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Compare Bermuda (2004) - Laos (2006)

Compare Bermuda (2004) z Laos (2006)

 Bermuda (2004)Laos (2006)
 BermudaLaos
Administrative divisions 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick 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 (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Age structure 0-14 years: 19.1% (male 6,192; female 6,186)


15-64 years: 69.3% (male 22,268; female 22,703)


65 years and over: 11.7% (male 3,295; female 4,291) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,324,207/female 1,313,454)


15-64 years: 55.4% (male 1,744,206/female 1,786,139)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 89,451/female 111,024) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 44 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 13


under 914 m: 21 (2006)
Area total: 53.3 sq km


land: 53.3 sq km


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


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative about one-third the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Utah
Background Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995. Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came 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 and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
Birth rate 11.83 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 35.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $671.1 million


expenditures: $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55 million (FY03/04)
revenues: $319.3 million


expenditures: $434.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Capital Hamilton name: Vientiane


geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 103 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 8 June 1968, amended 1989 and 2003 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Bermuda


former: Somers Islands
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos PDR or Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Bermudian dollar (BMD) -
Death rate 7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 11.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $160 million (FY99/00) $2.49 billion (2001)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER


consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3


mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300


telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342


FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH


embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam Road, Vientiane


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


telephone: [856] 21-26 7000


FAX: [856] 21-26 7074
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) 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 Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over several areas along Mekong River and Thai squatters; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Economic aid - recipient NA $243 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, equal to that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002-03. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited, only 6% of the land being arable. 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 6% in 1988-2004 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, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with possible support from Japan. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid by the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food processing and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to face lower tariffs on exports. This new status may help spur growth. In addition, the European Union has agreed to provide $1 million to the Lao Government for technical assistance in preparations for WTO membership. If the avian flu worsens and spreads in the region, however, prospects for tourism could dim.
Electricity - consumption 598.6 million kWh (2001) 3.298 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 435 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 230 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 643.7 million kWh (2001) 3.767 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Town Hill 76 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development 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, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups black 58%, white 36%, other 6% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) kips per US dollar - 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.6 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since NA April 2002)


head of government: Premier Alex SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWN


cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006) and Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)


head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit [since 8 June 2006], Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March 2001)


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


elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term


election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%
Exports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities reexports of pharmaceuticals garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners France 62%, Norway 13.8%, UK 7.5% (2003) Thailand 29.6%, Vietnam 12%, France 6.1%, Germany 4.6% (2005)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 October - 30 September
Flag description red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag 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 - $2.33 billion (2003 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 10%


services: 89% (2002 est.)
agriculture: 45.5%


industry: 28.7%


services: 25.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 2% (2003 est.) 7.3% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 32 20 N, 64 45 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995 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: 450 km


paved: 450 km


unpaved: 0 km


note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Illicit drugs - estimated cultivation in 2004 - 10,000 hectares, a 45% decrease from 2003; estimated potential production in 2004 - 49 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003 (2005)
Imports NA (2001) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners Kazakhstan 46.7%, France 32.5%, US 8.5% (2003) Thailand 66.1%, China 9%, Vietnam 6.7% (2005)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA 13% (2005 est.)
Industries tourism, international business, light manufacturing copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement
Infant mortality rate total: 8.79 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 83.31 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 92.95 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 73.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.3% (mid-2003 est.) 7% (2005 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO, Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Irrigated land NA sq km 1,750 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts 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 37,470 (2000) 2.8 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.) agriculture: 80%


industry and services: 20% (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: 20%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)
arable land: 4.01%


permanent crops: 0.34%


other: 95.65% (2005)
Languages English (official), Portuguese Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system English law based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)


elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held NA July 2008)


election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 77.6 years


male: 75.54 years


female: 79.7 years (2004 est.)
total population: 55.49 years


male: 53.45 years


female: 57.61 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 99% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 66.4%


male: 77.4%


female: 55.5% (2002)
Location North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US) Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references North America Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWT


by type: bulk 25, cargo 4, container 17, liquefied gas 9, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea/passenger 3


foreign-owned: Croatia 5, Germany 2, Greece 21, Hong Kong 9, Indonesia 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 33, United States 12


registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK Laos is one of the world's least developed countries; the Lao People's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; there is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likely to continue; the massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border (2005)
Military branches Bermuda Regiment Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $4.03 million (2001) $11.04 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.11% (FY00/01) 0.4% (2005 est.)
National holiday Bermuda Day, 24 May Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: Bermudian(s)


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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards hurricanes (June to November) floods, droughts
Natural resources limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate 2.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Gombey Liberation Party or GLP [Gavin Sundjata SMITH]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS]; Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALY Sayasone]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES] noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 64,935 (July 2004 est.) 6,368,481 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line 19% (2000) 34% (2005 est.)
Population growth rate 0.68% (2004 est.) 2.39% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard -
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)
Religions non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19% Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: good


domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system


international: country code - 1-441; 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; 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 56,000 (2002) 90,067 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 37,873 (2003) 520,546 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 4 (2003) 7; note - including one station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi (2006)
Terrain low hills separated by fertile depressions mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 1.9 children born/woman (2004 est.) 4.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 5% (2002 est.) 2.4% (2005 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 (2005)
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