# The 1992 CIA World Factbook

## Part 9

Book page: https://www.cyberlibrary.org/en/books/the-1992-cia-world-factbook-48/index.md

Railroads: 5,570 km (includes NA km electrified); does not include industrial lines (1990) Highways: 98,200 km total (1990); 66,100 km hard surfaced, 32,100 km earth Inland waterways: NA km Pipelines: NA Ports: none - landlocked Merchant marine: none - landlocked Civil air: NA major transport aircraft Airports: NA Telecommunications: telephone network has 1.7 million lines, 15% of which are switched automatically; Minsk has 450,000 lines; telephone density is approximately 17 per 100 persons; as of 31 January 1990, 721,000 applications from households for telephones were still unsatisfied; international connections to other former Soviet republics are by landline or microwave and to other countries by leased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch

:Belarus Defense Forces

Branches: Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops); CIS Forces (Ground, Air, Air Defense, Strategic Rocket) Manpower availability: males 15-49, NA; NA fit for military service; NA reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

:Belgium Geography

Total area: 30,510 km2 Land area: 30,230 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland Land boundaries: 1,385 km total; France 620 km, Germany 167 km, Luxembourg 148 km, Netherlands 450 km Coastline: 64 km Maritime claims: Continental shelf: not specific Exclusive fishing zone: equidistant line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast) Territorial sea: 12 nm Disputes: none Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast Natural resources: coal, natural gas Land use: arable land 24%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 20%; forest and woodland 21%; other 34%, includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: air and water pollution Note: majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels; crossroads of Western Europe; Brussels is the seat of the EC

:Belgium People

Population: 10,016,623 (July 1992), growth rate 0.3% (1992) Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 8 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 80 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Belgian(s); adjective - Belgian Ethnic divisions: Fleming 55%, Walloon 33%, mixed or other 12% Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, remainder Protestant or other Languages: Flemish (Dutch) 56%, French 32%, German 1%; legally bilingual 11%; divided along ethnic lines Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 99%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) Labor force: 4,126,000; services 63.6%, industry 28%, construction 6.1%, agriculture 2.3% (1988) Organized labor: 70% of labor force

:Belgium Government

Long-form name: Kingdom of Belgium Type: constitutional monarchy Capital: Brussels Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (French - provinces, singular - province; Flemish - provincien, singular - provincie); Antwerpen, Brabant, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands) Constitution: 7 February 1831, last revised 8-9 August 1980; the government is in the process of revising the Constitution with the aim of federalizing the Belgian state Legal system: civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations National holiday: National Day, 21 July (ascension of King Leopold to the throne in 1831) Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper chamber or Senate (Flemish - Senaat, French - Senat) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Representatives (Flemish - Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, French - Chambre des Representants) Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Flemish - Hof van Cassatie, French - Cour de Cassation) Leaders: Chief of State: King BAUDOUIN I (since 17 July 1951); Heir Apparent Prince ALBERT of Liege (brother of the King; born 6 June 1934) Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Luc DEHAENE (since 6 March 1992) Political parties and leaders: Flemish Social Christian (CVP), Herman van ROMPUY, president; Walloon Social Christian (PSC) , Gerard DEPREZ, president; Flemish Socialist (SP), Frank VANDENBROUCKE, president; Walloon Socialist (PS), NA; Flemish Liberal (PVV), Guy VERHOF STADT, president; Walloon Liberal (PRL), Antoine DUQUESNE, president; Francophone Democratic Front (FDF), Georges CLERFAYT, president; Volksunie (VU), Jaak GABRIELS, president; Communist Party (PCB), Louis van GEYT, president; Vlaams Blok (VB), Karel DILLEN, chairman; ROSSEM, Jean Pierre VAN ROSSEM; National Front (FN), Werner van STEEN; Live Differently (AGALEV), Leo COX; Ecologist (ECOLO), NA; other minor parties Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 Elections: Chamber of Representatives: last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (212 total) number of seats by party NA Senate: last held 24 November 1991 (next to be held by November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (106 total) number of seats by party NA

:Belgium Government

Other political or pressure groups: Christian and Socialist Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as the Flemish Action Committee Against Nuclear Weapons and Pax Christi Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG, AsDB, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Juan CASSIERS; Chancery at 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 333-6900; there are Belgian Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York US: Ambassador Bruce S. GELB; Embassy at 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels (mailing address is APO AE 09724); telephone [32] (2) 513-3830; FAX [32] (2) 511-2725; there is a US Consulate General in Antwerp Flag: three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

:Belgium Economy

Overview: This small private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north, although the government is encouraging reinvestment in the southern region of Walloon. With few natural resources Belgium must import essential raw materials, making its economy closely dependent on the state of world markets. Over 70% of trade is with other EC countries. During the period 1988-90, Belgium's economic performance was marked by 4% average growth, moderate inflation, and a substantial external surplus. Growth fell to 1.4% in 1991. GDP: purchasing power equivalent - $171.8 billion, per capita $17,300; real growth rate 1.4% (1991 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (1991 est.) Unemployment rate: 9.4% est. (1991 est.) Budget: revenues $45.0 billion; expenditures $55.3 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1989) Exports: $118 billion (f.o.b., 1990) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union commodities: iron and steel, transportation equipment, tractors, diamonds, petroleum products partners: EC 74%, US 5%, former Communist countries 2% (1989) Imports: $120 billion (c.i.f., 1990) Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union commodities: fuels, grains, chemicals, foodstuffs partners: EC 73%, US 4%, oil-exporting less developed countries 4%, former Communist countries 3% (1989) External debt: $28.8 billion (1990 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.2% (1991 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP Electricity: 17,400,000 kW capacity; 67,100 million kWh produced, 6,767 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: engineering and metal products, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum, coal Agriculture: accounts for 2.3% of GDP; emphasis on livestock production - beef, veal, pork, milk; major crops are sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, and tobacco; net importer of farm products Economic aid: donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $5.8 billion Currency: Belgian franc (plural - francs); 1 Belgian franc (BF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Belgian francs (BF) per US$1 - 32.462 (January 1992), 34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988), 37.334 (1987) Fiscal year: calendar year

:Belgium Communications

Railroads: Belgian National Railways (SNCB) operates 3,667 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned; 2,563 km double track; 1,978 km electrified; 191 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned and operated Highways: 103,396 km total; 1,317 km limited access, divided autoroute; 11,717 km national highway; 1,362 km provincial road; about 38,000 km paved and 51,000 km unpaved rural roads Inland waterways: 2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) Pipelines: petroleum products 1,167 km; crude oil 161 km; natural gas 3,300 km Ports: Antwerp, Brugge, Gent, Oostende, Zeebrugge Merchant marine: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,979 GRT/88,738 DWT; includes 10 cargo, 4 petroleum tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 chemical tanker, 1 bulk, 2 refrigerated cargo Civil air: 47 major transport aircraft Airports: 42 total, 42 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; extensive cable network; limited radio relay network; 4,720,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 39 FM, 32 TV; 5 submarine cables; 2 satellite earth stations - Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and EUTELSAT systems; nationwide mobile phone system

:Belgium Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,550,088; 2,133,483 fit for military service; 66,249 reach military age (19) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.2 billion, 2.7% of GDP (1991)

:Belize Geography

Total area: 22,960 km2 Land area: 22,800 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts Land boundaries: 516 km total; Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm in the north and 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Caye, Belize's territorial sea is 3 miles; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with the Republic of Guatemala'' Disputes: claimed by Guatemala, but boundary negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to February) Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland 44%; other 52%, includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south); deforestation Note: national capital moved 80 km inland from Belize City to Belmopan because of hurricanes; only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

:Belize People

Population: 229,143 (July 1992), growth rate 3.0% (1992) Birth rate: 31 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 4 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 67 years male, 73 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 3.8 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Belizean(s); adjective - Belizean Ethnic divisions: Creole 39.7%, Mestizo 33.1%, Maya 9.5%, Garifuna 7.6%, East Indian 2.1%, other 8.0% Religions: Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 3%, other 3% (1980) Languages: English (official), Spanish, Maya, Garifuna (Carib) Literacy: 91% (male 91%, female 91%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) Labor force: 51,500; agriculture 30.0%, services 16.0%, government 15.4%, commerce 11.2%, manufacturing 10.3%; shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (1985) Organized labor: 12% of labor force; 7 unions currently active

:Belize Government

Long-form name: none Type: parliamentary democracy Capital: Belmopan Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK; formerly British Honduras) Constitution: 21 September 1981 Legal system: English law National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: Supreme Court Leaders: Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Elmira Minita GORDON (since 21 September 1981) Head of Government: Prime Minister George Cadle PRICE (since 4 September 1989) Political parties and leaders: People's United Party (PUP), George PRICE, Florencio MARIN, Said MUSA; United Democratic Party (UDP), Manuel ESQUIVEL, Dean LINDO, Dean BARROW; Belize Popular Party (BPP), Louis SYLVESTRE Suffrage: universal at age 18 Elections: National Assembly: last held 4 September 1989 (next to be held September 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) PUP 15, UDP 13; note - in January 1990 one member expelled from UDP joined PUP, making the seat count PUP 16, UDP 12 Other political or pressure groups: Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR) headed by former PUP minister; United Workers Front Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WMO Diplomatic representation: Ambassador James V. HYDE; Chancery at 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-9636 US: Ambassador Eugene L. SCASSA; Embassy at Gabourel Lane and Hutson Street, Belize City (mailing address is P. O. Box 286, Belize City); telephone [501] (2) 77161; FAX [501] (2) 30802 Flag: on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

:Belize Government

blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto RA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade)

:Belize Economy

Overview: The economy is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming increasing importance. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 75% of export earnings, while sugar, the chief crop, accounts for almost 40% of hard currency earnings. The US, Belize's main trading partner, is assisting in efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification program. GDP: exchange rate conversion - $373 million, per capita $1,635; real growth rate 10% (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1990 est.) Unemployment rate: 12% (1988) Budget: revenues $126.8 million; expenditures $123.1 million, including capital expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.) Exports: $134 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.) commodities: sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and wood products partners: US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987) Imports: $194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 56%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1991) External debt: $142 million (December 1991) Industrial production: growth rate 9.7% (1989); accounts for 16% of GDP Electricity: 34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 395 kWh per capita (1991) Industries: garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages, tourism Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods Illicit drugs: an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to about 50 metric tons in 1991; transshipment point for cocaine Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million Currency: Belizean dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

:Belize Communications

Highways: 2,710 km total; 500 km paved, 1,600 km gravel, 300 km improved earth, and 310 km unimproved earth Inland waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable Ports: Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft include Corozol, Punta Gorda, Big Creek Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,127 GRT/5,885 DWT Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft Airports: 44 total, 34 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: 8,650 telephones; above-average system based on radio relay; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 1 TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

:Belize Defense Forces

Branches: British Forces Belize, Belize Defense Force (including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Volunteer Guard) Manpower availability: males 15-49, 55,333; 33,040 fit for military service; 2,509 reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.8 million, 1.8% of GDP (FY91)

:Benin Geography

Total area: 112,620 km2 Land area: 110,620 km2 Comparative area: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania Land boundaries: 1,989 km total; Burkina 306 km, Niger 266 km, Nigeria 773 km, Togo 644 km Coastline: 121 km Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 200 nm Disputes: none Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 4%; forest and woodland 35%; other 45%, includes irrigated NEGL% Environment: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter; deforestation; desertification Note: recent droughts have severely affected marginal agriculture in north; no natural harbors

:Benin People

Population: 4,997,599 (July 1992), growth rate 3.3% (1992) Birth rate: 49 births/1,000 population (1992) Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1992) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1992) Infant mortality rate: 115 deaths/1,000 live births (1992) Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 53 years female (1992) Total fertility rate: 6.9 children born/woman (1992) Nationality: noun - Beninese (singular and plural); adjective - Beninese Ethnic divisions: African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba); Europeans 5,500 Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Muslim 15%, Christian 15% Languages: French (official); Fon and Yoruba most common vernaculars in south; at least six major tribal languages in north Literacy: 23% (male 32%, female 16%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) Labor force: 1,900,000 (1987); agriculture 60%, transport, commerce, and public services 38%, industry less than 2%; 49% of population of working age (1985) Organized labor: about 75% of wage earners

:Benin Government