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Compare Netherlands (2001) - Bulgaria (2002)

Compare Netherlands (2001) z Bulgaria (2002)

 Netherlands (2001)Bulgaria (2002)
 NetherlandsBulgaria
Administrative divisions 12 provinces (provincien, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland 28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Age structure 0-14 years:
18.38% (male 1,501,925; female 1,436,017)

15-64 years:
67.9% (male 5,518,575; female 5,333,442)

65 years and over:
13.72% (male 899,052; female 1,292,461) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 14.6% (male 572,961; female 543,004)


15-64 years: 68.5% (male 2,569,199; female 2,648,461)


65 years and over: 16.9% (male 540,109; female 747,603) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets
Airports 28 (2000 est.) 215 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
19

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
7

1,524 to 2,437 m:
6

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 128


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 19


1,524 to 2,437 m: 15


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 92 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
9

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
6 (2000 est.)
total: 87


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 10


under 914 m: 75 (2002)
Area total:
41,526 sq km

land:
33,883 sq km

water:
7,643 sq km
total: 110,910 sq km


land: 110,550 sq km


water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey slightly larger than Tennessee
Background The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878, but having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began accession negotiations in 2000.
Birth rate 11.85 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.05 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$134 billion

expenditures:
$134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues: $5.57 billion


expenditures: $5.68 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government Sofia
Climate temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Coastline 451 km 354 km
Constitution adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983 adopted 12 July 1991
Country name conventional long form:
Kingdom of the Netherlands

conventional short form:
Netherlands

local long form:
Koninkrijk der Nederlanden

local short form:
Nederland
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria


conventional short form: Bulgaria
Currency Netherlands guilder (NLG); euro (EUR)

note:
on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in the Netherlands at a fixed rate of 2.20371 Netherlands guilders per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
lev (BGL)
Death rate 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.42 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $0 $10.3 billion (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER

embassy:
Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague

mailing address:
PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715

telephone:
[31] (70) 310-9209

FAX:
[31] (70) 361-4688

consulate(s) general:
Amsterdam
chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEW


embassy: 1 Suborna Street, Sofia 1000


mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5740


telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100


FAX: [359] (2) 981-89-77
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Joris M. VOS

chancery:
4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 244-5300

FAX:
[1] (202) 362-3430

consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York

consulate(s):
Boston
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Elena POPTODOROVA


chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 387-7969


FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973


consulate(s): New York
Disputes - international none because of a shift in the Danube course since the last correction of the boundary in 1920, a joint Bulgarian-Romanian team will recommend sovereignty changes to several islands and redefine the boundary
Economic aid - donor ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.) -
Economic aid - recipient - $300 million (2000 est.)
Economy - overview The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Dutch rank third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. The Dutch economy has expanded by 3% or more in each of the last four years and real GDP growth is likely to be about 3.6% in 2001. The government in 2001 will implement its most comprehensive tax reform since World War II, designed to reduce high income tax levels and redirect the fiscal burden onto consumption. The Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on 1 January 1999. Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and positive growth rates since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. A $300 million stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 will help the government maintain economic stability as it seeks to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment and, at the same time, cut the budget deficit and contain inflation.
Electricity - consumption 97.76 billion kWh (1999) 34.42 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 3.97 billion kWh (1999) 3.2 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 22.407 billion kWh (1999) 1.5 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 85.294 billion kWh (1999) 38.84 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
90.25%

hydro:
0.11%

nuclear:
4.27%

other:
5.37% (1999)
fossil fuel: 48%


hydro: 8%


nuclear: 44%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m

highest point:
Vaalserberg 321 m
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m


highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Environment - current issues water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Dutch 91%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 9% (1999 est.) Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (1998)
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders per US dollar - 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996) leva per US dollar - 2.2147 (January 2002), 2.1847 (2001), 2.1233 (2000), 1.8364 (1999), 1,760.36 (1998), 1,681.88 (1997)


note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July 1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch

head of government:
Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998) and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch

note:
government coalition - PvdA, VVD, and D'66; there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors consulted by the executive on legislative and administrative policy
chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)


head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA (since 24 July 2001); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikolay VASILEV (since 24 July 2001), Kostadin PASKALEV (since 24 July 2001), and Lidiya SHULEVA (since 24 July 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly


elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11 November and 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister


election results: Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent of vote - Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%
Exports $210.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $5.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners EU 78% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 12%, France 12%, UK 11%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (2000) Italy 14%, Turkey 10%, Germany 9%, Greece 8%, Serbia and Montenegro 8% (2001)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)
GDP purchasing power parity - $388.4 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $50.6 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3.3%

industry:
26.3%

services:
70.4% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 14%


industry: 29%


services: 58% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $24,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 3.4% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 52 30 N, 5 45 E 43 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde) strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) 1 (2002)
Highways total:
125,575 km

paved:
113,018 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)

unpaved:
12,557 km (1998)
total: 37,288 km


paved: 33,786 km (including 324 km of expressways)


unpaved: 3,502 km (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.8%

highest 10%:
25.1% (1994)
lowest 10%: 5%


highest 10%: 23% (1997)
Illicit drugs major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions
Imports $201.2 billion (c.i.f., 2000 est.) $6.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles
Imports - partners EU 56% (Germany 18%, Belgium-Luxembourg 10%, UK 5%, France 6%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (2000) Russia 19.9%, Germany 15.3%, Italy 9.6%, France 6.0% (2001)
Independence 1579 (from Spain) 3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire)
Industrial production growth rate 3.2% (2000) 2% (2002 est.)
Industries agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
Infant mortality rate 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.6% (2000 est.) 5.9% (2002 est.)
International organization participation AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 52 (2000) 200 (2001)
Irrigated land 6,000 sq km (1996 est.) 8,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch) Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation; Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members; responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)
Labor force 7.2 million (2000) 3.83 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.) agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.)
Land boundaries total:
1,027 km

border countries:
Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
total: 1,808 km


border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km
Land use arable land:
25%

permanent crops:
3%

permanent pastures:
25%

forests and woodland:
8%

other:
39% (1996 est.)
arable land: 39%


permanent crops: 1.8%


other: 59.2% (1998 est.)
Languages Dutch Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
Legal system civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
First Chamber - last held 25 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); Second Chamber - last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May 2002)

election results:
First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 20, VVD 19, PvdA 15, D'66 4, other 17; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%, D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party - PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66 14, other 24
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)


election results: percent of vote by party - NMS2 42.74%, UtdDF 18.18%, CFB 17.15%, MRF 7.45%; seats by party - NMS2 120, UtdDF 51, CFB 48, MRF 21; note - seating as of March 2003 - NMS2 110, UtdDF 50, CFB 48, MRF 20, independents 12
Life expectancy at birth total population:
78.43 years

male:
75.55 years

female:
81.44 years (2001 est.)
total population: 71.5 years


male: 67.98 years


female: 75.22 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
99% (2000 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 99%


female: 98% (1999)
Location Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
596 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,321,500 GRT/4,877,632 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 3, cargo 371, chemical tanker 43, container 59, liquefied gas 21, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 9, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 29, roll on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 5 (2000 est.)
total: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 881,758 GRT/1,312,833 DWT


ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 15, chemical tanker 4, container 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (subordinate to Ministry of Defense), Internal Forces (subordinate to Ministry of Interior), Civil Defense Forces (subordinate to the president)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.) $356 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.5% (FY00/01 est.) 2.7% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
4,083,349 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,873,052 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
3,555,501 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,566,816 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age 19 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
96,082 (2001 est.)
males: 56,104 (2002 est.)
National holiday Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Nationality noun:
Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)

adjective:
Dutch
noun: Bulgarian(s)


adjective: Bulgarian
Natural hazards flooding earthquakes, landslides
Natural resources natural gas, petroleum, arable land bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Net migration rate 2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -4.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km petroleum products 525 km; natural gas 1,500 km (1999)
Political parties and leaders Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jaap de Hoop SCHEFFER]; Democrats '66 or D'66 [Tom DE GRAAF]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wim KOK]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Hans F. DIJKSTAL]; a host of minor parties Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or VMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; People's Union or PU (includes Bulgarian Agrarian National Union and Democratic Party) [Anastasiya MOZER]; St. George's Day [Lyuben DILOV, Jr.]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Ekaterina NADEZHDA]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtdDF (a coalition between the UDF and PU, dominated by the former)
Political pressure groups and leaders Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises agrarian movement; Bulgarian Democratic Center; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Democratic Alliance for the Republic or DAR; New Union for Democracy or NUD; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
Population 15,981,472 (July 2001 est.) 7,621,337 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 35% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate 0.55% (2001 est.) -1.11% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998) AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios 15.3 million (1996) 4.51 million (1997)
Railways total:
2,739 km

standard gauge:
2,739 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1998)
total: 4,294 km


standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)
Religions Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998) Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3% (1998)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
highly developed and well maintained

domestic:
the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of the system is expected in the year 2001, with the introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)

international:
5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
general assessment: extensive but antiquated


domestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential; telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay


international: direct dialing to 58 countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2 Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)
Telephones - main lines in use 9,132,400 (1999) 3,186,731 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,081,891 (April 1999) 1.054 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995) 39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
Terrain mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Total fertility rate 1.65 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.13 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 2.6% (2000 est.) 18% (2002 est.)
Waterways 5,046 km

note:
47% of total route length is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger
470 km (1987)
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