Chapter V (6)

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye
Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet
Respubliki (64 seats; eight appointed by the president and 56
indirectly elected by deputies of local councils for four-year
terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Pretsaviteley
(110 seats; note--present members came from the former Supreme Soviet
which LUKASHENKO disbanded in November 1996)
elections: last held May and November-December 1995 (two rounds,
each with a run-off; disbanded after the November 1996 referendum;
next to be held NA)
election results: after the November 1996 referendum, seats for the
Chamber of Representatives were filled by former Supreme Soviet
members as follows: PKB 24, Agrarian 14, Party of Peoples Concord 5,
LDPB 1, UPNAZ 1, Green World Party 1, Belarusian Social Sports Party
1, Ecological Party 1, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 1,
independents 61; 58 of the 64 seats in the Council of the Republic
have been appointed/elected

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

Political parties and leaders: Party of Communists Belarusian or
chairman]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic

International organization participation: CCC, CEI, CIS, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Inmarsat,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires CHEREPANSKY
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel V. SPECKHARD (recalled to
Washington in June 1998; Charge d'Affaires Randall LE COCQ)
embassy: Starovilenskaya #46-220002, Minsk
mailing address: use embassy street address

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

Economy

Economy--overview: Belarus has seen little structural reform since
1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of
"market socialism". In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO
re-imposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange
rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management
of private enterprise. This produced a climate hostile to private
business, inhibiting domestic and foreign investment. The Government
of Belarus has artificially revived economic output since mid-1996
by pursuing a policy of rapid credit expansion. In a vain attempt to
keep the rapidly rising inflation in check, the government placed
strict price controls on food and consumer products, which resulted
in food shortages. Long lines for dairy products, chicken, and pork
became common in the closing months of 1998. With the goal of
slowing down the devaluation of the Belarusian ruble, LUKASHENKO in
1997 introduced a new, complex system of legal buying/selling hard
currencies. The new "command" system proved to be totally unworkable
and resulted in galloping devaluation. In addition to the burdens
imposed on businesses by high inflation and an artificial currency
regime, businesses have also been subject to pressure on the part of
central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in
regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, and retroactive
application of new business regulations prohibiting practices that
had been legal. A further economic problem is the sizable trade
deficit.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$53.7 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,200 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 43%
services: 37% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 77% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.9%
highest 10%: 19.4% (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 182% (1998)

Labor force: 4.3 million (1998)

Labor force--by occupation: industry and construction 40%,
agriculture and forestry 19%, services 41% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2.3% officially registered unemployed
(December 1998); large number of underemployed workers

Budget:
revenues: $4 billion
expenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $180
million (1997 est.)

Industries: tractors, metal-cutting machine tools, off-highway
dump trucks up to 110-metric-ton load capacity, wheel-type earth
movers for construction and mining, eight-wheel-drive,
high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use
in tundra and roadless areas, equipment for animal husbandry and
livestock feeding, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers,
fertilizer, linen fabric, wool fabric, radios, refrigerators, other
consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate: 11% (1998 est.)

Electricity--production: 26.1 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.92%
hydro: 0.08%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1997)

Electricity--consumption: 33.7 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity--imports: 10.3 billion kWh (1997)

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

Exports: $7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, foodstuffs

Exports--partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany

Imports: $8.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports--commodities: fuel, natural gas, industrial raw materials,
textiles, sugar, foodstuffs

Imports--partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany

Debt--external: $1.03 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $194.3 million (1995)

Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR)

Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1--139,000 (25 January
1999 official Belarusian exchange rate), 46,080 (2nd qtr 1998),
25,964 (1997), 15,500 (yearend 1996), 11,500 (yearend 1995), 10,600
(yearend 1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 2.55 million (October 1998)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all
telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company)
Beltelcom which is a monopoly
domestic: local--Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a
cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long;
local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity--Belarus
has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving
at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus's fiber optics form
synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries'
systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational
international: Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL),
Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line (TAE) and has access to the
Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide
connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide
service is available to Belarus due to this infrastructure;
additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat and
Intersputnik earth stations

Radio broadcast stations: AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11

Radios: 3.17 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 17 (1997); note--Belarus has a
state-run television broadcasting network; independent local
television stations exist

Televisions: 9,686,854 (1996)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 5,563 km
broad gauge: 5,563 km 1.520-m gauge (894 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 53,407 km
paved: 52,446 km
unpaved: 961 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: NA km; note--Belarus has extensive and widely used
canal and river systems

Pipelines: crude oil 1,470 km; refined products 1,100 km; natural
gas 1,980 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Mazyr

Airports: 118 (1996 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 11 (1996 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 82
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 62 (1996 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Interior
Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,700,034 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,115,121 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 79,905 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $100 million (1998)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis,
mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit
drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe

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

@Belgium -------

Introduction

Background: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in
1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. In the
half century following, it has prospered as a small, modern,
technologically advanced European state and member of the European
Union. Its unique political circumstance is the long-standing
differences between the wealthier Dutch-speaking Flemings of the
north and the poorer French-speaking Walloons of the south,
differences that are becoming increasingly acute.

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E

Map references: Europe

Area:
total: 30,510 sq km
land: 30,230 sq km
water: 280 sq km

Area--comparative: about the size of Maryland

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

Coastline: 64 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
exclusive fishing zone: median line with neighbors (extends about 68
km from coast)
territorial sea: 12 nm

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

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

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

Natural resources: coal, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland: 21%
other: 34%

Irrigated land: 10 sq km including Luxembourg (1993 est.)

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

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

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

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

People

Population: 10,182,034 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 895,987; female 853,494)
15-64 years: 66% (male 3,389,572; female 3,318,266)
65 years and over: 17% (male 703,933; female 1,020,782) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.06% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 9.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 10.43 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.53 years
male: 74.31 years
female: 80.9 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian

Ethnic groups: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12%

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

Languages: Flemish 56%, French 32%, German 1%, legally bilingual
11%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

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

Data code: BE

Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a
constitutional monarch

Capital: Brussels

Administrative divisions: 10 provinces (French: provinces,
singular--province; Flemish: provincien, singular--provincie);
Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg,
Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams Brabant, West-Vlaanderen
note: the Brussels Capitol Region is not included within the 10
provinces

Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King
LEOPOLD I to the throne in 1831)

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

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent
Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March
1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approved
by Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed
by the monarch and then approved by Parliament

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or
Senaat in Flemish, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are
directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members
serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van
Volksvertegenwoordigers in Flemish, Chambre des Representants in
French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on
the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies--last held 21 May 1995
(next to be held in June 1999)
election results: Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--CVP 7, SP 6, VLD 6, VU 2, AGALEV 1, VB 3, PS 5, PRL 5, PSC 3,
ECOLO 2; note--before the 1995 elections, there were 184 seats;
Chamber of Deputies--percent of vote by party--CVP 17.2%, PS 11.9%, SP
12.6%, VLD 13.1%, PRL 10.3%, PSC 7.7%, VB 7.8%, VU 4.7%, ECOLO 4.0%,
AGALEV 4.4%, FN 2.3%; seats by party--CVP 29, PS 21, SP 20, VLD 21,
PRL 18, PSC 12, VB 11, VU 5, ECOLO 6, AGALEV 5, FN 2; note--before
the 1995 elections, there were 212 seats
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered
devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of
government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a
complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six
governments each with its own legislative assembly; for other
acronyms of the listed parties see Political parties and leaders

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie in
Flemish, Cour de Cassation in French, judges are appointed for life
by the Belgian monarch

Political parties and leaders: Flemish Christian Democrats or CVP

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexis REYN
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul CEJAS
embassy: 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710

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

Economy

Economy--overview: This highly developed private enterprise
economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly
developed transport network, and diversified industrial and
commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous
Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging
reinvestment in the southern region of Wallonia. With few natural
resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw
materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its
economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets.
Two-thirds of its trade is with other EU countries. Belgium's public
debt fell from 127% of GDP in 1996 to 122% of GDP in 1998 and the
government is trying to control its expenditures to bring the figure
more into line with other industrialized countries. Belgium became a
charter member of the European Monetary Union (EMU) in January 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$236 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 2.8% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,400 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 27.2%
services: 70.9% (1996)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.2% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 4.283 million (1997)

Labor force--by occupation: services 69.7%, industry 27.7%,
agriculture 2.6% (1992)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

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

Industrial production growth rate: 9.7% (1995)

Electricity--production: 71.066 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 41.73%
hydro: 0.33%
nuclear: 57.93%
other: 0.01% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 75.266 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 5.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 9.6 billion kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $145.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment,
tractors, diamonds, petroleum products

Exports--partners: EU 67.2% (Germany 19%), US 5.8% (1994)

Imports: $137.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports--partners: EU 75% (Germany 22.1%), US 5% (1997)

Debt--external: $22.3 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--donor: ODA, $1 billion (1995)

Currency: 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1--34.77 (January
1999), 36.229 (1998), 35.774 (1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995),
33.456 (1994)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common
currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some
member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed
rate of 40.3399 Belgian francs per euro; the euro will replace the
local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 5.691 million (1992 est.); 1.7 million cellular
telephone subscribers (1998)

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

Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 77, shortwave 1 (Belgium's
single shortwave station, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal, transmits
its programs internationally in Dutch, English, French, and German,
using 21 shortwave frequencies)

Radios: 100,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 24 (in addition, there are Dutch
programs on cable, TV-5 Europe by satellite relay, and American
Forces Network by relay from Germany) (1997)

Televisions: 3,315,662 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 3,380 km (2,459 km electrified; 2,563 km double track)
standard gauge: 3,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1996)

Highways:
total: 143,175 km
paved: 143,175 km (including 1,674 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

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

Pipelines: crude oil 161 km; petroleum products 1,167 km; natural
gas 3,300 km

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

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,668 GRT/56,412 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 8, chemical tanker 8, oil tanker 6
(1998 est.)

Airports: 42 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 2,537,544 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 2,098,883 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 64,180 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $4.6 billion (1995)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.7% (1995)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South American
cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin,
hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe

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

@Belize ------

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 22,960 sq km
land: 22,800 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts

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

Coastline: 386 km

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

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

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

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

Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 2%
forests and woodland: 92%
other: 3% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)

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

Environment--current issues: deforestation; water pollution from
sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; Hurricane Mitch
damage

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

Geography--note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize
City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central
America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

People

Population: 235,789 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 49,991; female 48,074)
15-64 years: 55% (male 65,507; female 63,796)
65 years and over: 3% (male 4,129; female 4,292) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.42% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 30.22 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 5.39 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 31.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.2 years
male: 67.23 years
female: 71.26 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups: mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%,
other 8%

Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%,
Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal
2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)

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

Literacy:
definition: age 14 and over has ever attended school
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Government

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

Data code: BH

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Belmopan

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

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution: 21 September 1981

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17
November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 2 August 1998);
Deputy Prime Minister Dean BARROW (since NA July 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor
general

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the
Senate (eight members; members are appointed for five-year terms,
five on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the
leader of the opposition, and one after consultation with the Belize
Advisory Council--this council serves as an independent body to
advise the governor general with respect to difficult decisions such
as granting pardons, commutations, stays of execution, the removal
of justices of appeal who appear to be incompetent, etc.) and the
National Assembly (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly--last held 1 August 1998 (next to be
held NA August 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PUP
26, UDP 3

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

Political parties and leaders: People's United Party or PUP [Said
GOLDSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders: Society for the Promotion
Front

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James Schofield MURPHY
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carolyn CURIEL
embassy: Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Unit 7401, APO AA 34025

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

Economy

Economy--overview: The small, essentially private enterprise
economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and
merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater
importance. Sugar, the chief crop, accounts for nearly half of
exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest
employer. The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted
in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998. The trade deficit
has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar
and bananas. The new government faces important challenges to
economic stability. Rapid action to improve tax collection has been
promised, but a lack of progress in reigning in spending could bring
the exchange rate under pressure.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$700 million (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 22%
industry: 22%
services: 56% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 71,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
(1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 30%, services 16%,
government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%

Unemployment rate: 13% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $140 million
expenditures: $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)

Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism,
construction

Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)

Electricity--production: 145 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 145 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $95.3 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities: sugar 46%, bananas 26%, citrus fruits,
clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports--partners: US 45%, UK 30%, Mexico 3%, Canada 3% (1997)

Imports: $149.7 million (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports--commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports--partners: US 52%, Mexico 13%, UK 5% (1997)

Debt--external: $288 million (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $23.4 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1--2.0000 (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 29,000 (1996 est.)

Telephone system: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1 (Voice of America relay station),
FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios: NA

Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)

Televisions: 27,048 (1993 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 2,248 km
paved: 427 km
unpaved: 1,821 km (1996 est.)

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

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

Merchant marine:
total: 403 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,740,325
GRT/2,511,709 DWT
ships by type: bulk 34, cargo 259, chemical tanker 5, container 9,
liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 58, passenger-cargo 2,
refrigerated cargo 21, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea/passenger
3, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 7 countries:
Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Greece 1, Singapore 2, UAE 12, UK 1, and US 1
(1998 est.)

Airports: 44 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Belize Defense Force (includes Ground Forces,
Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard), Belize National Police

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 58,201 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 34,531 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 2,619 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $15 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2% (FY97/98)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: border with Guatemala in dispute

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; minor
money-laundering center

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

@Benin -----

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 112,620 sq km
land: 110,620 sq km
water: 2,000 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:
total: 1,989 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km,
Togo 644 km

Coastline: 121 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low
mountains

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone,
marble, timber

Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 4%
permanent pastures: 4%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 48% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 100 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north
in winter

Environment--current issues: recent droughts have severely
affected marginal agriculture in north; inadequate supplies of
potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations;
deforestation; desertification

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography--note: no natural harbors

People

Population: 6,305,567 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 1,510,703; female 1,501,437)
15-64 years: 50% (male 1,511,114; female 1,637,155)
65 years and over: 2% (male 62,459; female 82,699) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.3% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 45.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 97.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.08 years
male: 51.98 years
female: 56.24 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.4 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important
being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15%

Languages: French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common
vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in
north)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37%
male: 48.7%
female: 25.8% (1995 est.)

Government

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

Data code: BN

Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule;
dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989; democratic reforms adopted
February 1990; transition to multiparty system completed 4 April 1991

Capital: Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat
of government

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Atakora, Atlantique,
Borgou, Mono, Oueme, Zou
note: six additional provinces have been reported but not confirmed;
they are Alibori, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, and Plateau;
moreover, the term "province" may have been changed to "department"

Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: National Day, 1 August (1990)

Constitution: December 1990

Legal system: based on French civil law and customary law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 18 March 1996 (next to be held NA March 2001)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU elected president; percent of
vote--Mathieu KEREKOU 52.49%, Nicephore SOGLO 47.51%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 1995 (next to be held 28 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PRB
20, PRD 19, FARD-ALAFIA 10, PSD 7, NCC 3, RDL-VIVOTEN 3, PCB 2, AC
1, RDP 1, other 17

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

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Civic Renewal or ARC
Sylvain AKINDES]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD and
KINA]; Liberal Democrats' Rally for National Reconstruction-Vivoten
note: as of December 1998, more than 110 political parties were
officially recognized; among them are Benin Renaissance Party or
PRB, Our Common Cause or NCC, Cameleon Alliance or AC, Rally for
Democracy and Pan-Africanism or RDP

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA,
ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Lucien Edgar TONOUKOUIN
chancery: 2737 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FELDER
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: B. P. 2012, Cotonou

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and
red with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and
dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and
regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged a sound 4% in
1990-95 and 5% in 1996-98. Rapid population growth has offset much
of this growth in output. Inflation has subsided over the past three
years. Commercial and transport activities, which make up a large
part of GDP, are vulnerable to developments in Nigeria, particularly
fuel shortages. Support by the Paris Club and official bilateral
creditors has eased the external debt situation in recent years. The
government, still burdened with money-losing state enterprises and a
bloated civil service, has been gradually implementing a World Bank
supported structural adjustment program since 1991.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$7.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4.4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,300 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 34%
industry: 14%
services: 52% (1997)

Population below poverty line: 33% (1995 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.6% (1998 est.)

Labor force: NA

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $299 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $14
million (1995 est.)

Industries: textiles, cigarettes; beverages, food; construction
materials, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 6 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 251 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 245 million kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1998)

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

Exports--partners: Brazil 18%, Portugal 11%, Morocco 10%, Libya
6%, France (1997)

Imports: $314 million (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities: foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco, petroleum
products, intermediate goods, capital goods, light consumer goods

Imports--partners: France 21%, UK 9%, Thailand 9%, Hong Kong 8%,
China (1997)

Debt--external: $1.6 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient: $281.2 million (1995)

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

Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1--566.36 (January 1999),
589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20
(1994)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 38,354 (6,286 cellular telephone subscribers) (1998
est.)

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

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998 est.)

Radios: 400,000 (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 2 (one privately owned) (1997)

Televisions: 30,000 (1998 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 578 km (single track)
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)

Highways:
total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: navigable along small sections, important only locally

Ports and harbors: Cotonou, Porto-Novo

Merchant marine: none

Airports: 5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

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

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 1,363,878
females age 15-49: 1,425,987 (1999 est.)
note: both sexes are liable for military service

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 697,715
females age 15-49: 722,323 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 67,622
females: 67,238 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $27 million (1996)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 1.2% (1996)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics associated with
Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for
Western Europe and the US

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

@Bermuda -------

Geography

Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)

Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W

Map references: North America

Area:
total: 50 sq km
land: 50 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 103 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter

Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (1997 est.)
note: developed (55%) and rural/open space (39%) comprise 94% of
Bermudian land area

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)

Environment--current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land,
reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to
1995

People

Population: 62,472 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,174; female 6,023)
15-64 years: 70% (male 21,479; female 22,041)
65 years and over: 10% (male 2,897; female 3,858) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.72% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 11.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 7.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.97 years
male: 75.19 years
female: 78.83 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups: black 61%, white and other 39%

Religions: Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other
34% (1991)

Languages: English (official), Portuguese

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda

Data code: BD

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

Capital: Hamilton

Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*;
Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*,
Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution: 8 June 1968

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997)
head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; premier appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate
(an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of
Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%,
independents 1%; seats by party--PLP 26, UBP 14

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party or UBP

Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire,
Hamilton
mailing address: P.O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300

Flag description: red, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue
shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking
of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer
half of the flag

Economy

Economy--overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by
providing financial services for international firms and luxury
tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist
industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84%
of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small,
and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land.
About 80% of food needs are imported. International business
contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed
independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to
Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1997 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$30,000 (1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1997)

Labor force: 35,296 (1997)

Labor force--by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers
17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial
12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)

Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)

Budget:
revenues: $504.6 million
expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75
million (FY97/98)

Industries: tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete
products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity--production: 480 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 480 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 0 kWh (1996)

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

Exports: $57 million (1997)

Exports--commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports--partners: Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)

Imports: $617 million (1997)

Imports--commodities: miscellaneous manufactured articles,
machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals

Imports--partners: US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 4% (1996 est.)

Debt--external: $NA

Economic aid--recipient: $27.9 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed
rate)

Fiscal year: 1 April--31 March

Communications

Telephones: 54,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios: 78,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)

Televisions: 57,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 225 km
paved: 225 km
unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that
are privately owned

Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George

Merchant marine:
total: 97 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,647,576 GRT/7,612,686
DWT
ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 20,
liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 15,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11
countries among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11,
Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.)

Airports: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force,
Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: NA%

Military--note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: none

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

@Bhutan ------

Geography

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area--comparative: about half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and
hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in
Himalayas

Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas
are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the
Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

Environment--current issues: soil erosion; limited access to
potable water

Environment--international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography--note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

People

Population: 1,951,965 (July 1999 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 405,745; female 376,738)
15-64 years: 56% (male 561,754; female 530,420)
65 years and over: 4% (male 39,251; female 38,057) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.25% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 36.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 109.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.75 years
male: 53.19 years
female: 52.29 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%

Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and
Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

People--note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of
approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan

Data code: BT

Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital: Thimphu

Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,
Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)

National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen
WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)

Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the
National Assembly

Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972);
note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July
1972); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the
monarch, approved by the National Assembly
note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members
nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150
seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent
religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent
government and other secular interests; members serve three-year
terms)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: NA

Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the monarch; High
Court, judges appointed by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: no legal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders: United Front for Democracy
(exiled); Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic
Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign

International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Bhutan has a
Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th
Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Bhutan have no
formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained
between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side
corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is
orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white
dragon facing away from the hoist side

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy, one of the world's smallest and
least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide
the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about
40% of GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and
animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the
building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive.
The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and
monetary links. The industrial sector is technologically backward,
with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development
projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor.
Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are
key resources. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in
expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare.
Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are
underway with support from multilateral development organizations.
Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to
protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed
controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing,
trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 6.5% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 38%
industry: 38%
services: 24% (1997)

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1997 est.)

Labor force: NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor

Labor force--by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry
and commerce 2%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures

Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide

Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (1996 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.717 billion kWh (1996)
note: exports electricity to India

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.41%
hydro: 99.59%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 246 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 1.475 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 4 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains;
dairy products, eggs

Exports: $99 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,
cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices

Exports--partners: India 94%, Bangladesh

Imports: $131 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and
parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice

Imports--partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US

Debt--external: $87 million (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $73.8 million (1995)

Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note--Indian currency is
also legal tender

Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--42.508 (January 1999),
41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374
(1994); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 4,620 (1991 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few
telephones in use
international: international telephone and telegraph service is by
landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 23,000 (1989 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)

Televisions: 200 (1985 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km