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Compare Bangladesh (2004) - Sierra Leone (2006)

Compare Bangladesh (2004) z Sierra Leone (2006)

 Bangladesh (2004)Sierra Leone (2006)
 BangladeshSierra Leone
Administrative divisions 6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Age structure 0-14 years: 33.5% (male 24,359,149; female 23,013,811)


15-64 years: 63.1% (male 45,557,963; female 43,626,950)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,575,519; female 2,207,084) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,321,563/female 1,370,721)


15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,502/female 1,625,733)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 90,958/female 101,773) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Airports 16 (2003 est.) 10 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 15


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 9


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Area total: 144,000 sq km


land: 133,910 sq km


water: 10,090 sq km
total: 71,740 sq km


land: 71,620 sq km


water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Iowa slightly smaller than South Carolina
Background Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development. The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces, but a new civilian UN office remains to support the government. Mounting tensions related to planned 2007 elections, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to continuing progress in Sierra Leone's stability.
Birth rate 30.03 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $5.352 billion


expenditures: $7.55 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)
revenues: $96 million


expenditures: $351 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Dhaka name: Freetown


geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W


time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October) tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Coastline 580 km 402 km
Constitution 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Country name conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh


conventional short form: Bangladesh


former: East Pakistan
conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone


conventional short form: Sierra Leone


local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone


local short form: Sierra Leone
Currency taka (BDT) -
Death rate 8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 23.03 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $18.06 billion (2003) $1.61 billion (2003 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS, Jr.


embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212


mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000


telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500


FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL


embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485


FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Syed Hasan AHMAD


chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183


FAX: [1] (202) 244-5366


consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA


chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263


FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Disputes - international discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries, allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, and violence; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone perpetuate insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts, and refugees in border areas; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998
Economic aid - recipient $1.575 billion (2000 est.) $297.4 million (2003 est.)
Economy - overview Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms, but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key areas. One encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for the past several years. Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings, accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to a revival of economic activity, such as the rehabilitation of bauxite mining.
Electricity - consumption 14.25 billion kWh (2001) 242.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 15.33 billion kWh (2001) 260.6 million kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Environment - current issues many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Ethnic groups Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998) 20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Exchange rates taka per US dollar - 58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002), 55.8067 (2001), 52.1417 (2000), 49.0854 (1999) leones per US dollar - 2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002), 1,986.2 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002); note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections


head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October 2001)


cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president


elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president


election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA
chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held 28 July 2007)


election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%
Exports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood (2001) diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - partners US 23.9%, Germany 13.6%, UK 9.7%, France 5.9% (2003) Belgium 66.2%, Germany 13.5%, US 4.6% (2005)
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June calendar year
Flag description green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue
GDP purchasing power parity - $258.8 billion (2003 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 21.7%


industry: 26.6%


services: 51.7% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 49%


industry: 31%


services: 21% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 5.3% (2003 est.) 7.5% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 00 N, 90 00 E 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Geography - note most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
Heliports - 2 (2006)
Highways total: 207,486 km


paved: 19,773 km


unpaved: 187,713 km (1999)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3.9%


highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)
lowest 10%: 0.5%


highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Illicit drugs transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries -
Imports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000) foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - partners India 15.4%, China 11.3%, Singapore 10.8%, Japan 5.9%, Hong Kong 4.5% (2003) Germany 18.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.2%, UK 8.5%, US 6.9%, China 5.6%, Netherlands 5.4%, South Africa 4.1% (2005)
Independence 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh 27 April 1961 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 1.9% (2003 est.) NA%
Industries cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair
Infant mortality rate total: 64.32 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 65.41 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 63.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 160.39 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 177.47 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 142.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.6% (2003 est.) 1% (2002 est.)
International organization participation AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land 38,440 sq km (1998 est.) 300 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president) Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Labor force 64.02 million


note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99 (2003)
1.369 million (1981 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 63%, industry 11%, services 26% (FY95/96) agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
Land boundaries total: 4,246 km


border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km
total: 958 km


border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Land use arable land: 62.11%


permanent crops: 3.07%


other: 34.82% (2001)
arable land: 7.95%


permanent crops: 1.05%


other: 91% (2005)
Languages Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Legal system based on English common law based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve five-year terms


elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 47%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 195, AL 58, JI 17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 3, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - the election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-i-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)
unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 61.71 years


male: 61.8 years


female: 61.61 years (2004 est.)
total population: 40.22 years


male: 38.05 years


female: 42.46 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 43.1%


male: 53.9%


female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic


total population: 29.6%


male: 39.8%


female: 20.5% (2000 est.)
Location Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Map references Asia Africa
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 18 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm
Merchant marine total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 319,897 GRT/440,575 DWT


by type: bulk 2, cargo 24, container 10, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1


foreign-owned: China 1, Singapore 9


registered in other countries: 10 (2004 est.)
total: 54 ships (1000 GRT or over) 185,037 GRT/249,996 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 3, combination ore/oil 3, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2


foreign-owned: 14 (China 2, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Russia 1, Syria 1, UAE 3, Ukraine 4, US 1) (2006)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Air Wing, Maritime Wing)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $606.8 million (2003) $14.25 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.2% (2003) 1.7% (2005 est.)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 39,523,128 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 23,441,482 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Nationality noun: Bangladeshi(s)


adjective: Bangladeshi
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)


adjective: Sierra Leonean
Natural hazards droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Natural resources natural gas, arable land, timber, coal diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Net migration rate -0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2006 est.)
Pipelines gas 2,012 km (2004) -
Political parties and leaders Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR] All People's Congress or APC [Ben KANU]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA]; numerous others
Political pressure groups and leaders NA trade unions and student unions
Population 141,340,476 (July 2004 est.) 6,005,250 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line 35.6% (FY95/96 est.) 68% (1989 est.)
Population growth rate 2.08% (2004 est.) 2.3% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Chittagong, Dhaka, Mongla Port, Narayanganj -
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999) AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Railways total: 2,706 km


broad gauge: 884 km 1.676-m gauge


narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
-
Religions Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998) Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country


domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities


international: country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service


domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema


international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 740,000 (2003) 24,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 1.365 million (2003) 113,200 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 15 (1999) 2 (1999)
Terrain mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Total fertility rate 3.15 children born/woman (2004 est.) 6.08 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 40% (includes underemployment) (2002 est.) NA%
Waterways 8,372 km


note: includes 2,575 km main cargo routes (2004)
800 km (600 km year round) (2005)
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