:Armenia Economy

Agriculture: only 10% of land area is arable; employs 18% of labor force; citrus, cotton, and dairy farming; vineyards near Yerevan are famous for brandy and other liqueurs Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: NA Currency: as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

:Armenia Communications

Railroads: 840 km all 1.000-meter gauge (includes NA km electrified); does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 11,300 km total (1990); 10,500 km hard surfaced, 800 km earth Inland waterways: NA km perennially navigable Pipelines: NA Ports: none - landlocked Merchant marine: none: landlocked Civil air: none Airports: NA total, NA usable; NA with permanent-surface runways; NA with runways over 3,659 m; NA with runways 2,440-3,659 m; NA with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: Armenia has about 260,000 telephones, of which about 110,000 are in Yerevan; average telephone density is 8 per 100 persons; international connections to other former republics of the USSR are by landline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch; broadcast stations - 100% of population receives Armenian and Russian TV programs; satellite earth station - INTELSAT

:Armenia Defense Forces

Branches: Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard; CIS Forces (Ground and Air Defense) Manpower availability: males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

:Aruba Geography

Total area: 193 km2 Land area: 193 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 68.5 km Maritime claims: Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% Environment: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt Note: 28 km north of Venezuela

:Aruba People

Population: 64,692 (July 1992), growth rate 0.7% (1992) Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: —3 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Aruban(s); adjective - Aruban Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80% Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, also small Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, and Jewish minority Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) Labor force: NA, but most employment is in the tourist industry (1986) Organized labor: Aruban Workers' Federation (FTA)

:Aruba Government

Long-form name: none Type: part of the Dutch realm - full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles Capital: Oranjestad Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm); note - in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996 Constitution: 1 January 1986 Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March Executive branch: Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: unicameral legislature (Staten) Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice Leaders: Chief of State: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Felipe B. TROMP (since 1 January 1986) Head of Government: Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since NA February 1989) Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Henny EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), Benny NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organization for Aruban Liberty (OHA), Glenbert CROES; governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADN Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: Legislature: last held 6 January 1989 (next to be held by NA January 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) MEP 10, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPN 1, PPA 1 Member of: ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO (associate) Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of the Netherlands) Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

:Aruba Economy

Overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expanded rapidly between 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone. Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3% in 1991. The reopening of the local oil refinery, once a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $854 million, per capita $13,600; real growth rate l0% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: 3% (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $145 million; expenditures $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988) Exports: $134.4 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: mostly petroleum products partners: US 64%, EC Imports: $488 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures partners: US 8%, EC External debt: $81 million (1987) Industrial production: growth rate NA Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 945 million kWh produced, 15,000 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining Agriculture: poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to the cultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishing Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $220 million Currency: Aruban florin (plural - florins); 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Aruba Communications

Highways: Aruba has a system of all-weather highways Ports: Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas Civil air: Air Aruba has a fleet of 3 intermediate-range Boeing aircraft Airports: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlantic flights Telecommunications: generally adequate; extensive interisland radio relay links; 72,168 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 sea cable to Sint Maarten

:Aruba Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands

:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Geography

Total area: 5 km2 Land area: 5 km2; includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 74.1 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploration Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 3 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical Terrain: low with sand and coral Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other - grass and sand 100% Environment: surrounded by shoals and reefs; Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983 Note: located in extreme eastern Indian Ocean between Australia and Indonesia, 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia

:Ashmore and Cartier Islands People

Population: no permanent inhabitants; seasonal caretakers

:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Government

Long-form name: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands Type: territory of Australia administered by the Australian Minister for Arts, Sports, the Environment, Tourism, and Territories - Roslyn KELLY Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia) Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)

:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Economy

Overview: no economic activity

:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

:Ashmore and Cartier Islands Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

:Atlantic Ocean Geography

Total area: 82,217,000 km2 Land area: 82,217,000 km2; includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies Comparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean) Coastline: 111,866 km Disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states) Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the north Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyre in the south Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin; maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the Puerto Rico Trench Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones Environment: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea; icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic Note: ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north Atlantic from October to May and extreme south Atlantic from May to October; persistent fog can be a hazard to shipping from May to September; major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Dover Strait, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic shipping lanes subject to icebergs from February to August; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways

:Atlantic Ocean Economy

Overview: Economic activity is limited to exploitation of natural resources, especially fish, dredging aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and crude oil and natural gas production (Caribbean Sea and North Sea).

:Atlantic Ocean Communications

Ports: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad; Russia), Stockholm (Sweden) Telecommunications: numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and the UK, North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite network

:Australia Geography

Total area: 7,686,850 km2 Land area: 7,617,930 km2; includes Macquarie Island Comparative area: slightly smaller than the US Land boundaries: none Coastline: 25,760 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory) Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, crude oil Land use: arable land 6%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 58%; forest and woodland 14%; other 22%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along coast; limited freshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as the doctor occurs along west coast in summer; desertification Note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country

:Australia People

Population: 17,576,354 (July 1992), growth rate 1.4% (1992) Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 7 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Australian(s); adjective - Australian Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, Aboriginal and other 1% Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26.0%, other Christian 24.3% Languages: English, native languages Literacy: 100% (male 100%, female 100%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) Labor force: 8,630,000 (September 1991); finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987) Organized labor: 40% of labor force (November 1991)

:Australia Government

Long-form name: Commonwealth of Australia Type: federal parliamentary state Capital: Canberra Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies) Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901 Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: High Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since February 1952), represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989) Head of Government: Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991) Political parties and leaders: government: Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING opposition: Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER; Australian Democratic Party, John COULTER Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: House of Representatives: last held 24 March 1990 (next to be held by NA November 1993); results - Labor 39.7%, Liberal-National 43%, Australian Democrats and independents 11.1%; seats - (148 total) Labor 78, Liberal-National 69, independent 1 Senate: last held 11 July 1987 (next to be held by NA July 1993); results - Labor 43%, Liberal-National 42%, Australian Democrats 8%, independents 2%; seats - (76 total) Labor 32, Liberal-National 34, Australian Democrats 7, independents 3 Communists: 4,000 members (est.)

:Australia Government

Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group) Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, COCOM, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIIMOG, UNTAG, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Michael J. COOK; Chancery at 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 797-3000; there are Australian Consulates General in Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco US: Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER; Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600 (mailing address is APO AP 96549); telephone [61] (6) 270-5000; FAX [61] (6) 270-5970; there are US Consulates General in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, and a Consulate in Brisbane Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars

:Australia Economy

Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Of the top 25 exports, 21 are primary products, so that, as happened during 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $280.8 billion, per capita $16,200; real growth rate —0.6% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (September 1991) Unemployment rate: 10.5% (November 1991) Budget: revenues $76.9 billion; expenditures $75.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (FY91) Exports: $41.7 billion (f.o.b., FY91) commodities: metals, minerals, coal, wool, cereals, meat, manufacturers partners: Japan 26%, US 11%, NZ 6%, South Korea 4%, Singapore 4%, UK, Taiwan, Hong Kong Imports: $37.8 billion (f.o.b., FY91) commodities: manufactured raw materials, capital equipment, consumer goods partners: US 24%, Japan 19%, UK 6%, FRG 7%, NZ 4% (1990) External debt: $130.4 billion (June 1991) Industrial production: growth rate —0.9% (1991); accounts for 32% of GDP Electricity: 40,000,000 kW capacity; 155,000 million kWh produced, 8,960 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel, motor vehicles Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GNP and 37% of export revenues; world's largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and among top wheat exporters; major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep, poultry Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion Currency: Australian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3360 (January 1992), 1.2836 (1991), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987)

:Australia Economy

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

:Australia Communications

Railroads: 40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130 km electrified; government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers of privately owned track) (1985) Highways: 837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 km Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville Merchant marine: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,324,803 GRT/3,504,385 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 8 cargo, 8 container, 11 roll-on/roll-off, 1 vehicle carrier, 17 petroleum tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 4 liquefied gas, 1 combination ore/oil, 30 bulk, 1 combination bulk Civil air: about 150 major transport aircraft Airports: 481 total, 440 usable; 237 with permanent-surface runways, 1 with runway over 3,659 m; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 268 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones; broadcast stations - 258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service; satellite stations - 4 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

:Australia Defense Forces

Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,769,005; 4,153,060 fit for military service; 138,117 reach military age (17) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.5 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY92 budget)

:Austria Geography

Total area: 83,850 km2 Land area: 82,730 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Maine Land boundaries: 2,591 km total; Czechoslovakia 548 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland 164 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: none Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers Terrain: mostly mountains with Alps in west and south; mostly flat, with gentle slopes along eastern and northern margins Natural resources: iron ore, crude oil, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower Land use: arable land 17%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 24%; forest and woodland 39%; other 19%; includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: because of steep slopes, poor soils, and cold temperatures, population is concentrated on eastern lowlands Note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube

:Austria People

Population: 7,867,541 (July 1992), growth rate 0.7% (1992) Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 5 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Austrian(s); adjective - Austrian Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1% Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9% Languages: German Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.) Labor force: 3,470,000 (1989); services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry 8.1%; an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other European countries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 6% of labor force (1988) Organized labor: 60.1% of work force; the Austrian Trade Union Federation has 1,644,408 members (1989)

:Austria Government

Long-form name: Republic of Austria Type: federal republic Capital: Vienna Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten, Niederosterreich, Oberosterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire) Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1945) Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955) Executive branch: president, chancellor, vice chancellor, Council of Ministers (cabinet) Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) consists of an upper council or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower council or National Council (Nationalrat) Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal cases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases Leaders: Chief of State: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992) Head of Government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor Erhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991) Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), Jorg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPO), Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Johannes VOGGENHUBER, chairman Suffrage: universal at age 19; compulsory for presidential elections Elections: National Council: last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994); results - SPO 43%, OVP 32.1%, FPO 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPO 0.7%, other 0.32%; seats - (183 total) SPO 80, OVP 60, FPO 33, GAL 10 President: last held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of Second Ballot - Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43% Communists: membership 15,000 est.; activists 7,000-8,000

:Austria Government

Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist); three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) representing business, labor, and farmers; OVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, HG, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTRC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Friedrich HOESS; Embassy at 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 895-6700; there are Austrian Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York US: Ambassador Roy Michael HUFFINGTON; Embassy at Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna (mailing address is APO AE 09108-0001); telephone [43] (1) 31-55-11; FAX [43] (1) 310-0682; there is a US Consulate General in Salzburg Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

:Austria Economy

Overview: Austria boasts a prosperous and stable capitalist economy with a sizable proportion of nationalized industry and extensive welfare benefits. Thanks to an excellent raw material endowment, a technically skilled labor force, and strong links to German industrial firms, Austria occupies specialized niches in European industry and services (tourism, banking) and produces almost enough food to feed itself with only 8% of the labor force in agriculture. Improved export prospects resulting from German unification and the opening of Eastern Europe, boosted the economy during 1990 and to a lesser extent in 1991. GDP growth slowed from 4.9% in 1990 to 3% in 1991 - mainly due to the weaker world economy - and is expected to drop to around 2% in 1992. Inflation is forecasted at about 4%, while unemployment probably will increase moderately through 1992 before declining in 1993. Living standards are comparable with the large industrial countries of Western Europe. Problems for the l990s include an aging population, the high level of subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budget capabilities. Austria, which has applied for EC membership, was involved in EC and European Free Trade Association negotiations for a European Economic Area and will have to adapt its economy to achieve freer interchange of goods, services, capital, and labor within the EC. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $164.1 billion, per capita $20,985; real growth rate 3% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1991, annual rate) Unemployment rate: 5.8% (1991) Budget: revenues $47.7 billion; expenditures $53.0 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990) Exports: $40 billion (1991) commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products, chemicals partners: EC 65.8%, (Germany 39%), EFTA 9.1%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 9.0%, Japan 1.7%, US 2.8% Imports: $50.2 billion (1991) commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals partners: EC 67.8% (Germany is 43.0%), EFTA 6.9%, Eastern Europe/former USSR 6.0%, Japan 4.8%, US 3.9% External debt: $11.8 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: 2.0% (1991) Electricity: 17,600,000 kW capacity; 49,500 million kWh produced, 6,500 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining

:Austria Economy

Agriculture: accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops and animals - grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle, pigs, poultry; 80-90% self-sufficient in food Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion Currency: Austrian schilling (plural - schillings); 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 11.068 (January 1992), 11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989), 12.348 (1988), 12.643 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Austria Communications

Railroads: 6,028 km total; 5,388 km government owned and 640 km privately owned (1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,403 km 1.435-meter standard gauge of which 3,051 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked; 363 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge of which 91 km is electrified Highways: 95,412 km total; 34,612 km are the primary network (including 1,012 km of autobahn, 10,400 km of federal, and 23,200 km of provincial roads); of this number, 21,812 km are paved and 12,800 km are unpaved; in addition, there are 60,800 km of communal roads (mostly gravel, crushed stone, earth) Inland waterways: 446 km Pipelines: crude oil 554 km; natural gas 2,611 km; petroleum products 171 km Ports: Vienna, Linz (river ports) Merchant marine: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 130,966 GRT/219,130 DWT; includes 26 cargo, 1 container, 4 bulk Civil air: 25 major transport aircraft Airports: 55 total, 55 usable; 20 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV; satellite ground stations for Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems

:Austria Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Flying Division, Gendarmerie Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,011,895; 1,693,244 fit for military service; 51,788 reach military age (19) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.8 billion, 1% of GDP (1991)

:Azerbaijan Geography

Total area: 86,600 km2 Land area: 86,100 km2; includes the Nakhichevan' Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast; region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijan Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991 Comparative area: slightly larger than Maine Land boundaries: 2,013 km total; Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: NA Exclusive fishing zone: NA nm; Azerbaijani claims in Caspian Sea unknown; 10 nm fishing zone provided for in 1940 treaty regarding trade and navigation between Soviet Union and Iran Disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with Armenia over status of Nagorno-Karabakh, lesser dispute concerns Nakhichevan'; some Azeris desire absorption of and/or unification with the ethnically Azeri portion of Iran; minor irredentist disputes along Georgia border Climate: dry, semiarid steppe; subject to drought Terrain: large, flat Kura Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Karabakh Upland in west; Baku lies on Aspheson Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina Land use: NA% arable land; NA% permanent crops; NA% meadows and pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other; includes 70% of cultivated land irrigated (1.2 million hectares) Environment: local scientists consider Apsheron Peninsula, including Baku and Sumgait, and the Caspian Sea to be "most ecologically devastated area in the world" because of severe air and water pollution Note: landlocked; major polluters are oil, gas, and chemical industries

:Azerbaijan People

Population: 7,450,787 (July 1992), growth rate 1.6% (1992) Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: —3 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 45 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 73 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Azerbaijani(s); adjective - Azerbaijani Ethnic divisions: Azeri 82.7%, Russian 5.6%, Armenian 5.6%, Daghestanis 3.2%, other 2.9%; note - Armenian share may be less than 5.6% because many Armenians have fled the ethnic violence since 1989 census Religions: Moslem 87%, Russian Orthodox 5.6%, Armenian Orthodox 5.6%, other 1.8% Languages: Azeri 82%, Russian 7%, Armenian 5%, other 6% Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1992 est.) Labor force: 2,789,000; agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42% (1990) Organized labor: NA (1992)

:Azerbaijan Government

Long-form name: Azerbaijani Republic; short-form name: Azerbaijan Type: republic Capital: Baku (Baky) Administrative divisions: 1 autonomous republic (avtomnaya respublika), Nakhichevan' (administrative center at Nakhichevan'); note - all rayons except for the exclave of Nakhichevan' are under direct republic jurisdiction;1 autonomous oblast, Nagorno-Karabakh (officially abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991) has declared itself Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Independence: 28 May 1918; on 28 April 1920, Azerbaijan became the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan; on 30 April 1992 it became the Azerbaijani Republic; independence declared 30 August 1991 Constitution: adopted NA April 1978 Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: NA Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers Legislative branch: National Parliament (Milli Majlis) was formed on the basis of the National Council (Milli Shura) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President-elect Ebulfez ELCIBEY (since 7 June 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Rahim GUSEYNOV (since 14 May 1992) Political parties and leaders: NA Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: National Parliament: last held NA September 1990 (next expected to be held late 1992); results - seats - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45 (grouping of opposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - these figures are approximate President: held 8 September 1991 (next to be held 7 June 1992); results - Ebulfez ELCIBEY (6,390 unofficial) Other political or pressure groups: Self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Member of: CIS, CSCE, IMF, OIC, UN, UNCTAD Diplomatic representation: NA US: Ambassador (vacant); Robert MILES, Charge d'Affaires; Embassy at Hotel Intourist (telephone 8-011-7-8922-91-79-56) plus 8 hours; (mailing address is APO New York is 09862); telephone NA

:Azerbaijan Government

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

:Azerbaijan Economy

Overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are cotton, oil, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years. With foreign assistance, the oil industry might generate the funds needed to spur industrial development. However, civil unrest, marked by armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Muslim Azeris and Christian Armenians, makes foreign investors wary. Azerbaijan accounts for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the former Soviet Union. Although immediate economic prospects are not favorable because of civil strife, lack of economic reform, political disputes about new economic arrangements, and the skittishness of foreign investors, Azerbaijan's economic performance was the best of all former Soviet republics in 1991 largely because of its reliance on domestic resources for industrial output. GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate —0.7% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 87% (1991) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992) Exports: $780 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991) partners: mostly CIS countries Imports: $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991) External debt: $1.3 billion (1991 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1991) Electricity: 6,025,000 kW capacity; 23,300 million kWh produced, 3,280 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles Agriculture: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep and goats Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption; status of government eradication programs unknown; used as transshipment points for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: NA Currency: as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

:Azerbaijan Communications

Railroads: 2,090 km (includes NA km electrified); does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 36,700 km total (1990); 31,800 km hard surfaced; 4,900 km earth Inland waterways: NA km perennially navigable Pipelines: NA Ports: inland - Baku (Baky) Merchant marine: none - landlocked Civil air: none Airports: NA Telecommunications: quality of local telephone service is poor; connections to other former USSR republics by landline or microwave and to countries beyond the former USSR via the Moscow international gateway switch; Azeri and Russian TV broadcasts are received; Turkish and Iranian TV broadcasts are received from INTELSAT through a TV receive-only earth station

:Azerbaijan Defense Forces

Branches: Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard; CIS Forces (Ground, Navy, Air, Air Defense) Manpower availability: males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: $NA million, NA% of GDP

:The Bahamas Geography

Total area: 13,940 km2 Land area: 10,070 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut Land boundaries: none Coastline: 3,542 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 3 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures NEGL%; forest and woodland 32%; other 67% Environment: subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood damage Note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

:The Bahamas People

Population: 255,811 (July 1992), growth rate 1.4% (1992) Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 19 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 69 years male, 76 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun—Bahamian(s); adjective—Bahamian Ethnic divisions: black 85%, white 15% Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2% (1980) Languages: English; some Creole among Haitian immigrants Literacy: 90% (male 90%, female 89%) age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963 est.) Labor force: 127,400; government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business services 10%, agriculture 5% (1989) Organized labor: 25% of labor force

:The Bahamas Government

Long-form name: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Type: commonwealth Capital: Nassau Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Abaco, Acklins Island, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Biminis, Cat Island, Cay Lobos, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Inagua, Long Cay, Long Island, Mayaguana, New Providence, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, Spanish Wells Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK) Constitution: 10 July 1973 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: National Day, 10 July (1973) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Acting Governor General Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992) Head of Government: Prime Minister Sir Lynden Oscar PINDLING (since 16 January 1967) Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: House of Assembly: last held 19 June 1987 (next to be held by NA June 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(49 total) PLP 32, FNM 17 *** No entry for this item *** Other political or pressure groups: Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party (VNSP), a small leftist party headed by Lionel CAREY; Trade Union Congress (TUC), headed by Arlington MILLER Member of: ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Margaret E. McDONALD; Chancery at 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 319-2660; there are Bahamian Consulates General in Miami and New York;

:The Bahamas Government

US: Ambassador Chic HECHT; Embassy at Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau (mailing address is P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau); telephone (809) 322-1181 or 328-2206; FAX (809) 328-7838 Diplomatic representation: *** No entry for this item *** Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

:The Bahamas Economy

Overview: The Bahamas is a stable, middle-income developing nation whose economy is based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in recent years, as the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed. Nonetheless, the per capita GDP of $9,900 is one of the highest in the region. GDP: purchasing power equivalent—$2.5 billion, per capita $9,900; real growth rate 1.0% (1990 est.) *** No entry for this item *** Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.3% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 16.0% (1991) Budget: revenues $627.5 million; expenditures $727.5 million, including capital expenditures of $100 million (1992, projected) *** No entry for this item *** Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.); commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish; partners: US 41%, Norway 30%, Denmark 4% Imports: $1.14 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.); commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels; partners: US 35%, Nigeria 21%, Japan 13%, Angola 11% External debt: $1.2 billion (December 1990) Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP Electricity: 368,000 kw capacity; 857 million kWh produced 3,339 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipe *** No entry for this item *** Agriculture: accounts for less than 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principal products—citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of food *** No entry for this item *** Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1.0 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $345 million Currency: Bahamian dollar (plural—dollars); 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1—1.00 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: calendar year

:The Bahamas Communications

Highways: 2,400 km total; 1,350 km paved, 1,050 km gravel Ports: Freeport, Nassau Merchant marine: 778 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,129,173 GRT/30,002,421 DWT; includes 48 passenger, 19 short-sea passenger, 152 cargo, 37 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 42 container, 6 vehicle carrier, 1 railcar carrier, 172 petroleum tanker, 9 liquefied gas, 16 combination ore/oil, 47 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 143 bulk, 7 combination bulk, 78 refrigerated cargo; note—a flag of convenience registry *** No entry for this item *** Civil air: 11 major transport aircraft Airports: 59 total, 54 usable; 30 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3, 659 m; 26 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed; 99,000 telephones in totally automatic system; tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links to Florida; broadcast stations—3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station *** No entry for this item ***

:The Bahamas Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Branches: Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 68,020; NA fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion—$65 million, 2.7% of GDP (1990)

:Bahrain Geography

Total area: 620 km2 Land area: 620 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 161 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: not specific Territorial sea: 3 nm Disputes: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 6%; forest and woodland 0%; other 90%, includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires development of desalination facilities); dust storms; desertification Note: close to primary Middle Eastern crude oil sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's crude oil must transit to reach open ocean

:Bahrain People

Population: 551,513 (July 1992), growth rate 3.1% (1992) Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 7 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Bahraini(s); adjective - Bahraini Ethnic divisions: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6% Religions: Muslim (Shi'a 70%, Sunni 30%) Languages: Arabic (official); English also widely spoken; Farsi, Urdu Literacy: 77% (male 82%, female 69%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 140,000; 42% of labor force is Bahraini; industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982) Organized labor: General Committee for Bahrain Workers exists in only eight major designated companies

:Bahrain Government

Long-form name: State of Bahrain Type: traditional monarchy Capital: Manama Administrative divisions: 12 districts (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK) Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973 Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December Executive branch: amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court Leaders: Chief of State: Amir 'ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin 'Isa Al Khalifa (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950) Head of Government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970) Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active Suffrage: none Elections: none Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador 'Abd al-Rahman Faris Al KHALIFA; Chancery at 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 342-0741 or 342-0742; there is a Bahraini Consulate General in New York US: Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER; Embassy at Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj; (mailing address is P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO AE 09834-6210); telephone [973] 273-300; FAX (973) 272-594 Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side

:Bahrain Economy

Overview: Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 31% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. The liberation of Kuwait in early 1991 has improved short- to medium-term prospects and has raised investors' confidence. Bahrain with its highly developed communication and transport facilities is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports is petroleum products made from imported crude. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, per capita $7,500 (1990); real growth rate 6.7% (1988) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1989) Unemployment rate: 8-10% (1989) Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989) Exports: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%, other 13% partners: UAE 18%, Japan 12%, India 11%, US 6% Imports: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41% partners: Saudi Arabia 41%, US 23%, Japan 8%, UK 8% External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for 44% of GDP Electricity: 3,600,000 kW capacity; 10,500 million kWh produced, 21,000 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing Agriculture: including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector produces fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, and fish; fish catch 9,000 metric tons in 1987 Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $45 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion Currency: Bahraini dinar (plural - dinars); 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Bahrain Communications

Highways: 200 km bituminous surfaced, including 25 km bridge-causeway to Saudi Arabia opened in November 1986; NA km natural surface tracks Pipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km Ports: Mina' Salman, Manama, Sitrah Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 186,367 GRT/249,441 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 container, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk Civil air: 27 major transport aircraft Airports: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: excellent international telecommunications; good domestic services; 98,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; tropospheric scatter to Qatar, UAE, and microwave to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia

:Bahrain Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 190,937; 105,857 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $194 million, 6% of GDP (1990)

:Baker Island Geography

Total area: 1.4 km2 Land area: 1.4 km2 Comparative area: about 2.3 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 4.8 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Terrain: low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until 1891) Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100% Environment: treeless, sparse and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; lacks fresh water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife Note: remote location 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu in the North Pacific Ocean, just north of the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia

:Baker Island People

Population: uninhabited; American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators

:Baker Island Government

Long-form name: none Type: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC

:Baker Island Economy

Overview: no economic activity

:Baker Island Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast Airports: 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m Telecommunications: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

:Baker Island Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

:Bangladesh Geography

Total area: 144,000 km2 Land area: 133,910 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin Land boundaries: 4,246 km total; Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km Coastline: 580 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 18 nm Continental shelf: up to outer limits of continental margin Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: a portion of the boundary with India is in dispute; water sharing problems with upstream riparian India over the Ganges Climate: tropical; cool, dry winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); cool, rainy monsoon (June to October) Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast Natural resources: natural gas, uranium, arable land, timber Land use: arable land 67%; permanent crops 2%; meadows and pastures 4%; forest and woodland 16%; other 11%; includes irrigated 14% Environment: vulnerable to droughts; much of country routinely flooded during summer monsoon season; overpopulation; deforestation Note: almost completely surrounded by India

:Bangladesh People

Population: 119,411,711 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992) Birth rate: 36 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 12 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 112 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 55 years male, 54 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Bangladeshi(s); adjective - Bangladesh Ethnic divisions: Bengali 98%, Biharis 250,000, and tribals less than 1 million Religions: Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, Buddhist, Christian, and other less than 1% Languages: Bangla (official), English widely used Literacy: 35% (male 47%, female 22%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 35,100,000; agriculture 74%, services 15%, industry and commerce 11% (FY86); extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman (1991) Organized labor: 3% of labor force belongs to 2,614 registered unions (1986 est.)

:Bangladesh Government

Long-form name: People's Republic of Bangladesh Type: republic Capital: Dhaka Administrative divisions: 64 districts (zillagulo, singular - zilla); Bagerhat, Bandarban, Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Bogra, Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Chapai Nawabganj, Chattagram, Chuadanga, Comilla, Cox's Bazar, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Faridpur, Feni, Gaibandha, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Habiganj, Jaipurhat, Jamalpur, Jessore, Jhalakati, Jhenaidah, Khagrachari, Khulna, Kishorganj, Kurigram, Kushtia, Laksmipur, Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Moulavibazar, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Nator, Netrakona, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagar, Parbattya Chattagram, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Satkhira, Shariyatpur, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Tangail, Thakurgaon Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan; formerly East Pakistan) Constitution: 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended NA March 1991 Legal system: based on English common law National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971) Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: President Abdur Rahman BISWAS (since 8 October 1991) Head of Government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIAUR Rahman (since 20 March 1991) Political parties and leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda ZIAUR Rahman; Awami League (AL), Sheikh Hasina WAZED; Jatiyo Party (JP), Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD; Jamaat-E-Islami (JI), Ali KHAN; Bangladesh Communist Party (BCP), Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK; National Awami Party (Muzaffar); Workers Party, leader NA; Jatiyo Samajtantik Dal (National Socialist Party - SIRAJ), M. A. JALIL; Ganotantri Party, leader NA; Islami Oikya Jote, leader NA; National Democratic Party (NDP), leader NA; Muslim League, Khan A. SABUR; Democratic League, Khondakar MUSHTAQUE Ahmed; United People's Party, Kazi ZAFAR Ahmed Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: National Parliament: last held 27 February 1991 (next to be held NA February 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (330 total, 300 elected and 30 seats reserved for women) BNP 168, AL 93, JP 35, JI 20, CBP 5, National Awami Party (Muzaffar) 1, Workers Party 1, SIRAJ 1, Ganotantri Party 1, Islami Oikya Jote 1, NDP 1, independents 3 President: last held 8 October 1991 (next to be held by NA October 1996); results - Abdur Rahman BISWAS received 52.1% of parliamentary vote

:Bangladesh Government

Communists: 5,000 members (1987 est.) Member of: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WHO, WFTU, WIPO, WCL, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abul AHSAN; Chancery at 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone (202) 342-8372 through 8376; there is a Bangladesh Consulate General in New York US: Ambassador William B. MILAM; Embassy at Diplomatic Enclave, Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka (mailing address is G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1212); telephone [880] (2) 884700-22; FAX [880] (2) 883648 Flag: green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; green is the traditional color of Islam

:Bangladesh Economy

Overview: Bangladesh is one of the poorest nations in the world. The economy is based on the output of a narrow range of agricultural products, such as jute, which is the main cash crop and major source of export earnings, and rice. Bangladesh is hampered by a relative lack of natural resources, population growth of more than 2% a year, large-scale unemployment, and a limited infrastructure; furthermore, it is highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Despite these constraints, real GDP growth averaged about 3.5% annually during 1985-89. A strong agricultural performance in FY90 pushed the growth rate up to 6.2%, and FY91 saw further, though smaller, increases in output. Alleviation of poverty remains the cornerstone of the government's development strategy. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $23.1 billion, per capita $200; real growth rate 3.2% (FY91) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.9% (FY91 est.) Unemployment rate: 30%, including underemployment (FY90 est.) Budget: revenues $2.24 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion (FY91) Exports: $1.7 billion (FY91 est.) commodities: garments, jute and jute goods, leather, shrimp partners: US 32%, Italy 8.1%, UK 6.2% (FY90) Imports: $3.5 billion (FY91 est.) commodities: capital goods, petroleum, food, textiles partners: Japan 9.2%, India 6.2%, Singapore 5.9%, US 5.7% External debt: $11.1 billion (FY91 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1% (FY91 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP Electricity: 1,990,000 kW capacity; 5,700 million kWh produced, 50 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: jute manufacturing, cotton textiles, food processing, steel, fertilizer Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP, 70% of employment, and one-third of exports; imports 10% of food grain requirements; world's largest exporter of jute; commercial products - jute, rice, wheat, tea, sugarcane, potatoes, beef, milk, poultry; shortages include wheat, vegetable oils and cotton; fish catch 778,000 metric tons in 1986 Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.4 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $11.65 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $6.52 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $1.5 billion Currency: taka (plural - taka); 1 taka (Tk) = 100 paise Exchange rates: taka (Tk) per US$1 - 38.800 (January 1992), 36.596 (1991), 34.569 (1990), 32.270 (1989), 31.733 (1988), 30.950 (1987) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

:Bangladesh Communications

Railroads: 2,892 km total (1986); 1,914 km 1.000 meter gauge, 978 km 1.676 meter broad gauge Highways: 7,240 km total (1985); 3,840 km paved, 3,400 km unpaved Inland waterways: 5,150-8,046 km navigable waterways (includes 2,575-3,058 km main cargo routes) Pipelines: natural gas 1,220 km Ports: Chittagong, Chalna Merchant marine: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 328,382 GRT/479,985 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 2 petroleum tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo, 3 bulk Civil air: 15 major transport aircraft Airports: 16 total, 12 usable; 12 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 6 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: adequate international radio communications and landline service; fair domestic wire and microwave service; fair broadcast service; 241,250 telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 6 FM, 11 TV; 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite earth stations

:Bangladesh Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force; paramilitary forces - Bangladesh Rifles, Bangladesh Ansars, Armed Police Reserve, Coastal Police Manpower availability: males 15-49, 29,891,224; 17,745,343 fit for military service Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $339 million, 1.5% of GDP (FY92 budget)

:Barbados Geography

Total area: 430 km2 Land area: 430 km2 Comparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: none Coastline: 97 km Maritime claims: Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October) Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region Natural resources: crude oil, fishing, natural gas Land use: arable land 77%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland 0%; other 14% Environment: subject to hurricanes (especially June to October) Note: easternmost Caribbean island

:Barbados People

Population: 254,934 (July 1992), growth rate 0.1% (1992) Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: —6 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 76 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Barbadian(s); adjective - Barbadian Ethnic divisions: African 80%, mixed 16%, European 4% Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%; none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980) Languages: English Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 99%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) Labor force: 120,900 (1991); services and government 37%; commerce 22%; manufacturing and construction 22%; transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 9%; agriculture 8%; utilities 2% (1985 est.) Organized labor: 32% of labor force

:Barbados Government

Long-form name: none Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Bridgetown Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - there may be a new city of Bridgetown Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK) Constitution: 30 November 1966 Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966) Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Nita BARROW (since 6 June 1990) Head of Government: Prime Minister Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since 2 June 1987) Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Erskine SANDIFORD; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Henry FORDE; National Democratic Party (NDP), Richie HAYNES Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: House of Assembly: last held 22 January 1991 (next to be held by January 1996); results - DLP 49.8%; seats - (28 total) DLP 18, BLP 10 Other political or pressure groups: Industrial and General Workers Union, Sir Frank WALCOTT; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Dr. Rudi WEBSTER; Chancery at 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-9200 through 9202; there is a Barbadian Consulate General in New York and a Consulate in Los Angeles US: Ambassador G. Philip HUGHES; Embassy at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown (mailing address is P. O. Box 302, Box B, FPO AA 34054); telephone (809) 436-4950 through 4957; FAX (809) 429-5246

:Barbados Government

Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

:Barbados Economy

Overview: A per capita income of $6,500 gives Barbados one of the highest standards of living of all the small island states of the eastern Caribbean. Historically, the economy was based on the cultivation of sugarcane and related activities. In recent years, however, the economy has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The tourist industry is now a major employer of the labor force and a primary source of foreign exchange. The economy slowed in 1990-91, however, and Bridgetown's declining hard currency reserves and inability to finance its deficits have caused it to adopt an austere economic reform program. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $1.7 billion, per capita $6,500; real growth rate—3.1% (1990) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (1990) Unemployment rate: 18% (1991) Budget: revenues $514 million; expenditures $615 million (FY91-92) Exports: $210.6 million (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: sugar and molasses, chemicals, electrical components, clothing, rum, machinery and transport equipment partners: CARICOM 30%, US 20%, UK 20% Imports: $704 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: foodstuffs, consumer durables, raw materials, machinery, crude oil, construction materials, chemicals partners: US 35%, CARICOM 13%, UK 12%, Japan 6%, Canada 8%, Venezuela 4% External debt: $539.9 million (1990) Industrial production: growth rate—2.7% (1990); accounts for 14% of GDP Electricity: 152,100 kW capacity; 539 million kWh produced, 2,117 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export Agriculture: accounts for 10% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane; other crops - vegetables and cotton; not self-sufficient in food Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $15 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $171 million Currency: Barbadian dollars (plural - dollars); 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

:Barbados Communications

Highways: 1,570 km total; 1,475 km paved, 95 km gravel and earth Ports: Bridgetown Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,200 GRT/7,338 DWT Civil air: no major transport aircraft Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m Telecommunications: islandwide automatic telephone system with 89,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad and Saint Lucia; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 2 (1 is pay) TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Barbados Defense Forces

Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force, Coast Guard, Royal Barbados Police Force Manpower availability: males 15-49, 69,678; 48,803 fit for military service, no conscription Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $10 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989)

:Bassas da India Geography

Total area: NA Land area: undetermined Comparative area: undetermined Land boundaries: none Coastline: 35.2 km Maritime claims: Contiguous zone: 12 nm Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: claimed by Madagascar Climate: tropical Terrain: a volcanic rock 2.4 m high Natural resources: none Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other (rock) 100% Environment: surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones Note: navigational hazard since it is usually under water during high tide; located in southern Mozambique Channel about halfway between Africa and Madagascar

:Bassas da India People

Population: uninhabited

:Bassas da India Government

Long-form name: none Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic Jacques DEWATRE (since July 1991), resident in Reunion Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion

:Bassas da India Economy

Overview: no economic activity

:Bassas da India Communications

Ports: none; offshore anchorage only

:Bassas da India Defense Forces

Note: defense is the responsibility of France

:Belarus Geography

Total area: 207,600 km2 Land area: 207,600 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kansas Land boundaries: 3,098 km total; Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km Coastline: none - landlocked Maritime claims: none - landlocked Disputes: none Climate: mild and moist; transitional between continental and maritime Terrain: generally flat and contains much marshland Natural resources: forest land and peat deposits Land use: arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures NA%; forest and woodland NA%; other NA%; includes irrigated NA% Environment: southern part of Belarus highly contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl' Note: landlocked

:Belarus People

Population: 10,373,881 (July 1992), growth rate 0.5% (1992) Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 20 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 76 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Belarusian(s); adjective - Belarusian Ethnic divisions: Byelorussian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Poles 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.9%, Jews 1.1%, other 0.8% Religions: Russian Orthodox NA%, unknown NA%, none NA%, other NA% Languages: Byelorussian NA%, Russian NA%, other NA% Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write Labor force: 5,418,000; industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990) Organized labor: NA

:Belarus Government

Long-form name: Republic of Belarus Type: republic Capital: Mensk Administrative divisions: 6 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Brest, Gomel', Grodno, Minsk, Mogilev, Vitebsk; note - all oblasts have the same name as their administrative center Independence: 1 January 1919 Belorussian Republic; 30 December 1922 joined with the USSR; 25 August 1991 redeclared independence Constitution: adopted April 1978 Legal system: based on civil law system National holiday: 24 August (1991) Executive branch: NA Legislative branch: unicameral with 360 seats Judicial branch: NA Leaders: Chief of State: Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Stanislav S. SHUSHKEVICH (since NA 1991) Head of Government: Prime Minister Vyacheslav F. KEBICH (since NA April 1990), First Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH (since early 1991) Political parties and leaders: Belarusian Popular Front, Zenon POZNYAK, chairman; United Democratic Party, Stanislav GUSAK, co-chairman; Social Democratic Gramada, Mikhail TKACHEV, chairman; Belarus Workers Union, Mikhail SOBOL, Chairman Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: President: NA Supreme Soviet: last held 4 March 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (360 total) number of seats by party NA; note - 50 seats are for public bodies Communists: NA Other political or pressure groups: NA Member of: CE, CIS, CSCE, ECE, IAEA, ILO, INMARSAT, IOC, ITU, NACC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Martynov; Chancery at NA NW, Washington, DC 200_; telephone NA US: Ambassador (vacant); David SWARTZ, Charge d'Affaires; Embassy at Hotel Belarus (telephone 8-011-7-0172-69-08-02) plus 7 hours; (mailing address is APO New York is 09862); telephone NA Flag: white, red, and white

:Belarus Economy

Overview: In many ways Belarus resembles the three Baltic states, for example, in its industrial competence, its higher-than-average standard of living, and its critical dependence on the other former Soviet states for fuels and raw materials. Belarus ranks fourth in gross output among the former Soviet republics, producing 4% of the total GDP and employing 4% of the labor force. Once a mainly agricultural area, it now supplies important producer and consumer goods - sometimes as the sole producer - to the other states. The soil in Belarus is not as fertile as the black earth of Ukraine, but by emphasizing favorable crops and livestock (especially pigs and chickens), Belarus has become a net exporter to the other republics of meat, milk, eggs, flour, and potatoes. Belarus produces only small amounts of oil and gas and receives most of its fuel from Russia through the Druzhba oil pipeline and the Northern Lights gas pipeline. These pipelines transit Belarus enroute to Eastern Europe. Belarus produces petrochemicals, plastics, synthetic fibers (nearly 30% of former Soviet output), and fertilizer (20% of former Soviet output). Raw material resources are limited to potash and peat deposits. The peat (more than one-third of the total for the former Soviet Union) is used in domestic heating as boiler fuel for electric power stations and in the production of chemicals. The potash supports fertilizer production. GDP: NA - $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate —2% (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 81% (1991) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues $NA million; expenditures $NA million, including capital expenditures of $NA million Exports: $4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: NA Imports: $5.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: machinery, chemicals, textiles partners: NA External debt: $2.6 billion (end of 1991) Industrial production: growth rate —1.5% (1991) Electricity: 7,500,000 kW capacity; 38,700 million kWh produced, 3,770 kWh per capita (1991)

:Belarus Economy

Industries: employ about 27% of labor force and produce a wide variety of products essential to the other states; products include (in percent share of total output of former Soviet Union): tractors(12%); metal-cutting machine tools (11%); off-highway dump trucksup to 110-metric- ton load capacity (100%); wheel-type earthmovers for construction and mining (100%); eight- wheel-drive, high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use in tundra and roadless areas (100%); equipment for animal husbandry and livestock feeding (25%); motorcycles (21.3%); television sets (11%); chemical fibers (28%); fertilizer (18%); linen fabric (11%); wool fabric (7%); radios; refrigerators; and other consumer goods Agriculture: accounts for 5.7% of total agricultural output of former Soviet Union; employs 29% of the labor force; in 1988 produced the following (in percent of total Soviet production): grain (3.6%), potatoes (12.2%), vegetables (3.0%), meat (6.0%), milk (7.0%); net exporter of meat, milk, eggs, flour, and potatoes Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe Economic aid: NA Currency: as of May 1992, retaining ruble as currency Exchange rates: NA Fiscal year: calendar year

:Belarus Communications

Railroads: 5,570 km (includes NA km electrified); does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 98,200 km total (1990); 66,100 km hard surfaced, 32,100 km earth Inland waterways: NA km Pipelines: NA Ports: none - landlocked Merchant marine: none - landlocked Civil air: NA major transport aircraft Airports: NA Telecommunications: telephone network has 1.7 million lines, 15% of which are switched automatically; Minsk has 450,000 lines; telephone density is approximately 17 per 100 persons; as of 31 January 1990, 721,000 applications from households for telephones were still unsatisfied; international connections to other former Soviet republics are by landline or microwave and to other countries by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch

:Belarus Defense Forces

Branches: Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops); CIS Forces (Ground, Air, Air Defense, Strategic Rocket) Manpower availability: males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

:Belgium Geography

Total area: 30,510 km2 Land area: 30,230 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: 1,385 km total; France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km Coastline: 64 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: not specific Exclusive fishing zone: equidistant line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast) Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none 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 Natural resources: coal, natural gas Land use: arable land 24%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 20%; forest and woodland 21%; other 34%, includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: air and water pollution Note: majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels; crossroads of Western Europe; Brussels is the seat of the EC

:Belgium People

Population: 10,016,623 (July 1992), growth rate 0.3% (1992) Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Belgian(s); adjective - Belgian Ethnic divisions: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12% Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, remainder Protestant or other Languages: Flemish (Dutch) 56%, French 32%, German 1%; legally bilingual 11%; divided along ethnic lines Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 99%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) Labor force: 4,126,000; services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988) Organized labor: 70% of labor force

:Belgium Government

Long-form name: Kingdom of Belgium Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Brussels Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French - provinces, singular - province; Flemish - provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands) Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980; the government is in the process of revising the Constitution with the aim of federalizing the Belgian state Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King Leopold to the throne in 1831) Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Flemish - Senaat, French - Senat) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des Representants) Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation) Leaders: Chief of State: King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) Political parties and leaders: Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman van ROMPUY, president; Walloon Social Christian (PSC) , Gerard DEPREZ, president; Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Walloon Socialist (PS), NA; Flemish Liberal (PVV), Guy VERHOF STADT, president; Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS, president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis van GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman; ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National Front (FN), Werner van STEEN; Live Differently (AGALEV), Leo COX; Ecologist (ECOLO), NA; other minor parties Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: Chamber of Representatives: last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (212 total) number of seats by party NA Senate: last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (106 total) number of seats by party NA

:Belgium Government

Other political or pressure groups: 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 Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG, AsDB, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Juan CASSIERS; Chancery at 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 333-6900; there are Belgian Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York US: Ambassador Bruce S. GELB; Embassy at 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels (mailing address is APO AE 09724); telephone [32] (2) 513-3830; FAX [32] (2) 511-2725; there is a US Consulate General in Antwerp Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

:Belgium Economy

Overview: This small 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 Walloon. With few natural resources Belgium must import essential raw materials, making its economy closely dependent on the state of world markets. Over 70% of trade is with other EC countries. During the period 1988-90, Belgium's economic performance was marked by 4% average growth, moderate inflation, and a substantial external surplus. Growth fell to 1.4% in 1991. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $171.8 billion, per capita $17,300; real growth rate 1.4% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.4% est. (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $45.0 billion; expenditures $55.3 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1989) Exports: $118 billion (f.o.b., 1990) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products partners: EC 74%, US 5%, former Communist countries 2% (1989) Imports: $120 billion (c.i.f., 1990) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: EC 73%, US 4%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%, former Communist countries 3% (1989) External debt: $28.8 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.2% (1991 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP Electricity: 17,400,000 kW capacity; 67,100 million kWh produced, 6,767 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: engineering and metal products, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal Agriculture: accounts for 2.3% of GDP; emphasis on livestock production - beef, veal, pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, and tobacco; net importer of farm products Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8 billion Currency: Belgian franc (plural - francs); 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 32.462 (January 1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Belgium Communications

Railroads: Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,667 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track; 1,978 km electrified; 191 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned and operated Highways: 103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided autoroute; 11,717 km national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about 38,000 km paved and 51,000 km unpaved rural roads Inland waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) Pipelines: petroleum products 1,167 km; crude oil 161 km; natural gas 3,300 km Ports: Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge Merchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,979 GRT/88,738 DWT; includes 10 cargo, 4 petroleum tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 chemical tanker, 1 bulk, 2 refrigerated cargo Civil air: 47 major transport aircraft Airports: 42 total, 42 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; extensive cable network; limited radio relay network; 4,720,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 39 FM, 32 TV; 5 submarine cables; 2 satellite earth stations - Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide mobile phone system

:Belgium Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,550,088; 2,133,483 fit for military service; 66,249 reach military age (19) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.2 billion, 2.7% of GDP (1991)

:Belize Geography

Total area: 22,960 km2 Land area: 22,800 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts Land boundaries: 516 km total; Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm in the north and 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Caye, Belize's territorial sea is 3 miles; 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 the Republic of Guatemala'' Disputes: claimed by Guatemala, but boundary negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February) Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland 44%; other 52%, includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south); deforestation 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

:Belize People

Population: 229,143 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992) Birth rate: 31 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 73 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Belizean(s); adjective - Belizean Ethnic divisions: Creole 39.7%, Mestizo 33.1%, Maya 9.5%, Garifuna 7.6%, East Indian 2.1%, other 8.0% 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%, unknown 3%, other 3% (1980) Languages: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib) Literacy: 91% (male 91%, female 91%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) Labor force: 51,500; agriculture 30.0%, services 16.0%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%; shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985) Organized labor: 12% of labor force; 7 unions currently active

:Belize Government

Long-form name: none Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Belmopan Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British Honduras) Constitution: 21 September 1981 Legal system: English law National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21 September 1981) Head of Government: Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4 September 1989) Political parties and leaders: People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW; Belize Popular Party (BPP), Louis SYLVESTRE Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: National Assembly: last held 4 September 1989 (next to be held September 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 15, UDP 13; note - in January 1990 one member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count PUP 16, UDP 12 Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) headed by former PUP minister; United Workers Front Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador James V. HYDE; Chancery at 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-9636 US: Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City); telephone [501] (2) 77161; FAX [501] (2) 30802 Flag: on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

:Belize Government

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 RA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade)

:Belize Economy

Overview: The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification program. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $373 million, per capita $1,635; real growth rate 10% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: 12% (1988) Budget: revenues $126.8 million; expenditures $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.) Exports: $134 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and wood products partners: US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987) Imports: $194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 56%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1991) External debt: $142 million (December 1991) Industrial production: growth rate 9.7% (1989); accounts for 16% of GDP Electricity: 34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 395 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages, tourism Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods Illicit drugs: an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to about 50 metric tons in 1991; transshipment point for cocaine Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million Currency: Belizean dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March