18. Geography: In 2004 the estimated population of this country was 7,517,973; it had an average life expectancy of 71.75 years and a literacy rate of 98.6% of those over age 15. (The US rate is 97%, for comparison.)
From Quiz "B" Ready to Wear Your Thinking Cap!
Answer:
Bulgaria
In 2004, Bangladesh had a population of 141,340,476 (estimated). Life expectancy was not high, at 61.71 years, and only 43.1% of the population over age 15 could read and write. Its capital is Dhaka. A large proportion of the population works in agriculture, and rice is the main crop produced here. The economy is hampered by climate: a third of the land is subject to annual flooding, being largely on a low plain. Flooding caused over 20 million people in Bangladesh to lose their homes in August 2004.
Again in 2004, Belgium had a population of 10,348,276, an average life expectancy of 78.44 years, and 98% of the population over age 15 were literate. Its government is a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch, with King Albert II ascending to the throne in 1993. Its capital, Brussels, also is the seat of both the European Union and NATO.
Bolivia, located west of Brazil, had a 2004 population of 8,724,156 (estimated), an average life expectancy of 65.14 years, and a literacy rate of 87.2% of those age 15 and over. La Paz is the seat of government and Sucre is its legal capital. Once one of the poorest nations in South America, it has made considerable progress with its economy, but is still a major source of illicit drugs, particularly coca. This landlocked country has a navy of some 3800 members, including 2000 marines.
Bulgaria has 28 provinces, with its capital at Sofia. A former adjunct of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria is now (2005) working towards entry into the European Union. It is still recovering from major economic problems in 1996 which led to the end of the ruling socialist government. Unemployment is at 14.3%; nevertheless, in 2002 there were 2,597,500 cell phones in use in the country. This mostly mountainous country borders the Black Sea, and lies between Romania, Turkey and Greece.