power shared between First Prime Minister Prince
Norodom RANARIDDH (since NA 1993) and Second Prime Minister HUN SEN
(since NA 1993) who were appointed by the king
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the king

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly: members elected for five-year terms; elections
last held 23 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) FUNCINPEC 58, CPP 51,
Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party 10, Molinaka 1
note: the May 1993 elections were for the Constituent Assembly which
became the National Assembly after the new constitution was
promulgated in September 1993

Judicial branch: Supreme Court provided for by the constitution
has not yet been established and the future judicial system is yet
to be defined by law

Political parties and leaders: National United Front for an
Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia
(FUNCINPEC), Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH; Cambodian Pracheachon Party
or Cambodian People's Party (CPP), CHEA SIM; Buddhist Liberal
Democratic Party, SON SANN faction; Buddhist Liberal Democratic
Party, IENG MOULY faction; Democratic Kampuchea (DK, also known as
the Khmer Rouge), KHIEU SAMPHAN; Molinaka, PROM NEAKAREACH

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador VAR HUOTH
chancery: 4500 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth M. QUINN
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 426436, 426438
FAX: [855] (23) 426437

Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width),
and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat
outlined in black in the center of the red band

Economy -------

Economic overview: The Cambodian economy - virtually destroyed by
decades of war - is slowly recovering. Government leaders are moving
toward restoring fiscal and monetary discipline and have established
good working relations with international financial institutions.
Growth, starting from a low base, has been strong in 1991-95.
Despite such positive developments, the reconstruction effort faces
many tough challenges because of the persistence of internal
political divisions and the related lack of confidence of foreign
investors. Rural Cambodia, where 90% of about 9.5 million Khmer
live, remains mired in poverty. The almost total lack of basic
infrastructure in the countryside will hinder development and will
contribute to a growing imbalance in growth between urban and rural
areas over the near term. Moreover, the government's lack of
experience in administering economic and technical assistance
programs and rampant corruption among officials will slow the growth
of critical public sector investment. The decline of inflation from
the 1992 rate of more than 50% is one of the bright spots.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 6.7% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $660 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 52%
industry: 13.5%
services: 34.5% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 2.5 million to 3 million
by occupation: agriculture 80% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $210 million
expenditures: $346 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)

Industries: rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber,
cement, gem mining

Industrial production growth rate: 7.9% (1993 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 40,000 kW
production: 160 million kWh
consumption per capita: 14 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: rice, rubber, corn, vegetables

Illicit drugs: key transshipment country for Golden Triangle
heroin en route to West; possibly becoming money-laundering center;
high-level narcotics-related corruption in government, military, and
police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine
production; large producer of cannabis

Exports: $240.7 million (1995 est.)
commodities: timber, rubber, soybeans, sesame
partners: Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia

Imports: $630.5 million (1995 est.)
commodities: cigarettes, construction materials, petroleum products,
machinery, motor vehicles
partners: Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia

External debt: $383 million to OECD members (1993)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: IMF pledged $120 million in aid for 1995-98

Currency: 1 new riel (CR) = 100 sen

Exchange rates: riels (CR) per US$1 - 2,585 (December 1994), 2,470
(December 1993), 2,800 (September 1992), 500 (December 1991), 560
(1990)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 603 km
narrow gauge: 603 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways:
total: 34,100 km
paved: 3,000 km
unpaved: 31,100 km (1994 est.)

Waterways: 3,700 km navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m; 282
km navigable to craft drawing 1.8 m

Ports: Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong,
Phnom Penh

Merchant marine:
total: 5 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,451 GRT/18,280
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 14
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 7,000 (1981 est.)

Telephone system: service barely adequate for government
requirements and virtually nonexistent for general public
domestic: NA
international: landline international service limited to Vietnam and
other adjacent countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik
(Indian Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1986 est.)

Televisions: 70,000 (1993 est.)

Defense -------

Branches:
Khmer Royal Armed Forces (KRAF): created in 1993 by the merger of
the Cambodian People's Armed Forces and the two noncommunist
resistance armies; note - the KRAF is also known as the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF)
Resistance forces: National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer
Rouge)

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,336,606
males fit for military service: 1,302,234
males reach military age (18) annually: 79,514 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $85 million, 1.4%
of GDP (1995)

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

@Cameroon --------

Map ---

Location: 6 00 N, 12 00 E -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Flag ----

Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red
band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Geography ---------

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total area: 475,440 sq km
land area: 469,440 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:
total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,
Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690
km

Coastline: 402 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 50 nm

International disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in
vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in
the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad,
Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime
boundaries in the vicinity of the Bakasi Peninsula has been referred
to the International Court of Justice

Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to
semiarid and hot in north

Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected
plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m

Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber,
hydropower potential

Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 2%
meadows and pastures: 18%
forest and woodland: 54%
other: 13%

Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous
gases
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Nuclear Test
Ban, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa

People ------

Population: 14,261,557 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 3,295,924; female 3,266,429)
15-64 years: 51% (male 3,602,037; female 3,627,625)
65 years and over: 3% (male 213,176; female 256,366) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.89% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 42.49 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
all ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 78.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.6 years
male: 51.55 years
female: 53.68 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian

Ethnic divisions: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%,
Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%,
other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%

Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official),
French (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 63.4%
male: 75%
female: 52.1%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon

Data code: CM

Type of government: unitary republic; multiparty presidential
regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)

Capital: Yaounde

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,
Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under French
administration)

National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)

Constitution: 20 May 1972

Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law
influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982) elected
for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 11
October 1992 (next to be held NA October 1997); results - President
Paul BIYA reelected with about 40% of the vote amid widespread
allegations of fraud; SDF candidate John FRU NDI got 36% of the
vote; UNDP candidate Bello Bouba MAIGARI got 19% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Simon ACHIDI ACHU (since 9 April
1992) appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 1 March
1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats (180 total) CPDM 88, UNDP 68, UPC 18, MDR 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's Democratic
Movement (CPDM) (government-controlled and the only party until
legalization of opposition parties in 1990), Paul BIYA, president
major opposition parties: National Union for Democracy and Progress
(UNDP); Social Democratic Front (SDF); Cameroonian Democratic Union
(UDC); Union of Cameroonian Populations (UPC); Movement for the
Defense of the Republic (MDR)

Other political or pressure groups: Alliance for Change (FAC),
Cameroon Anglophone Movement (CAM)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790 through 8794

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles H. TWINING
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde
telephone: [237] 23-40-14, 23-05-12
FAX: [237] 23-07-53

Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and
yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy -------

Economic overview: Because of its offshore oil resources and
favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the
best-endowed, most diversified primary commodity economies in
sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems
facing other underdeveloped countries, such as political
instability, a top-heavy civil service, and a generally unfavorable
climate for business enterprise. The development of the oil sector
led to rapid economic growth between 1970 and 1985. Growth came to
an abrupt halt in 1986, precipitated by steep declines in the prices
of major exports: coffee, cocoa, and petroleum. Export earnings were
cut by almost one-third, and inefficiencies in fiscal management
were exposed. In 1990-93, with support from the IMF and World Bank,
the government began to introduce reforms designed to spur business
investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, and recapitalize the
nation's banks. Political instability, following suspect elections
in 1992, brought IMF/WB structural adjustment to a halt; currently
Cameroon receives only minimal assistance from those Bretton Woods
institutions. Although the 50% devaluation of the currency of 12
January 1994 improved the potential for export growth, mismanagement
remains the main barrier to economic improvement. The devaluation
led to a spurt in inflation, to 48% in 1994, but inflation moderated
in 1995. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry
remains slow.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 1.8% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $1,200 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 29%
industry: 24%
services: 47% (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 48% (1994)

Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 74.4%, industry and transport 11.4%,
other services 14.2% (1983)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $1.6 billion
expenditures: $2.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $226
million (FY92/93 est.)

Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing,
light consumer goods, textiles, lumber

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 630,000 kW
production: 2.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 196 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed,
grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Exports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, aluminum,
cocoa beans, coffee, cotton
partners: EU (particularly France) about 50%, African countries, US

Imports: $810 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machines and electrical equipment, food, consumer
goods, transport equipment, petroleum products
partners: EU (France 38%, Germany), African countries, Japan 5%, US
5%

External debt: $6.6 billion (1993)

Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $449 million (1993)

Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 1,104 km (1995 est.)
narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways:
total: 64,626 km
paved: 2,666 km
unpaved: 61,960 km (1987 est.)

Waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance

Ports: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko

Merchant marine:
total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,122 GRT/33,509
DWT (1995 est.)

Airports:
total: 45
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 13
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)

Communications --------------

Telephones: 36,737 (1991 est.)

Telephone system: available only to business and government
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 11, shortwave 0

Radios: 2 million (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (1995)

Televisions: NA

Defense -------

Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force,
National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard

Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 3,112,339
males fit for military service: 1,572,150
males reach military age (18) annually: 151,300 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $102 million, NA%
of GDP (FY93/94)

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

@Canada ------

Map ---

Location: 60 00 N, 95 00 W -- Northern North America, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the
conterminous US

Flag ----

Description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white
(double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in
the white band

Geography ---------

Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US

Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W

Map references: North America

Area:
total area: 9,976,140 sq km
land area: 9,220,970 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than US

Land boundaries:
total: 8,893 km
border country: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Coastline: 243,791 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: maritime boundary disputes with the US;
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute
between Canada and France

Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in
north

Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in
southeast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,950 m

Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,
potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 45%
other: 43%

Irrigated land: 8,400 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain severely
affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning
utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and
forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to
agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious
obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky
Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic,
Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the
country's rain and snow
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified -
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

Geographic note: second-largest country in world (after Russia);
strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route;
nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 161 km of the
US/Canada border

People ------

Population: 28,820,671 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21% (male 3,032,458; female 2,889,603)
15-64 years: 67% (male 9,663,955; female 9,660,648)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,501,542; female 2,072,465) (July 1996
est.)

Population growth rate: 1.06% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 13.33 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 7.17 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 4.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.07 years
male: 75.67 years
female: 82.65 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian

Ethnic divisions: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%,
other European 20%, indigenous Indian and Eskimo 1.5%, other, mostly
Asian 11.5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%,
other 35% (1991)

Languages: English (official), French (official)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.)
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government ----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada

Data code: CA

Type of government: confederation with parliamentary democracy

Capital: Ottawa

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 2 territories*;
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,
Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)

National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Constitution: amended British North America Act 1867 patriated to
Canada 17 April 1982; charter of rights and unwritten customs

Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec, where
civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a
hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Romeo LeBLANC
(since 8 February 1995), who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November
1993) was appointed by the governor general; on 25 October 1993;
Deputy Prime Minister Sheila COPPS (since NA); note - the prime
minister is the leader of the political party commanding a majority
in the House of Commons
cabinet: Federal Ministry was chosen by the prime minister from
members of his own party sitting in Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
Senate (Senat): consisting of a body whose members are appointed to
serve until 75 years of age by the governor general and selected on
the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104 senators
House of Commons (Chambre des Communes): elections last held 25
October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent
of votes by party NA; seats - (295 total) Liberal Party 179, Bloc
Quebecois 53, Reform Party 52, New Democratic Party 8, Progressive
Conservative Party 2, independents 1

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party, Jean CHRETIEN; Bloc
Quebecois, Michel GAUTHIER; Reform Party, Preston MANNING; New
Democratic Party, Alexa MCDONOUGH; Progressive Conservative Party,
Jean CHAREST

International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG
(observer), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB
(non-regional), EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-
7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMIR, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIEN
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattle
consulate(s): Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Princeton, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and San
Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawa
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 238-5720
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,
and Vancouver

Flag: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double
width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white
band

Economy -------

Economic overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society,
Canada today closely resembles the US in per capita output,
market-oriented economic system, and pattern of production. Since
World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining,
and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural
economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Canada started the
1990s in recession, and real rates of growth have averaged only 1.1%
so far this decade. Because of slower growth, Canada still faces
high unemployment and a large public sector debt. With its great
natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant,
however, Canada will enjoy better economic prospects in the future.
The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and
French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the
confederation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $694 billion (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate: 2.1% (1995 est.)

GDP per capita: $24,400 (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 2%
industry: 26%
services: 72% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1995 est.)

Labor force: 13.38 million
by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 14%, agriculture 4%,
construction 3%, other 4% (1988)

Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $90.4 billion
expenditures: $114.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY94/95 est.)

Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products,
wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish
products, petroleum and natural gas

Industrial production growth rate: 5.9% (1994)

Electricity:
capacity: 108,090,000 kW
production: 511 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 16,133 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables;
dairy products; forest products; commercial fisheries provide annual
catch of 1.5 million metric tons, of which 75% is exported

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug
market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large
quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a
transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market

Exports: $185 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum,
machinery, natural gas, aluminum, motor vehicles and parts;
telecommunications equipment
partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, China

Imports: $166.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: crude oil, chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable
consumer goods, electronic computers; telecommunications equipment
and parts
partners: US, Japan, UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Taiwan, South Korea

External debt: $233 billion (1994)

Economic aid:
donor: ODA, $2.373 billion (1993)
note: ODA and OOF commitments, $10.1 billion (1986-91)

Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1 - 1.3666 (January
1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992),
1.1457 (1991)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Transportation --------------

Railways:
total: 70,176 km; note - there are two major transcontinental
freight railway systems: Canadian National (privatized November
1995) and Canadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided by
government-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its own
standard gauge: 70,000 km 1.435-m gauge (63 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 176 km 0.914-m gauge (1995)

Highways:
total: 849,404 km
paved: 297,291 km (including 15,983 km of expressways)
unpaved: 552,113 km (1991 est.)

Waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway

Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km

Ports: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax, Montreal, New
Westminister, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Saint John (New Brunswick),
Saint John's (Newfoundland), Seven Islands, Sydney, Three Rivers,
Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor

Merchant marine:
total: 62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 573,089 GRT/804,436 DWT
ships by type: bulk 17, cargo 9, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 15,
passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off
cargo 7, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 2
note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes
(1995 est.)