1989 Edition

Administrative divisions

8 provinces (oblasti, singular — oblast) and 1 city* (grad); Burgas, Grad Sofiya*, Khaskovo, Lovech, Mikhaylovgrad, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Sofiya, Varna

Capital

Sofia

Climate

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Coastline

354 km

none — landlocked

Communists

932,055 party members (April 1986)

Comparative area

slightly larger than Tennessee

slightly larger than Colorado

Constitution

16 May 1971, effective 18 May 1971

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Velichko Filipov VELICHKOV; Chancery at 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 387-7969; US— Ambassador Sol POLANSKY; Embassy at 1 Alexander Stamboliski Boulevard, Sofia (mailing address is APO New York 09213); telephone [359] (2) 88-48-01 through 05

Disputes

Macedonia question with Greece and Yugoslavia

the disputed international boundary between Burkina and Mali was submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October 1983 and the ICJ issued its final ruling in December 1986, which both sides agreed to accept; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

Elections

Chairman of the State Council— last held 17 June 1986 (next to be held May 1990); results— Todor Zhivkov reelected but was replaced by Petur Toshev Mladenov on 11 November 1989; National Assembly — last held 8 June 1986 (next to be held May 1'990); results — percent of vote by party NA; seats— (400 total) BKP 276, BZNS 99, others 25

Environment

subject to earthquakes, landslides; deforestation; air pollution

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities, population distribution, economy; overgrazing; deforestation

Executive branch

president, chairman of the Council of Ministers, four deputy chairmen of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers

Extended economic zone

200 nm

Flag

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

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red with the national emblem on the hoist side of the white stripe; the emblem contains a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the dates 68 1 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation from Nazi control)

Independence

22 September 1908 (from Ottoman Empire)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Land boundaries

1,881 km total; Greece 494 km, Romania 608 km, Turkey 240 km, Yugoslavia 539 km

3,192 km total; Benin 306 km, Ghana 548 km, Ivory Coast 584 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126km

Land use

34% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 18% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 10% other; includes 11% irrigated

10% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 37% meadows and pastures; 26% forest and woodland; 27% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

Leaders

Chief of State — President Petur Toshev MLADENOV (chairman of the State Council since 11 November 1989; became president on 3 April 1990 when the State Council was abolished); Head of Government — Chairman of the Council of Ministers Andrey LUKANOV (since 3 February 1990); Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Chudomir Asenov ALEKSANDROV (since 8 February 1990); Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Belcho Antonov BELCHEV (since 8 February 1990); Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Konstantin Dimitrov KOSEV (since 8 February 1990); Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nora Krachunova ANANIEVA (since 8 February 1990) Political parties and leaders: Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP), Aleksandur Lilov, chairman; Bulgarian National Agrarian Union (BZNS), Angel Angelov Dimitrov, secretary of Permanent Board; Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, Petur Dentlieu; Green Party; Christian Democrats; Radical Democratic Party; others forming

Legal system

based on civil law system, with Soviet law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the State Council; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Narodno Sobranyie)

Maritime claims

none — landlocked

Member of

CCC, CEMA, FAO, IAEA, IBEC, ICAO, ILO, ILZSG, IMO, IPU, ITC, ITU, IWC— International Wheat Council, UN, UNESCO, UPU, Warsaw Pact WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Anniversary of the Socialist Revolution in Bulgaria, 9 September (1944)

Natural resources

bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, antimony, copper, nickel, bauxite, lead, phosphates, zinc, silver

Note

strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

landlocked

Other political or pressure groups

Union of Democratic Forces (umbrella organization for opposition groups); Ecoglenost, Podkrepa Independent Trade Union, Fatherland Front, Communist Youth Union, Central Council of Trade Unions, National Committee for Defense of Peace, Union of Fighters Against Fascism and Capitalism, Committee of Bulgarian Women, All-National Committee for Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship; Union of Democratic Forces, a coalition of about a dozen dissident groups; numerous regional and national interest groups with various agendas

Suffrage

universal and compulsory at age

Terrain

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and south

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Territorial sea

1 2 nm

Total area

1 10,910 km2; land area: 110,550km2

274,200 km2; land area: 273,800 km2

Total area

dress is P. O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan); telephone [673] (2) 29670

Type

Communist state, but democratic elections planned for 1990

Birth rate

13 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

50 births/ 1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

1 2 deaths/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

17 deaths/ 1,000 population (1990) Burkina (continued)

Ethnic divisions

85.3% Bulgarian, 8.5% Turk, 2.6% Gypsy, 2.5% Macedonian, 0.3% Armenian, 0.2% Russian, 0.6% other

more than SO tribes; principal tribe is Mossi (about 2.5 million); other important groups are Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, and Fulani

Infant mortality rate

13 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

121 deaths/ 1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

4,300,000; 33% industry, 20% agriculture, 47% other (1987)

3,300,000 residents; 30,000 are wage earners; 82% agriculture, 13% industry, 5% commerce, services, and government; 20% of male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (1984); 44% of population of working age (1985)

Language

Bulgarian; secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown

French (official); tribal languages belong to Sudanic family, spoken by 90% of the population

Life expectancy at birth

69 years male, 76 years female (1990) Bulgaria (continued)

5 1 years male, 52 years female (1990)

Literacy

95% (est.)

13.2%

Nationality

noun — Bulgarian(s); adjective— Bulgarian

noun — Burkinabe; adjective — Burkinabe

Net migration rate

— 4 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

— 3 migrants/ 1 ,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

all workers are members of the Central Council of Trade Unions (CCTU); Pod Krepa (Support), an independent trade union, legally registered in January 1990

four principal trade union groups represent less than 1% of population

Population

8,933,544 (July 1990), growth rate -0.3% (1990)

9,077,828 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)

Religion

religious background of population is 85% Bulgarian Orthodox, 13% Muslim, 0.8% Jewish, 0.7% Roman Catholic, 0.5% Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other

65% indigenous beliefs, about 25% Muslim, 10% Christian (mainly Roman Catholic)

Total fertility rate

1 .9 children born/ woman (1990)

7.2 children born/ woman (1990)

Administrative divisions

30 provinces; Bam, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komoe, Kossi, Kouritenga, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Naouri, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Yatenga, Zoundweogo

Capital

Ouagadougou

Communists

small Communist party front group; some sympathizers

Constitution

none; constitution of 27 November 1977 was abolished following coup of 25 November 1980

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Paul Desire KABORE; Chancery at 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-5577 or 6895; US— Ambassador David H. SHINN; Embassy at Avenue Raoul Follerau, Ouagadougou (mailing address is B. P. 35, Ouagadougou); telephone [226] 3067-23 through 25

Elections

the National Assembly was dissolved 25 November 1980 and no elections are scheduled

Executive branch

chairman of the Popular Front, Council of Ministers

Flag

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular panAfrican colors of Ethiopia

Independence

5 August 1 960 (from France; formerly Upper Volta)

Judicial branch

Appeals Court

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government— Chairman of the Popular Front Captain Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987) Political parties and leaders: all political parties banned following November 1980 coup

Legal system

based on French civil law system and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale) was dissolved on 25 November 1980

Long-form name

People's Republic of

Burkina Faso

Member of

ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, EIB (associate). Entente, FAO, GATT, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB — Islamic Development Bank, I FAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, NAM, Niger River Commission, OAU, OCAM, QIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU. WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Anniversary of the Revolution, 4 August (1983)

Other political or pressure groups

committees for the defense of the revolution, watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

Suffrage

none

Type

military; established by coup on 4 August 1983

Agriculture

imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops and livestock include rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs

accounts for 1 5% of GNP; climate and soil conditions support livestock raising and the growing of various grain crops, oilseeds, vegetables, fruits and tobacco; more than one-third of the arable land devoted to grain; world's fourth-largest tobacco exporter; surplus food producer

cash crops — peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, cotton; food crops — sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock; not self-sufficient in food grains

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6 million; Western (nonUS) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $143.7 million

donor — SI. 6 billion in bilateral aid to non-Communist less developed countries (1956-88)

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $271 million; Western (nonUS) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.5 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $94 million

Budget

revenues $1.2 billion (1987); expenditures $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1989 est.)

revenues $26 billion; expenditures $28 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (1988)

revenues S422 million; expenditures $516 million, including capital expenditures of $25 million (1987)

Currency

Bruneian dollar (plural — dollars); 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

lev (plural — leva); 1 lev (Lv) = 100 stotinki

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural — francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Electricity

310,000 kW capacity; 890 million kWh produced, 2,580 kWh per capita (1989)

11,500,000 kW capacity; 45,000 million kWh produced, 5,000 kWh per capita (1989)

121,000 kW capacity; 320 million kWh produced, 37 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1— 1.8895 (January 1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987), 2.1774 (1986), 2.2002 (1985); note— the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

leva (Lv) per US$1 — 0.84 (1989), 0.82 (1988), 0.90 (1987), 0.95 (1986), 1.03(1985) Fiscal yean calendar year

CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1— 284.55 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30(1986), 449.26(1985)

Exports

$2.07 billion (f.o.b., 1987); commodities— crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products; partners — Japan 55% (1986)

$20.3 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— machinery and equipment 60.5%; agricultural products 14.7%; manufactured consumer goods 10.6%; fuels, minerals, raw materials, and metals 8.5%; other 5.7%; partners — Socialist countries 82.5% (USSR 61%, GDR 5.5%, Czechoslovakia 4.9%); developed countries 6.8% (FRG 1 .2%, Greece 1 .0%); less developed countries 10.7% (Libya 3.5%, Iraq 2.9%)

$249 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— oilseeds, cotton, live animals, gold; partners—EC 42% (France 30%, other 12%), Taiwan 17%, Ivory Coast 15% (1985)

External debt

none

$10 billion (1989)

$969 million (December 1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

calendar year

GDP

$3.3 billion, per capita $9,600; real growth rate 2.5% (1989 est.)

$1.43 billion, per capita $170; real growth rate 7.7% (1988)

GNP

$51.2 billion, per capita $5,710; real growth rate -0.1% (1989 est.)

Imports

$800 million (c.i.f., 1987); commodities— machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; food, beverages, tobacco; consumer goods; partners — Singapore 31%, US 20%, Japan 6% (1986)

$21.0 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— fuels, minerals, and raw materials 45.2%; machinery and equipment 39.8%; manufactured consumer goods 4.6%; agricultural products 3.8%; other Burkina 6.6%; partners — Socialist countries 80.5% (USSR 57.5%, GDR 5.7%), developed countries 15.1% (FRG 4.8%, Austria 1.6%); less developed countries 4.4% (Libya 1.0%, Brazil 0.9%)

$591 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities— grain, dairy products, petroleum, machinery; partners — EC 37% (France 23%, other 14%), Africa 31%, US 15% (1985)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

growth rate 0.9% (1988)

growth rate 7.1% (1985)

Industries

petroleum, liquefied natural gas, construction

food processing, machine and metal building, electronics, chemicals

agricultural processing plants; brewery, cement, and brick plants; a few other small consumer goods enterprises

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (1989 est.)

12% (1989)

4.3% (1988)

Overview

The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for more than 70% of GDP. Per capita GDP of $9,600 is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

Growth in the sluggish Bulgarian economy fell to the 2% annual level in the 1980s, and by 1989 Sofia's foreign debt had skyrocketed to $10 billion — giv ing a debt service ratio of more than 40% of hard currency earnings. The post-Zhivkov regime faces major problems of renovating an aging industrial plant, keeping abreast of rapidly unfolding technological developments, investing in additional energy capacity (the portion of electric power from nuclear energy reached 37% in 1988), and motivating workers, in part by giving them a share in the earnings of their enterprises. A major decree of January 1 989 summarized and extended the government's economic restructuring efforts, which include a partial decentralization of controls over production decisions and foreign trade. The new regime promises more extensive reforms and eventually a market economy. But the ruling group cannot (so far) bring itself to give up ultimate control over economic affairs exercised through the vertical Party/ ministerial command structure. Reforms have not led to improved economic performance, in particular the provision of more and better consumer goods. A further blow to the economy was the exodus of 310,000 ethnic Turks in mid1989, which caused temporary shortages of skilled labor in glassware, aluminum, and other industrial plants and in tobacco fields.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina has a high population density, few natural resources, and relatively infertile soil. Economic development is hindered by a poor communications network within a landlocked country. Agriculture provides about 40% of GDP and is entirely of a subsistence nature. Industry, dominated by unprofitable governmentcontrolled corporations, accounted for 13% of GDP in 1985.

Unemployment

2.5%, shortage of skilled labor (1989 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

NA%

Airports

2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runway over 3,659 m; 1 with runway 1,406 m

380 total, 380 usable; about 120 with permanent-surface runways; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

50 total, 43 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

Branches

Royal Brunei Armed Forces, including air wing, navy, and ground forces; British Gurkha Battalion; Royal Brunei Police; Gurkha Reserve Unit

Bulgarian People's Army, Frontier Troops, Air and Air Defense Forces, Bulgarian Navy

Army, Air Force Military manpower males 15-49, 1,775,143; 904,552 fit for military service; no conscription

Civil air

4 major transport aircraft (3 Boeing 757-200, 1 Boeing 737-200)

65 major transport aircraft

2 major transport aircraft

Defense expenditures

$197.6 million, 17% of central government budget (FY86) lZ5km Set ref lonil m«p V

1.6051 billion leva (1989); note — conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the official administratively set exchange rate would produce misleading results Ouahtgouy* Koudougou, .OUAGADOUGOU Bobo-DtoulaMO Boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative Sef region*! map VII

3.1% of GDP (1987)

Highways

1,090 km total; 370 km paved (bituminous treated) and another 52 km under construction, 720 km gravel or unimproved

37,397 km total; 33,352 km hard surface (including 228 km superhighways); 4,045 km earth roads (1986)

16,500 km total; 1,300 km paved, 7,400 km improved, 7,800 km unimproved (1985)

Inland waterways

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1 .2 meters

470 km (1986)

Merchant marine

7 liquefied gas carriers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/ 340,635 DWT

108 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 1 ,240,204 GRT/ 1,872,723 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 32 cargo, 2 container, 1 passengercargo training, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 16 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 railcar carriers, 48 bulk

Military manpower

males 15-49, 104,398; 60,242 fit for military service; 3,106 reach military age (18) annually

males 15-49, 2,177,404; 1,823,111 fit for military service; 66,744 reach military age (19) annually

Pipelines

crude oil, 1 35 km; refined products, 418 km; natural gas, 920 km

crude, 193 km; refined product, 418 km; natural gas, 1,400 km (1986)

Ports

Kuala Belait, Muara

Burgas, Varna, Varna West; river ports are Ruse, Vidin, and Lorn on the Danube

Railroads

13 km 0.6 10-meter narrowgauge private line

4,294 km total, all government owned (1986); 4,049 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 245 km narrow gauge; 908 km double track; 2,342 km electrified

620 km total; 520 km Ouagadougou to Ivory Coast border and 100 km Ouagadougou to Kaya; all 1 .00-meter gauge and single track

Telecommunications

service throughout country is adequate for present needs; international service good to adjacent Malaysia; radiobroadcast coverage good; 33,000 telephones (1987); stations — 4 AM/ FM, 1 TV; 74,000 radio receivers (1987); satellite earth stations — 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT Defense Forces

stations — 15 AM, 16 FM, 13 TV; 1 Soviet TV relay; 2,100,000 TV sets; 2,100,000 radio receivers; at least 1 satellite earth station Defense Forces

all services only fair; radio relay, wire, and radio communication stations in use; 13,900 telephones; stations— 2 AM, 2 FM, 2 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station Defense Forces