Founded in 1963, the territory of Pravana, a small and isolated region of seemingly little import was purchased by a small but rising corporation known as BYD in the region of Rhydin. In 1965 it became an independent corporate state. It lost more than half of its territory to a forceful annexation by the nation of Ser Di Haruk in 1969 but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1977.
This small, stable, high-income economy, benefiting from its proximity to Canini, and Ser Di Haruk, has historically featured solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now accounts for about 28% of GDP, has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have extensive foreign dealings, but the Incorporated States of the BYD Corporations has lost some of its advantages as a tax haven because of recent economy issues worldwide.
The economy depends on foreign and cross-border workers for about 60% of its labor force. BYD ICS, like all UFA members, suffered from the global economic crisis that began in late 2008, but unemployment has trended below the average. Following strong expansion from 2004 to 2007, BYD ICS's economy contracted 3.6% in 2009, but rebounded in 2010-11. The country continues to enjoy an extraordinarily high standard of living - GDP per capita ranks among the highest in the world, and is the highest in the euro zone.
Turmoil in the world financial markets and lower global demand during 2008-09 prompted the government to inject capital into the banking sector and implement stimulus measures to boost the economy. Government stimulus measures and support for the banking sector, however, led to a 5% government budget deficit in 2009. Nevertheless, the deficit was cut to 1.1% in 2011. Even during the financial crisis and recovery, BYD ICS retained the highest current account surplus as a share of GDP in the eco-block zone, owing largely to their strength in financial services. Public debt remains among the lowest of the region although it has more than doubled since 2007 as percentage of GDP.
Country name:
Conventional long form: The Incorporate States of The BYD Corporation
Conventional short form: BYD ICS
Local long form: BYD Corporate States
Local short form: BYD Corp
Government type: Corporate Directorship
Identification of Government type: A political culture and a form of corporatism whose adherents hold that the corporate group is the basis of society and the state.
Capital: Menel
Geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 E
Time difference: UTC+1
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Wen Dol, Erulissë
Independence: 1977 (from Ser Di Haruk)
National holiday: Corporate Independence Day (Indepenence from Ser Di Haruk and formation of the corporate empire of BYD)
Legal system: Civil law system
Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal and compulsory
Location: Western Rhydin, between Ser Di Haruk and Canini
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Area total: 2,586 sq km
Land: 2,586 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: Slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries total: 359 km
Border countries: Canini 148 km, Ser Di Haruk 73 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: None (landlocked)
Climate: Modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: Mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to flood plain in the southeast
Elevation lowest point: Ada River 133 m
Elevation highest point: Talagand 559 m
Natural resources: Iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Arable land: 27.42%
Permanent crops: 0.69%
Other: 71.89% (2005)
Irrigated land: NA
Total renewable water resources: 1.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%)
Per capita: 121 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment Issues: Air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment international agreements: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography note: Landlocked
Nationality:
Noun: Bydians(s)
Adjective: BYD
Ethnic groups:
Bydians 82.2%, Harukian 13.3%, Rhydinian 4.5%
Languages:
BYD Corporate (national language), BYD External Corporate (administrative international language)
Population:
709,074 (Feb 2012 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 47,274/female 44,366)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 169,343/female 167,211)
65 years and over: 14.9% (male 31,086/female 44,022) (2011 est.)
Median age:
Male: 38.4 years
Female: 40.4 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate: 135% (2012 est.)
Birth rate: 11.7 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate: 8.5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Sex ratio:
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality rate: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
Infant mortality rate:
Male: 4.41 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 79.75 years
Male: 76.5 years
Female: 83.21 years (2012 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Health expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2009)
Physicians density: 2.862 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
Hospital bed density: 5.57 beds/1,000 population (2008)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: Fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: Fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
Urban population: 85% of total population (2010)
Rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities - population:
Menel (capital) 290,000 (2009)
Wen Dol 140,000 (2009)
Anor 124,709 (2009)
Unque 83,000 (2009)
Estel 54,000 (2009)
Erulissë 8,459 (2010)
Aglar Anna 8,906 (2010)
Drinking water source:
Urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access:
Urban: 100% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 100% of population (2008)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 13 years (2006)
Unemployment, youth ages 13-19:
Total: 17.2%
Male: 16.7%
Female: 17.8% (2009)
