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Compare Djibouti (2006) - Laos (2006)

Compare Djibouti (2006) z Laos (2006)

 Djibouti (2006)Laos (2006)
 DjiboutiLaos
Administrative divisions 6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah 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: 43.3% (male 105,760/female 105,068)


15-64 years: 53.3% (male 135,119/female 124,367)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 8,183/female 8,033) (2006 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 fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 13 (2006) 44 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
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: 10


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 5


under 914 m: 3 (2006)
total: 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 13


under 914 m: 21 (2006)
Area total: 23,000 sq km


land: 22,980 sq km


water: 20 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts slightly larger than Utah
Background The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but is also developing stronger ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism. 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 39.53 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 35.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $135 million


expenditures: $182 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
revenues: $319.3 million


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


geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 15 E


time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
name: Vientiane


geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate desert; torrid, dry tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 314 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti


conventional short form: Djibouti


local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti


local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti


former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
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
Death rate 19.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 11.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $394 million (2004 est.) $2.49 billion (2001)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON


embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti


mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti


telephone: [253] 35 39 95


FAX: [253] 35 39 40
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 chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine


chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005


telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270


FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
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 Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; thousands of Somali refugees await repatriation in UNHCR camps in Djibouti 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 $64.1 million (2004) $243 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city; the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of at least 50% continues to be a major problem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie of the Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high value of the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance of payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors. 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 223.2 million kWh (2003) 3.298 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2003) 435 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2003) 230 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 240 million kWh (2003) 3.767 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m


highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


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 Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003), 177.72 (2002), 177.72 (2001) 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: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4 March 2001)


cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April 2011); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100%
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 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit) garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners Somalia 55.2%, Yemen 19.5%, Ethiopia 17.9% (2005) Thailand 29.6%, Vietnam 12%, France 6.1%, Germany 4.6% (2005)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 17.9%


industry: 22.5%


services: 59.6% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 45.5%


industry: 28.7%


services: 25.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 3.2% (2005 est.) 7.3% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 11 30 N, 43 00 E 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
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 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners Saudi Arabia 21.7%, India 18.5%, China 10%, Ethiopia 4.8%, France 4.5%, US 4.3%, Japan 4.2% (2005) Thailand 66.1%, China 9%, Vietnam 6.7% (2005)
Independence 27 June 1977 (from France) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 3% (1996 est.) 13% (2005 est.)
Industries construction, agricultural processing, salt copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement
Infant mortality rate total: 102.44 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 110.07 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 94.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 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% (2005 est.) 7% (2005 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO 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 10 sq km (2003) 1,750 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Cour Supreme 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 282,000 (2000) 2.8 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 80%


industry and services: 20% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total: 516 km


border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 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: 0.04%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.96% (2005)
arable land: 4.01%


permanent crops: 0.34%


other: 95.65% (2005)
Languages French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice
Legislative branch unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)


elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held January 2008)


election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats - RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
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: 43.17 years


male: 41.86 years


female: 44.52 years (2006 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: 67.9%


male: 78%


female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 66.4%


male: 77.4%


female: 55.5% (2002)
Location Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2006)
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2006)
Military - note - 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 Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force) Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $29.05 million (2005 est.) $11.04 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.3% (2005 est.) 0.4% (2005 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 27 June (1977) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: Djiboutian(s)


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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods floods, droughts
Natural resources geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress Assembly or RPP [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party); Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALY Sayasone]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (opposition coalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED] noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 486,530 (July 2006 est.) 6,368,481 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line 50% (2001 est.) 34% (2005 est.)
Population growth rate 2.02% (2006 est.) 2.39% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001) AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)
Railways total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)


narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge


note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2005)
-
Religions Muslim 94%, Christian 6% Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 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 adult 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate, as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country


domestic: microwave radio relay network


international: country code - 253; submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseille, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network
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 11,100 (2004) 90,067 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 34,500 (2004) 520,546 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 1 (2002) 7; note - including one station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi (2006)
Terrain coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 5.31 children born/woman (2006 est.) 4.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 50% (2004 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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