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Compare Venezuela (2001) - Belarus (2004)

Compare Venezuela (2001) z Belarus (2004)

 Venezuela (2001)Belarus (2004)
 VenezuelaBelarus
Administrative divisions 23 states (estados, singular - estado),1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia

note:
the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk, Vitsyebsk


note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers
Age structure 0-14 years:
32.11% (male 3,962,517; female 3,716,880)

15-64 years:
63.17% (male 7,581,589; female 7,526,467)

65 years and over:
4.72% (male 515,687; female 613,670) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 859,219; female 823,839)


15-64 years: 69.2% (male 3,469,926; female 3,662,203)


65 years and over: 14.5% (male 496,204; female 999,129) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk
Airports 371 (2000 est.) 135 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
124

over 3,047 m:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
12

1,524 to 2,437 m:
32

914 to 1,523 m:
59

under 914 m:
17 (2000 est.)
total: 50


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 21


1,524 to 2,437 m: 6


under 914 m: 21 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
247

1,524 to 2,437 m:
10

914 to 1,523 m:
97

under 914 m:
140 (2000 est.)
total: 85


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 64 (2003 est.)
Area total:
912,050 sq km

land:
882,050 sq km

water:
30,000 sq km
total: 207,600 sq km


land: 207,600 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of California slightly smaller than Kansas
Background Venezuela was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples. After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place.
Birth rate 20.65 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 10.52 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$26.4 billion

expenditures:
$27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $2.976 billion


expenditures: $3.211 billion, including capital expenditures of $180 million (2003 est.)
Capital Caracas Minsk
Climate tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Coastline 2,800 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 30 December 1999 30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits
Country name conventional long form:
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

conventional short form:
Venezuela

local long form:
Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela

local short form:
Venezuela
conventional long form: Republic of Belarus


conventional short form: Belarus


local long form: Respublika Byelarus'


local short form: none


former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency bolivar (VEB) Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)
Death rate 4.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 14.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $34 billion (2000) $851 million (2001 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Donna J. HRINAK

embassy:
Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080

mailing address:
P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037

telephone:
[58] (2) 975-6411

FAX:
[58] (2) 975-6710
chief of mission: Ambassador George A. KROL


embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002


mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723


telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348


FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Alfredo TORO Hardy

chancery:
1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:
[1] (202) 342-2214

FAX:
[1] (202) 342-6820

consulate(s) general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV


chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604


FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805


consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo (river); maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela 1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security; boundaries with Latvia and Lithuania remain undemarcated despite European Union financial support
Economic aid - recipient $35 million with more assistance likely as a result of flooding (1999) $194.3 million (1995)
Economy - overview The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. Venezuelan officials estimate that GDP grew by 3.2% in 2000. A strong rebound in international oil prices fueled the recovery from the steep recession in 1999. Nevertheless, a weak nonoil sector and capital flight undercut the recovery. The bolivar is widely believed to be overvalued by as much as 50%. The government is still rebuilding after massive flooding and landslides in December 1999 caused an estimated $15 billion to $20 billion in damage. Belarus' economy in 2003 posted 6.1 percent growth and is likely to continue expanding through 2004, albeit at a slower growth rate. The Belarusian economy in 2004 is likely to be hampered by high inflation, persistent trade deficits, and ongoing rocky relations with Russia, Belarus' largest trading partner and energy supplier. Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder. For the time being, Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies.
Electricity - consumption 75.53 billion kWh (1999) 26.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 4.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 81.215 billion kWh (1999) 24.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
32.16%

hydro:
67.84%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m


highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Environment - current issues sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Environment - international agreements party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Marine Dumping
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%
Exchange rates bolivares per US dollar - 699.700 (January 2001), 679.960 (2000), 605.717 (1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996) Belarusian rubles per US dollar - 1,790.92 (2003), 1,920 (2002), 1,390 (2001), 876.75 (2000), 248.795 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Adina BASTIDAS Castillo; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Adina BASTIDAS Castillo; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)

election results:
Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent of vote - 60%

note:
government coalition - Patriotic Pole or Polo Patriotico consists of MVR, MAS, and PPT
chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)


head of government: Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKY (since 19 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since December 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Andrei KOBYAKOV (since December 2003), Vladimir DRAZHIN (since 24 September 2001), Ivan BAMBIZA (since 25 May 2004), Anatoly TYUTYUNOV (since July 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; new election held 9 September 2001; October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits allowing president to run for a third term in September 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president


election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 75.6%, Vladimir GONCHARIK 15.4%
Exports $32.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals; textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Italy (1999) Russia 49.1%, UK 9.4%, Poland 4.4%, Germany 4.2%, Netherlands 4.2% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamention in red
GDP purchasing power parity - $146.2 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $62.56 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
5%

industry:
24%

services:
71% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 11.1%


industry: 36.4%


services: 52.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $6,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.2% (2000 est.) 6.8% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 8 00 N, 66 00 W 53 00 N, 28 00 E
Geography - note on major sea and air routes linking North and South America landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes; the country is geologically well endowed with extensive deposits of granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) 1 (2003 est.)
Highways total:
96,155 km

paved:
32,308 km

unpaved:
63,847 km (1997 est.)
total: 74,385 km


paved: 66,203 km


unpaved: 8,182 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
1.5%

highest 10%:
35.6% (1995)
lowest 10%: 5.1%


highest 10%: 20% (1998)
Illicit drugs illicit producer of opium for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering center; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities
Imports $14.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, metals
Imports - partners US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany, France, Brazil, Canada (1999) Russia 65.8%, Germany 7.1%, Ukraine 3.1% (2003)
Independence 5 July 1811 (from Spain) 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate NA 5% (2003 est.)
Industries petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators
Infant mortality rate 25.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 13.62 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 13% (2000) 28.2% (2003 est.)
International organization participation CAN, Caricom (observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 16 (2000) -
Irrigated land 1,900 sq km (1993 est.) 1,150 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term) Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)
Labor force 9.9 million (1999) 4.8 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.) NA
Land boundaries total:
4,993 km

border countries:
Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
total: 2,900 km


border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 407 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km
Land use arable land:
4%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
20%

forests and woodland:
34%

other:
41% (1993 est.)
arable land: 29.55%


permanent crops: 0.6%


other: 69.85% (2001)
Languages Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects Belarusian, Russian, other
Legal system based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on civil law system
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional; 165 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela

elections:
last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)

election results:
Pro-government: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other parties 7; Opposition: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other parties 13
bicameral Parliament or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by the president, all for 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteliy (110 seats; members elected by universal adult suffrage to serve 4-year terms)


elections: last held 18 March and 1 April 2001 and 17 and 31 October 2004 (bi-election will be held March 2005 to fill one unfilled seat in the Palata Predstaviteliy); international observers widely denounced the October 2004 elections as flawed and undemocratic, based on massive government falsification; pro-Lukashenko candidates won every seat, after many opposition candidates were disqualified for technical reasons


election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Palata Pretsaviteley - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
Life expectancy at birth total population:
73.31 years

male:
70.29 years

female:
76.56 years (2001 est.)
total population: 68.57 years


male: 62.79 years


female: 74.65 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
91.1%

male:
91.8%

female:
90.3% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.6%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
Location Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Map references South America, Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
15 NM

continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
36 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 490,160 GRT/897,694 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 7, cargo 10, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
-
Military branches National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional) Army, Air and Air Defense Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $934 million (FY99) $176.1 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.9% (FY99) 1.4% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
6,524,809 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 2,764,856 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
4,701,062 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 2,164,923 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
246,185 (2001 est.)
males: 86,716 (2004 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 5 July (1811) Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun:
Venezuelan(s)

adjective:
Venezuelan
noun: Belarusian(s)


adjective: Belarusian
Natural hazards subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts NA
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Net migration rate -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km gas 5,223 km; oil 2,443 km; refined products 1,686 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Brave Peoples Alliance or ABP [leader NA]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [leader Luis MIQUILENA]; Homeland for All or PPT [Pablo MEDINA]; Justice First [leader NA]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Felipe MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Dr. Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELASQUEZ]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Jose CURIEL]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Ronier] Pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH]; Social-Sports Party; Opposition parties: Belarusian Popular Front or BNF [Vintsuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democrat Party Narodnaya Gromada or BSDP NG [Nikolay STATKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Party Hromada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH, chairman]; United Civic Party or UCP [Anatol LEBEDKO]; Party of Communists Belarusian or PKB [Sergei KALYAKIN, chairman]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina MATUSEVICH, chairperson]


note: the opposition Belarusian Party of Labor [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV] was liquidated in August 2004, but remains active
Political pressure groups and leaders FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action) NA
Population 23,916,810 (July 2001 est.) 10,310,520 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line 67% (1997 est.) 22% (1995 est.)
Population growth rate 1.56% (2001 est.) -0.11% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon Mazyr
Radio broadcast stations AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998) AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios 10.75 million (1997) -
Railways total:
584 km (248 km privately owned)

standard gauge:
584 km 1.435-m gauge
total: 5,523 km


broad gauge: 5,523 km 1.520-m gauge (875 km electrified) (2003)
Religions nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female


total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
modern and expanding

domestic:
domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services

international:
3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network
general assessment: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company) Beltelcom which is a monopoly


domestic: local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long; local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity - Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus' fiber optics form synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries' systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational


international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations
Telephones - main lines in use 2,600,000.00; however, 3,500,000 were installed (1998) 3,071,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2 million (1998) 1.118 million (2003)
Television broadcast stations 66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997) 47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast generally flat and contains much marshland
Total fertility rate 2.46 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.36 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 14% (2000 est.) 2.1% officially registered unemployed (December 2000); large number of underemployed workers (2003 est.)
Waterways 7,100 km

note:
Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by shallowness) (2003)
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