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Compare Bahrain (2004) - Belize (2004)

Compare Bahrain (2004) z Belize (2004)

 Bahrain (2004)Belize (2004)
 BahrainBelize
Administrative divisions 12 municipalities (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, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah


note: all municipalities administered from Manama
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Age structure 0-14 years: 28.4% (male 97,179; female 95,043)


15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015; female 192,342)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426; female 10,881) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 40.6% (male 56,530; female 54,322)


15-64 years: 55.8% (male 77,118; female 75,309)


65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,674; female 4,992) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
Airports 4 (2003 est.) 43 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 2


1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 38


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)
Area total: 665 sq km


land: 665 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 22,966 sq km


land: 22,806 sq km


water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Background Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban crime.
Birth rate 18.54 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 29.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $2.981 billion


expenditures: $3.019 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2003 est.)
revenues: $222 million


expenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2003 est.)
Capital Manama Belmopan
Climate arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Coastline 161 km 386 km
Constitution adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary) 21 September 1981
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain


conventional short form: Bahrain


local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn


local short form: Al Bahrayn


former: Dilmun
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Belize


former: British Honduras
Currency Bahraini dinar (BHD) Belizean dollar (BZD)
Death rate 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $4.682 billion (2003) $475 million (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE


embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama


mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama


telephone: [973] 1724-2700


FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)
chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN


embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City


mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City


telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163


FAX: [501] 2-30802
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador KHALIFA bin ALI bin Rashid Al Khalifa


chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111


FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192


consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN


chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636


FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888


consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Disputes - international none Guatemalan squatters continue to settle along the border region; an OAS brokered Differendum in 2002 created a small adjustment to the land boundary, a large Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to popular referendum leaving Guatemala to continue to claim the southern half of Belize
Economic aid - recipient $150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002) NA
Economy - overview In well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil granted as aid. A large share of exports consist of petroleum products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems. In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by cane sugar, citrus, marine products, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth of 6.5% in 1999, 10.8% in 2000, 4.6% in 2001, and 3.7% in 2002. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.
Electricity - consumption 5.819 billion kWh (2001) 185.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 6.257 billion kWh (2001) 199.5 million kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
Environment - current issues desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
Exchange rates Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000), 0.376 (1999) Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000), 2 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)


head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch


elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)


head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
Exports - partners US 3.5%, India 3.3%, South Korea 2.2% (2003) US 39.1%, UK 25%, France 4% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland
GDP purchasing power parity - $11.29 billion (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $1.28 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 0.7%


industry: 42.1%


services: 57.2% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 22.7%


industry: 24.5%


services: 52.8% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $16,900 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.9% (2003 est.) 3.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 26 00 N, 50 33 E 17 15 N, 88 45 W
Geography - note close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Heliports 1 (2003 est.) -
Highways total: 3,261 km


paved: 2,531 km


unpaved: 730 km (2000)
total: 2,872 km


paved: 488 km


unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs - major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities crude oil, machinery, chemicals machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
Imports - partners Saudi Arabia 30.7%, US 11.4%, Japan 7.8%, UK 5.7%, Germany 5.4% (2003) US 41.9%, Mexico 12.4%, UK 5.9%, Cuba 5.5% (2003)
Independence 15 August 1971 (from UK) 21 September 1981 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 2% (2000 est.) 4.6% (1999)
Industries petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism garment production, food processing, tourism, construction
Infant mortality rate total: 17.91 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 26.37 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 29.75 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 22.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) -0.2% (2003 est.) 2.6% (2003 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land 50 sq km (1998 est.) 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Civil Appeals Court Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)
Labor force 350,000


note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2003 est.)
90,000


note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.) agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 516 km


border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Land use arable land: 2.82%


permanent crops: 5.63%


other: 91.55% (2001)
arable land: 2.85%


permanent crops: 1.71%


other: 95.44% (2001)
Languages Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
Legal system based on Islamic law and English common law English law
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms)


elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006)


election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10


note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8
Life expectancy at birth total population: 73.98 years


male: 71.52 years


female: 76.51 years (2004 est.)
total population: 67.43 years


male: 65.11 years


female: 69.86 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 89.1%


male: 91.9%


female: 85% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 94.1%


male: 94.1%


female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Location Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Map references Middle East Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


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


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT


by type: bulk 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1


foreign-owned: Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 1


registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)
total: 336 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT


by type: bulk 13, cargo 240, chemical tanker 11, combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 1, container 10, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 18, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 2


foreign-owned: Bahamas 2, Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 11, Cambodia 6, China 67, Cuba 2, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 8, Germany 5, Greece 2, Grenada 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 27, Indonesia 4, Italy 2, Japan 5, Jordan 1, South Korea 13, Latvia 5, Liberia 2, Malaysia 4, Malta 1, Isle of Man 1, Marshall Islands 16, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Nigeria 2, Panama 15, Philippines 4, Portugal 1, Russia 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 9, Spain 6, Switzerland 2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 3, Tunisia 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 3, United Kingdom 1, United States 3, Yemen 1


registered in other countries: 25 (2004 est.)
Military branches Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard Belize Defense Force (includes Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $618.1 million (2003) $18 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 7.5% (2003) 2% (2003)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 221,661 (2004 est.) males age 15-49: 68,518 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 121,484 (2004 est.) males age 15-49: 40,619 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 6,396 (2004 est.) males: 3,122 (2004 est.)
National holiday National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Nationality noun: Bahraini(s)


adjective: Bahraini
noun: Belizean(s)


adjective: Belizean
Natural hazards periodic droughts; dust storms frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Natural resources oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Net migration rate 1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004) -
Political parties and leaders political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
Population 677,886


note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
272,945 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 33% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 1.56% (2004 est.) 2.39% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Religions Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist 3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.41 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female


total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: modern system


domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones


international: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
general assessment: above-average system


domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay


international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 185,800 (2003) 33,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 443,100 (2003) 60,400 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1997) 2 (1997)
Terrain mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Total fertility rate 2.67 children born/woman (2004 est.) 3.77 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 15% (1998 est.) 9.1% (2002)
Waterways - 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004)
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