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Compare American Samoa (2008) - Laos (2003)

Compare American Samoa (2008) z Laos (2003)

 American Samoa (2008)Laos (2003)
 American SamoaLaos
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western 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: 33.6% (male 10,049/female 9,345)


15-64 years: 63.5% (male 19,041/female 17,556)


65 years and over: 2.9% (male 606/female 1,066) (2007 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 bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 3 (2007) 51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
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: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2006)
total: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Area total: 199 sq km


land: 199 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Washington, DC slightly larger than Utah
Background Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year. 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 21.83 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)


expenditures: $127 million (FY96/97)
revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
Capital name: Pago Pago


geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W


time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Vientiane
Climate tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 116 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa


conventional short form: American Samoa


abbreviation: AS
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency - kip (LAK)
Death rate 3.24 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $2.53 billion (1999)
Dependency status unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) 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 none (territory of the US) 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 Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its 2006 draft constitution 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 important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994 $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview American Samoa has a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US with which American Samoa conducts most of its commerce. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector. 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 167.4 million kWh (2005) 824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 180 million kWh (2005) 1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines 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, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups native Pacific islander 92.9%, Asian 2.9%, white 1.2%, mixed 2.8%, other 0.2% (2000 census) 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 the US dollar is used 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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)


cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors


elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)


election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
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 0 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities canned tuna 93% (2004 est.) wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan 11.2%, NZ 7.1% (2006) Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 October - 30 September
Flag description blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club 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 - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3% (2003) 5.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 14 20 S, 170 00 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Highways - total: 21,716 km


paved: 9,664 km


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


highest 10%: NA%
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 3,807 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.) machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners Australia 66%, Samoa 13.8%, NZ 10.8% (2006) Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002)
Independence none (territory of the US) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 8.88 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.47 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 8.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 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) NA% 10% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU 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) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior) 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 17,630 (2005) 2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 34%


industry: 33%


services: 33% (1990)
agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries 0 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: 10%


permanent crops: 15%


other: 75% (2005)
arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Languages Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%


note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system NA based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice
Legislative branch bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; to serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)


election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18


note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
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: 76.25 years


male: 72.69 years


female: 80.02 years (2007 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: 97%


male: 98%


female: 97% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 52.8%


male: 67.5%


female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Oceania Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine - total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US -
Military branches - Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 4.2% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
National holiday Flag Day, 17 April (1900) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)


adjective: American Samoan
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards typhoons common from December to March floods, droughts
Natural resources pumice, pumicite timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -21.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO] 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 57,663 (July 2007 est.) 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate -0.262% (2007 est.) 2.45% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors - none
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30% Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.075 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.085 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.568 male(s)/female


total population: 1.062 male(s)/female (2007 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: NA


domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station


international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
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 10,400 (2004) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,200 (2004) 4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2006) 4 (1999)
Terrain five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island) mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 3.07 children born/woman (2007 est.) 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 29.8% (2005) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways - 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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