AUSTRIA (Continued)
Major trade partners: (1980) 37.1% West Germany, 9.5% Italy, 6.2% Switzerland, 3.5% UK, 2.8% US; 59.8% EC; 10.1% Eastern Europe
Aid: (1970-79) bilateral economic aid authorized (ODA and OOF), $670 million
Budget: expenditures, $23.18 billion; revenues, $19.45 billion; deficit, $3.73 billion (1982)
Monetary conversion rate: 15.89 shillings=US$1, 1981 average
Fiscal year: calendar year
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 6,517 km total; 5.877 km government owned; 5,397 km standard gauge (1.435 m) of which 2,730 km electrified and 1,333 km double tracked; 480 km narrow gauge (0.760 m) of which 91 km electrified; 640 km privately owned (1.435-and 1.000-meter gauge)
Highways: approximately 33,600 km total national classified network, including 10,400 km federal and 23,200 km provincial roads; about 20,800 km paved (bituminous, concrete, stone block) and 12,800 km unpaved (gravel, crushed stone, stabilized soil); additional 60,800 km communal roads (mostly gravel, crushed stone, earth) and 1,012 km autobahn
Inland waterways: 427 km
Ports: 2 major river (Vienna, Linz)
Pipelines: 554 km crude oil; 2,611 km natural gas; 171 km refined products
Civil air: 25 major transport aircraft, including 1 leased in
Airfields: 55 total, 53 usable; 16 with permanent-surface runways; 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: highly developed and efficient; extensive TV and radiobroadcast systems with 160 AM, 450 FM, and 780 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT station; 2.81 million telephones (37.5 per 100 popl.)
DEFENSE FORCES
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,878,000; 1,590,000 fit for military service; 65,000 reach military age (19) annually
Military budget: for fiscal year ending 31 December 1982, $782 million; about 3.6% of the proposed federal budget
THE BAHAMAS
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| (See reference map III) |
LAND
111,396 km2; 1% cultivated, 29% forested, 70% built on, wasteland, and other
WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm (fishing 200 nm)
Coastline: 3,542 km (New Providence Island, 76 km)
PEOPLE
Population: 237,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 2.8%
Nationality: noun—Bahamian(s); adjective—Bahamian
Ethnic divisions: 80% Negro, 10% white, 10% mixed
Religion: Baptists 29%, Church of England 23%, Roman Catholic 23%, smaller groups of other Protestant, Greek Orthodox, and Jews
Language: English
Labor force: 101,000 (1979), 25% organized; 19% unemployment (1979)
GOVERNMENT
Official name: The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Type: independent commonwealth since July 1973, recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State
Capital: Nassau (New Providence Island)
Legal system: based on English law
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 July
Branches: bicameral legislature (appointed Senate, elected House); executive (Prime Minister and Cabinet); judiciary Government leaders: Prime Minister Lynden O. PINDLING; Governor General Gerald C. CASH
Suffrage: universal over age 18; registered voters (July 1977) 73,309
Elections: House of Assembly (19 July 1977); next election due constitutionally in five years
