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Compare Antigua and Barbuda (2008) - Laos (2001)

Compare Antigua and Barbuda (2008) z Laos (2001)

 Antigua and Barbuda (2008)Laos (2001)
 Antigua and BarbudaLaos
Administrative divisions 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip 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: 27.3% (male 9,647/female 9,306)


15-64 years: 69% (male 24,137/female 23,801)


65 years and over: 3.7% (male 965/female 1,625) (2007 est.)
0-14 years:
42.75% (male 1,212,577; female 1,196,795)

15-64 years:
53.94% (male 1,494,927; female 1,544,851)

65 years and over:
3.31% (male 85,632; female 101,185) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 3 (2007) 51 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total:
8

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5

914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total:
43

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
17

under 914 m:
25 (2000 est.)
Area total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)


land: 442.6 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km
total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Utah
Background The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak Indians populated the islands when COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. 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, an easing of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Birth rate 16.62 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $123.7 million


expenditures: $145.9 million (2000 est.)
revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
Capital name: Saint John's


geographic coordinates: 17 07 N, 61 51 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Vientiane
Climate tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 153 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 1 November 1981 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
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 5.31 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $359.8 million (June 2006) $2.46 billion (1998 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Karen Brevard STEWART

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 Deborah Mae LOVELL


chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016


telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122


FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225


consulate(s) general: Miami
chief of mission:
Ambassador VANG Rattanavong

chancery:
2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 332-6416

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-4923
Disputes - international none parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite
Economic aid - recipient $7.23 million (2005) $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview Antigua has a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to most other Caribbean nations. It has experienced solid growth since 2003, driven by a construction boom in hotels and housing that which should wind down in 2008. Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for slightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals. Since taking office in 2004, the SPENCER government has adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program, but will continue to be saddled by its debt burden with a debt-to-GDP ratio exceeding 100%. 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% during 1988-97. Reform efforts subsequently slowed, and GDP growth dropped an average of 3 percentage points. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it was damaged by the regional financial crisis beginning in 1997. Government mismanagement deepened the crisis, and from June 1997 to June 1999 the Lao kip lost 87% of its value. Laos' foreign exchange problems peaked in September 1999 when the kip fell from 3,500 kip to the dollar to 9,000 kip to the dollar in a matter of weeks. Now that the currency has stabilized, however, the government seems content to let the current situation persist, despite limited government revenue and foreign exchange reserves. A landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, Laos 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. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.
Electricity - consumption 97.65 million kWh (2005) 173.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 705 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 142 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 105 million kWh (2005) 792 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
2.78%

hydro:
97.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
lowest point:
Mekong River 70 m

highest point:
Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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 black 91%, mixed 4.4%, white 1.7%, other 2.9% (2001 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 East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)


note: fixed rate since 1976
kips per US dollar - 7,578.00 (December 2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997), 921.02 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Louisse LAKE-TACK (since 17 July 2007)


head of government: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
chief of state:
President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since NA March 2001)

head of government:
Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since NA March 2001); Deputy Prime Ministers THONGLOUN Sisolit (since NA March 2001), 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 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); 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 177.7 bbl/day (2004) $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8% wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore 5.8%, UK 4.9% (2006) Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 October - 30 September
Flag description red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band 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 - $9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3.8%


industry: 22%


services: 74.3% (2002 est.)
agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.8% (2007 est.) 4% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 17 03 N, 61 48 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor landlocked
Highways - total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

unpaved:
10,640 km (1991)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%:
4.2%

highest 10%:
26.4% (1992)
Illicit drugs considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1999 - 21,800 hectares, a 16% decrease over 1998; estimated potential production in 1999 - 140 metric tons, about the same as in 1998); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis
Imports 4,215 bbl/day (2004) $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports - partners US 21.1%, China 16.4%, Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.7%, Spain 6.5% (2006) Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong
Independence 1 November 1981 (from UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances) tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 21.99 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 14.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2007 est.) 33% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), 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 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

note:
rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction); member Caribbean Court of Justice 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 30,000 (1991) 1 million - 1.5 million
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 7%


industry: 11%


services: 82% (1983)
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: 18.18%


permanent crops: 4.55%


other: 77.27% (2005)
arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
Languages English (official), local dialects Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on English common law based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17 seats; members appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ALP 4, UPP 13
unicameral National Assembly (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - by presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99)

elections:
last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99
Life expectancy at birth total population: 72.42 years


male: 70.03 years


female: 74.94 years (2007 est.)
total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

female:
55.44 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling


total population: 85.8%


male: NA%


female: NA% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
57%

male:
70%

female:
44% (1999 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 1,059 ships (1000 GRT or over) 8,158,597 GRT/10,757,767 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 46, cargo 612, carrier 4, chemical tanker 6, container 350, liquefied gas 11, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 20


foreign-owned: 1,021 (Australia 1, Colombia 1, Cyprus 2, Denmark 15, Estonia 15, France 1, Germany 891, Greece 3, Iceland 9, Latvia 9, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 6, Netherlands 19, Norway 7, NZ 2, Poland 2, Russia 5, Slovenia 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 5, Turkey 7, UK 4, US 8, Vietnam 1) (2007)
total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2006) Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA (2006) 4.2% (FY96/97)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
1,319,537 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
710,627 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
64,437 (2001 est.)
National holiday Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)


adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts floods, droughts, and blight
Natural resources NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 136 km
Political parties and leaders Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; Barbuda People's Movement for Change [Arthur NIBBS]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three parties - Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive Labor Movement or PLM, United National Democratic Party or UNDP) Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL] noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 69,481 (July 2007 est.) 5,635,967 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 46.1% (1993 est.)
Population growth rate 0.527% (2007 est.) 2.48% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - none
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 730,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Anglican 25.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.3%, Pentecostal 10.6%, Moravian 10.5%, Roman Catholic 10.4%, Methodist 7.9%, Baptist 4.9%, Church of God 4.5%, other Christian 5.4%, other 2%, none or unspecified 5.8% (2001 census) Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.037 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.014 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.594 male(s)/female


total population: 1 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: good automatic telephone system


international: country code - 1-268; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 2; tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe (2007)
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 40,000 (2006) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 102,000 (2006) 4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 4 (1999)
Terrain mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 2.23 children born/woman (2007 est.) 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 11% (2001 est.) 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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