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Compare Cuba (2001) - Laos (2003)

Compare Cuba (2001) z Laos (2003)

 Cuba (2001)Laos (2003)
 CubaLaos
Administrative divisions 14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara 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:
20.99% (male 1,205,159; female 1,142,070)

15-64 years:
69.14% (male 3,876,432; female 3,855,878)

65 years and over:
9.87% (male 511,589; female 592,895) (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 sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 171 (2000 est.) 51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
77

over 3,047 m:
7

2,438 to 3,047 m:
9

1,524 to 2,437 m:
16

914 to 1,523 m:
10

under 914 m:
35 (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:
94

914 to 1,523 m:
31

under 914 m:
63 (2000 est.)
total: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Area total:
110,860 sq km

land:
110,860 sq km

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


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Pennsylvania slightly larger than Utah
Background Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the country together since. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Havana portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, or falsified visas - is a continuing problem. Some 3,000 Cubans took to the Straits of Florida in 2000; the US Coast Guard interdicted only about 35% of these. 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 12.36 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$13.5 billion

expenditures:
$14.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
Capital Havana Vientiane
Climate tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October) tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 3,735 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 24 February 1976, amended July 1992 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Cuba

conventional short form:
Cuba

local long form:
Republica de Cuba

local short form:
Cuba
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Cuban peso (CUP) kip (LAK)
Death rate 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $11.1 billion (convertible currency, 1999); another $15 billion -$20 billion owed to Russia (2000) $2.53 billion (1999)
Diplomatic representation from the US none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Vicki HUDDLESTON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland 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; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Fernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518 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 US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease 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 $68.2 million (1997 est.) $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview The government, the primary player in the economy, has undertaken limited reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase enterprise efficiency, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services, but prioritizing of political control makes extensive reforms unlikely. Living standards for the average Cuban, without access to dollars, remain at a depressed level compared with 1990. The liberalized farmers' markets introduced in 1994, sell above-quota production at market prices, expand legal consumption alternatives, and reduce black market prices. Income taxes and increased regulations introduced since 1996 have sharply reduced the number of legally self-employed from a high of 208,000 in January 1996. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93 as a result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The slide in GDP came to a halt in 1994 when Cuba reported growth in GDP of 0.7%. Cuba reported that GDP increased by 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996, before slowing down in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Growth recovered with a 6.2% increase in GDP in 1999 and a 5.6% increase in 2000. Much of Cuba's recovery can be attributed to tourism revenues and foreign investment. Growth in 2001 should continue at the same level as the government balances the need for economic loosening against its concern for firm political control. 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 13.353 billion kWh (1999) 824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 14.358 billion kWh (1999) 1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
94.2%

hydro:
0.7%

nuclear:
0%

other:
5.1% (1999)
fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Pico Turquino 2,005 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
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 mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 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 Cuban pesos per US dollar - 1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate, for international transactions, pegged to the US dollar); convertible peso sold for domestic use at a rate of 1.00 US dollar per 22 pesos by the Government of Cuba (January 2001) 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 of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly

elections:
president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled)

election results:
Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%
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 $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners Russia 23%, Netherlands 23%, Canada 13% (1999) Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the US 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 - $19.2 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
7%

industry:
37%

services:
56% (1998 est.)
agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.6% (2000 est.) 5.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 21 30 N, 80 00 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note largest country in Caribbean landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Highways total:
60,858 km

paved:
29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)

unpaved:
31,038 km (1997)
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 territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for cocaine bound for the US and Europe; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 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 $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals, semifinished goods, transport equipment, consumer goods machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners Spain 18%, Venezuela 13%, Canada 8% (1999) Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002)
Independence 20 May 1902 (from US) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries sugar, petroleum, tobacco, chemicals, construction, services, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate 7.39 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) 0.3% (1999 est.) 10% (2002 est.)
International organization participation CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO 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) 4 (2001) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 9,100 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 People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly) 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 4.3 million (2000 est.)

note:
state sector 75%, non-state sector 25% (1998)
2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 25%, industry 24%, services 51% (1998) agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total:
29 km

border countries:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km

note:
Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba
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:
24%

permanent crops:
7%

permanent pastures:
27%

forests and woodland:
24%

other:
18% (1993 est.)
arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Languages Spanish Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003)

election results:
percent of vote - PCC 94.39%; seats - PCC 601
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:
76.41 years

male:
74.02 years

female:
78.94 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:
95.7%

male:
96.2%

female:
95.3% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 52.8%


male: 67.5%


female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 54,821 GRT/78,062 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 1, cargo 7, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 5 (2000 est.)
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993 -
Military branches Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground forces, Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT); the Border Guard (TGF) is controlled by the Interior Ministry Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP roughly 4% (FY95 est.) 4.2% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
3,090,633

females age 15-49:
3,029,274 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
1,911,160

females age 15-49:
1,867,958 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 17 years of age 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
79,562

females:
85,650 (2001 est.)
males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 10 October (1868); note - 10 October 1868 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun:
Cuban(s)

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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common floods, droughts
Natural resources cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary] 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 11,184,023 (July 2001 est.) 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 0.37% (2001 est.) 2.45% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba none
Radio broadcast stations AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios 3.9 million (1997) -
Railways total:
11,969 km

standard gauge:
4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)

note:
in addition to the 4,807 km of standard gauge track in public use, 7,162 km of track is in private use by sugar plantations; about 90% of the private use track is standard gauge and the rest is narrow gauge (2000)
0 km
Religions nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1 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 16 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
principal trunk system, end to end of country, is coaxial cable; fiber-optic distribution in Havana and on Isla de la Juventud; 2 microwave radio relay installations (one is old, US-built; the other newer, Soviet-built); both analog and digital mobile cellular service established

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
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 473,031 (2000) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,994 (1997) 4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 58 (1997) 4 (1999)
Terrain mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 1.6 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.5% (2000 est.) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways 240 km 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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