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Compare Antigua and Barbuda (2008) - Laos (2004)

Compare Antigua and Barbuda (2008) z Laos (2004)

 Antigua and Barbuda (2008)Laos (2004)
 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, Louangphrabang, 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: 41.9% (male 1,277,152; female 1,265,761)


15-64 years: 54.9% (male 1,642,895; female 1,688,175)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,995; female 106,139) (2004 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) 46 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


2,438 to 3,047 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 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total: 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 13


under 914 m: 21 (2004 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. Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. 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 16.62 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 36.47 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $123.7 million


expenditures: $145.9 million (2000 est.)
revenues: $298.5 million


expenditures: $429.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 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.) 12.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $359.8 million (June 2006) $2.49 billion (2001)
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 Patricia M. HASLACH


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 PHANTHONG Phommahaxay


chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416


FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Disputes - international none demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is largely complete, but with Thailand several areas including Mekong River islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and Vietnam over squatters; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Economic aid - recipient $7.23 million (2005) $243 million (2001 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% 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 97.65 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 105 million kWh (2005) 1.317 billion kWh (2001)
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; most 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, 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 and the Yao 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 - 10,443 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.02 (1999)
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 Siphadon (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 Bouasone BOUPHAVANH (since 3 October 2003) Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since 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 in 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 177.7 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8% garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore 5.8%, UK 4.9% (2006) Thailand 20.7%, Vietnam 15.9%, France 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Belgium 4% (2003)
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 - $10.32 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3.8%


industry: 22%


services: 74.3% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 49.4%


industry: 24.5%


services: 26.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.8% (2007 est.) 5.5% (2003 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; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River 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 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 2003 - 18,900 hectares, a 19% decrease over 2002; estimated potential production in 2003 - 200 metric tons, a 11% increase from 2002); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis; growing methamphetamine abuse problem
Imports 4,215 bbl/day (2004) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners US 21.1%, China 16.4%, Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.7%, Spain 6.5% (2006) Thailand 59.4%, China 12.8%, Vietnam 10.2% (2003)
Independence 1 November 1981 (from UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 9.7% (2001 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.)
total: 87.06 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 97.05 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 76.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.8% (2007 est.) 15.3% (2003 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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
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 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) 2.6 million (2001 est.)
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: 3.8%


permanent crops: 0.35%


other: 95.85% (2001)
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 (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 in 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: 72.42 years


male: 70.03 years


female: 74.94 years (2007 est.)
total population: 54.69 years


male: 52.71 years


female: 56.75 years (2004 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: 66.4%


male: 77.4%


female: 55.5% (2002)
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 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2004 est.)
Military branches Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2006) Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $10.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA (2006) 0.5% (2003)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,456,500 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 783,800 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 68,563 (2004 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
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 (2004 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2004)
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.) 6,068,117 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 0.527% (2007 est.) 2.44% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors - none
Radio broadcast stations AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
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% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
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: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 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: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 40,000 (2006) 61,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 102,000 (2006) 55,200 (2002)
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.) 4.86 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 11% (2001 est.) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways - 4,600 km


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)
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