$NA
Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, cashews; livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
3.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - production:
124 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - consumption:
597 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
588 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Oil - consumption:
21,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Oil - exports:
8,770 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - imports:
28,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Oil - proved reserves:
8 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
Current account balance:
-$735 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 -$407 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.127 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 $819 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, cashews, shea butter, textiles, palm products, seafood
Exports - partners:
China 15.6%, India 12%, Japan 8.5%, Niger 4.9%, US 4.6%, Nigeria 4.3% (2008)
Imports:
$1.843 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $1.194 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
China 35.9%, US 13.2%, Thailand 6.5%, France 6.5%, Malaysia 6.2%,
India 4.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.261 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122 $1.209 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 150
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Benin
Telephones - main lines in use:
159,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 131
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.435 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 100
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; fixed-line network characterized by aging, deteriorating equipment with fixed-line teledensity only about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly
domestic: system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections; multiple mobile-cellular providers
international: country code - 229; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 7 (Intelsat-Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 34, shortwave 1 (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2007)
Internet country code:
.bj
Internet hosts:
1,155 (2009) country comparison to the world: 157
Internet users:
160,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 141
Transportation ::Benin
Airports:
5 (2009) country comparison to the world: 177
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Railways:
total: 578 km country comparison to the world: 113 narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 16,000 km country comparison to the world: 121 paved: 1,400 km
unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)
Waterways:
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2007) country comparison to the world: 102
Ports and terminals:
Cotonou
Military ::Benin
Military branches:
Benin Armed Forces (FAB): Army (l'Arme de Terre), Benin Navy (Forces
Navales Beninois, FNB), Benin People's Air Force (Force Aerienne
Populaire de Benin, FAPB) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,908,457
females age 16-49: 1,882,421 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,279,053
females age 16-49: 1,292,438 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 101,549
female: 97,856 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 96
Transnational Issues ::Benin
Disputes - international:
in September 2007, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened to attempt to resolve the dispute over two villages along the Benin-Burkina Faso border that remain from 2005 ICJ decision; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin, but border relations remain strained by rival cross-border gang clashes; talks continue between Benin and Togo on funding the Adjrala hydroelectric dam on the Mona River
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 9,444 (Togo) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Bermuda (North America)
Introduction ::Bermuda
Background:
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue.
Geography ::Bermuda
Location:
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of
South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 54 sq km country comparison to the world: 231 land: 54 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
103 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:
low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources:
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:
sustainable development
Geography - note:
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
People ::Bermuda
Population:
67,837 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 6,271/female 6,163)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,555/female 23,215)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 3,979/female 5,654) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.3 years
male: 39.9 years
female: 42.7 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.647% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Birth rate:
11.57 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Death rate:
7.3 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Net migration rate:
2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.46 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 223 male: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.43 years country comparison to the world: 17 male: 77.2 years
female: 83.72 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.99 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.297% (2005) country comparison to the world: 91
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
163 (2005) country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
392 (2005) country comparison to the world: 100
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
Languages:
English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 177
Government ::Bermuda
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
parliamentary; self-governing territory
Capital:
name: Hamilton
geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 47 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions:
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution:
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Legal system:
English law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007)
head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 18 December 2007 (next to be held not later than 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or
BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed
BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, 296-9233
Flag description:
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy ::Bermuda
Economy - overview:
Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the world more than 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance companies relocated to the island following the 11 September 2001 attacks and again after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - continues to struggle but remains the island's number two industry. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited with only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.5 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
GDP (official exchange rate):