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Compare Algeria (2001) - Laos (2003)

Compare Algeria (2001) z Laos (2003)

 Algeria (2001)Laos (2003)
 AlgeriaLaos
Administrative divisions 48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Age structure 0-14 years:
34.21% (male 5,528,755; female 5,328,083)

15-64 years:
61.72% (male 9,901,319; female 9,687,449)

65 years and over:
4.07% (male 594,973; female 695,474) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,255,172; female 1,242,823)


15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,592,697; female 1,639,431)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,192; female 104,230) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 135 (2000 est.) 51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
51

over 3,047 m:
9

2,438 to 3,047 m:
24

1,524 to 2,437 m:
12

914 to 1,523 m:
5

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
84

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
23

914 to 1,523 m:
40

under 914 m:
18 (2000 est.)
total: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Area total:
2,381,740 sq km

land:
2,381,740 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas slightly larger than Utah
Background After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in 1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) party in December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections. The FIS response has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state apparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties. FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded itself in January 2000 and many armed militants surrendered under an amnesty program designed to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, residual fighting continues. Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the petroleum-based economy. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Birth rate 22.76 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$15.8 billion

expenditures:
$16 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.3 billion (2001 est.)
revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
Capital Algiers Vientiane
Climate arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 998 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996; note - referendum approving the revisions of 28 November 1996 was signed into law 7 December 1996 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form:
People's Democratic Republic of Algeria

conventional short form:
Algeria

local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah

local short form:
Al Jaza'ir
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Algerian dinar (DZD) kip (LAK)
Death rate 5.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $25 billion (2000 est.) $2.53 billion (1999)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON

embassy:
4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers

mailing address:
B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers

telephone:
[213] (21) 69-11-86, 69-12-55, 69-18-54, 69-38-75

FAX:
[213] (21) 69-39-79
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. HARTWICK


embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane


mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546


telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585


FAX: [856] (21) 212584
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY

chancery:
2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-2800

FAX:
[1] (202) 667-2174
chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay


chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416


FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Disputes - international part of southeastern region claimed by Libya; Algeria supports exiled West Saharan Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is nearing completion, but with Thailand several areas including Mekong River islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and Vietnam over squatters
Economic aid - recipient $100 million (1999 est.) $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second largest gas exporter; it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves. Algiers' efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world stalled in 1992 as the country became embroiled in political turmoil. Algeria's financial and economic indicators improved during the mid-1990s, in part because of policy reforms supported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris Club. Algeria's finances in 2000 benefited from the spike in oil prices and the government's tight fiscal policy, leading to a large increase in the trade surplus, the near tripling of foreign exchange reserves, and reduction in foreign debt. The government continues efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, but has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food processing and mining.
Electricity - consumption 21.613 billion kWh (1999) 824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 307 million kWh (1999) 400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 330 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 23.215 billion kWh (1999) 1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
99.14%

hydro:
0.86%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Chott Melrhir -40 m

highest point:
Tahat 3,003 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Nuclear Test Ban
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Algerian dinars per US dollar - 74,813 (January 2001), 75.260 (2000), 66.574 (1999), 58.739 (1998), 57.707 (1997), 54.749 (1996) kips per US dollar - 7,562 (2002), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.02 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Ali BENFLIS (since 26 August 2000)

cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 April 1999 (next to be held NA April 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA over 70%; note - his six opposing candidates withdrew on the eve of the election citing electoral fraud
chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27 March 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27 March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since NA May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March 2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly


elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term


election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%
Exports $19.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97% wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners Italy 22%, US 15%, France 12%, Spain 11%, Brazil 8%, Netherlands 5% (1999) Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion) three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
GDP purchasing power parity - $171 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
11%

industry:
37%

services:
52% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 5.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 28 00 N, 3 00 E 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan) landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
104,000 km

paved:
71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)

unpaved:
32,344 km (1996 est.)
total: 21,716 km


paved: 9,664 km


unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.8%

highest 10%:
26.8% (1995)
lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Illicit drugs - world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimated potential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from 2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis; growing methamphetamine abuse problem
Imports $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities capital goods, food and beverages, consumer goods machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners France 30%, Italy 9%, Germany 7%, Spain 6%, US 5%, Turkey 5% (1999) Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002)
Independence 5 July 1962 (from France) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 7% (1999 est.) 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate 40.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 88.94 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 99.1 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 78.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2000 est.) 10% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 5,550 sq km (1993 est.) 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee)
Labor force 9.1 million (2000 est.) 2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation government 29%, agriculture 25%, construction and public works 15%, industry 11%, other 20% (1996 est.) agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total:
6,343 km

border countries:
Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
total: 5,083 km


border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Land use arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
13%

forests and woodland:
2%

other:
82% (1993 est.)
arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (380 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every three years)

elections:
National People's Assembly - last held 5 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000 (next to be held NA 2003)

election results:
National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - RND 40.8%, MSP 18.2%, FLN 16.8%, Nahda Movement 8.9%, FFS 5%, RCD 5%, PT 1.1%, Progressive Republican Party 0.8%, Union for Democracy and Liberty 0.3%, Social Liberal Party 0.3%, independents 2.8%; seats by party - RND 155, MSP 69, FLN 64, Nahda Movement 34, FFS 19, RCD 19, PT 4, Progressive Republican Party 3, Union for Democracy and Liberty 1, Social Liberal Party 1, independents 11; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 79, FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president, party breakdown NA)
unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)


elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109
Life expectancy at birth total population:
69.95 years

male:
68.6 years

female:
71.34 years (2001 est.)
total population: 54.3 years


male: 52.34 years


female: 56.33 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
61.6%

male:
73.9%

female:
49% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 52.8%


male: 67.5%


female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
32-52 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 896,911 GRT/1,047,991 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 9, cargo 25, chemical tanker 7, liquefied gas 10, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (2000 est.)
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches National Popular Army, Navy, Air Force, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1.87 billion (FY99) $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.1% (FY99) 4.2% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
8,794,622 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
5,383,770 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 19 years of age 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
388,939 (2001 est.)
males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
National holiday Revolution Day, 1 November (1954) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun:
Algerian(s)

adjective:
Algerian
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mud slides floods, droughts
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 6,612 km; petroleum products 298 km; natural gas 2,948 km refined products 540 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI (imprisoned), Rabeh KEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Movement of a Peaceful Society or MSP [Mahfoud NAHNAH, chairman]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Boualem BENHAMOUDA, secretary general]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Lahbib ADAMI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exile in Switzerland)]; Union for Democracy and Liberty [Mouley BOUKHALAFA]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]

note:
a party law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 31,736,053 (July 2001 est.) 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 23% (1999 est.) 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 1.71% (2001 est.) 2.45% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene, Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes none
Radio broadcast stations AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios 7.1 million (1997) -
Railways total:
4,820 km

standard gauge:
3,664 km 1.435-m gauge (301 km electrified; 215 km double track)

narrow gauge:
1,156 km 1.055-m gauge (1996)
0 km
Religions Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1% Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.86 male(s)/female

total population:
1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines has been increased in the last few years to a little more than 2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of the infrastructure is outdated and inefficient

domestic:
good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned)

international:
5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat (1998)
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving with over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas


domestic: radiotelephone communications


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 2.3 million (1998) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 33,500 (1999) 4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995) 4 (1999)
Terrain mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 2.72 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 30% (1999 est.) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways none 4,587 km approximately


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
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