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Compare Syria (2002) - Brunei (2001)

Compare Syria (2002) z Brunei (2001)

 Syria (2002)Brunei (2001)
 SyriaBrunei
Administrative divisions 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Age structure 0-14 years: 39.3% (male 3,467,267; female 3,264,639)


15-64 years: 57.5% (male 5,052,841; female 4,817,662)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 267,803; female 285,602) (2002 est.)
0-14 years:
30.77% (male 53,977; female 51,772)

15-64 years:
66.52% (male 121,601; female 107,007)

65 years and over:
2.71% (male 4,449; female 4,847) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Airports 99 (2001) 2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 24


over 3,047 m: 5


2,438 to 3,047 m: 16


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total:
1

over 3,047 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 68


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 55 (2002)
total:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total: 185,180 sq km


land: 184,050 sq km


water: 1,130 sq km


note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
total:
5,770 sq km

land:
5,270 sq km

water:
500 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than North Dakota slightly smaller than Delaware
Background Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensibly in a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights. The Sultanate of Brunei's heyday occurred between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the less developed countries. The same family has now ruled in Brunei for over six centuries.
Birth rate 30.11 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 20.45 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $5 billion


expenditures: $7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
revenues:
$2.5 billion

expenditures:
$2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.)
Capital Damascus Bandar Seri Begawan
Climate mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Coastline 193 km 161 km
Constitution 13 March 1973 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Country name conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic


conventional short form: Syria


local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah


local short form: Suriyah


former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
conventional long form:
Negara Brunei Darussalam

conventional short form:
Brunei
Currency Syrian pound (SYP) Bruneian dollar (BND)
Death rate 5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 3.38 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $22 billion (2001 est.) $0
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF


embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus


mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus


telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342


FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678
chief of mission:
Ambassador Sylvia Gaye STANFIELD

embassy:
Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan

mailing address:
PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507

telephone:
[673] (2) 229670

FAX:
[673] (2) 225293
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Rustum al-ZU'BI


chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313


FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam

chancery:
3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 342-0159

FAX:
[1] (202) 342-0158
Disputes - international Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976; Turkey is quick to rebuff any perceived Syrian claim to Hatay province possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island
Economic aid - recipient $199 million (1997 est.) $4.3 million (1995)
Economy - overview Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing slower than its 2.5% annual population growth rate, causing a persistent decline in per capita GDP. President Bashar AL-ASAD has made little progress on the economic front after one year in office, but does appear willing to permit a gradual strengthening of the private sector. His most obvious accomplishment to this end was the recent passage of legislation allowing private banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sector will take years and further government cooperation to develop. ASAD's recent cabinet reshuffle may improve his chances of implementing further growth-oriented policies, although external factors such as the international war on terrorism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and downturn in oil prices could weaken the foreign investment and government revenues Syria needs to flourish. A long-run economic constraint is the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. Exports of crude oil and natural gas account for over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, a further widening of the economic base beyond oil and gas.
Electricity - consumption 17.671 billion kWh (2000) 2.274 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 650 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 19.7 billion kWh (2000) 2.445 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 64%


hydro: 36%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m


highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m

highest point:
Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
party to:
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Exchange rates Syrian pounds per US dollar - 51 (December 2001), 46 (2000), 46 (1998), 41.9 (January 1997) Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.7365 (January 2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
Executive branch chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)


head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa MIRU (since 13 March 2000), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984), Farouk al-SHARA (since 13 December 2001), Dr. Muhammad al-HUSAYN (since 13 December 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death of President Hafez al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held NA 2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president


election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%


note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June 2000, the Ba'th Party nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his name to the People's Council on 25 June 2000
chief of state:
Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary
Exports $5 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $2.55 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities crude oil 68%, textiles 7%, fruits and vegetables 6%, raw cotton 4% (1998 est.) crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners Germany 27%, Italy 12%, France 10%, Turkey 10%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2000 est.) Japan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%, Thailand 3% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands
GDP purchasing power parity - $54.2 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 27%


industry: 23%


services: 50% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
5%

industry:
46%

services:
49% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $17,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2001 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 35 00 N, 38 00 E 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Geography - note there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.) close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia
Heliports 7 (2002) 3 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 41,451 km


paved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways)


unpaved: 31,876 km (1997)
total:
1,712 km

paved:
1,284 km

unpaved:
428 km (1996)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
Imports $4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 21%, food and livestock 18%, metal and metal products 15%, chemicals and chemical products 10% (2000 est.) machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners Italy 9%, Germany 7%, France 5%, Lebanon 5%, China 4%, South Korea 4%, Turkey 4%, US 4% (2000 est.) Singapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%, US 5% (1999)
Independence 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) 1 January 1984 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 4% (1997 est.)
Industries petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Infant mortality rate 32.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 0.3% (2001 est.) 1% (1999 est.)
International organization participation AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land 12,130 sq km (1998 est.) 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms)
Labor force 4.7 million (1998 est.) 144,000 (1995 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel

note:
temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1996 est.) government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries total: 2,253 km


border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
total:
381 km

border countries:
Malaysia 381 km
Land use arable land: 25.96%


permanent crops: 4.08%


other: 69.96% (1998 est.)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
1%

forests and woodland:
85%

other:
12% (1993 est.)
Languages Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood Malay (official), English, Chinese
Legal system based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Legislative branch unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)


election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents 33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receives one-half of the seats
unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch)

elections:
last held in March 1962

note:
in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
Life expectancy at birth total population: 69.08 years


male: 67.9 years


female: 70.32 years (2002 est.)
total population:
73.82 years

male:
71.45 years

female:
76.31 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 70.8%


male: 85.7%


female: 55.8% (1997 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
88.2%

male:
92.6%

female:
83.4% (1995 est.)
Location Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Map references Middle East Southeast Asia
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 41 NM


territorial sea: 35 NM
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM or to median line

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 143 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 482,985 GRT/702,590 DWT


ships by type: bulk 12, cargo 126, livestock carrier 4, roll on/roll off 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Egypt 1, Greece 2, Italy 1, Lebanon 10 (2002 est.)
total:
7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT

ships by type:
liquefied gas 7 (2000 est.)
Military branches Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces), Police and Security Force Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military expenditures - dollar figure $921 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending $343 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.9% (FY98) 5.1% (FY98)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 4,550,496 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
106,725 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 2,539,342 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
61,640 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age (2002 est.) 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 200,859 (2002 est.) males:
3,005 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 17 April (1946) National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
Nationality noun: Syrian(s)


adjective: Syrian
noun:
Bruneian(s)

adjective:
Bruneian
Natural hazards dust storms, sandstorms typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare
Natural resources petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower petroleum, natural gas, timber
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km
Political parties and leaders National Progressive Front or NPF (includes the Ba'th Party, ASU, Arab Socialist Party, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party, ASP, SCP) [President Bashar al-ASAD, chairman]; Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party (governing party) [President Bashar al-ASAD, secretary general]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan KOUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party or SCP [Yusuf FAYSAL]; Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI] Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)
Political pressure groups and leaders conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little effective political influence NA
Population 17,155,814 (July 2002 est.)


note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and about 20,000 Israeli settlers (February 2003 est.)
343,653 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 15%-25% NA%
Population growth rate 2.5% (2002 est.) 2.11% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
Radio broadcast stations AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 4.15 million (1997) 329,000 (1998)
Railways total: 2,750 km


standard gauge: 2,423 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 327 km 1.050-m gauge


note: rail link between Syria and Iraq replaced in 2000 (2001)
total:
13 km (private line)

narrow gauge:
13 km 0.610-m gauge
Religions Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo) Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


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


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal none
Telephone system general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology


domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network


international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
general assessment:
service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia

domestic:
every service available

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines (2001)
Telephones - main lines in use 1.313 million (1997) 79,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 43,524 (1996)
Television broadcast stations 44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995) 2 (1997)
Terrain primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Total fertility rate 3.84 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.44 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 20% (2000 est.) 4.9% (1995 est.)
Waterways 870 km (minimal economic importance) 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
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