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Compare Grenada (2001) - Laos (2008)

Compare Grenada (2001) z Laos (2008)

 Grenada (2001)Laos (2008)
 GrenadaLaos
Administrative divisions 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Age structure 0-14 years:
37.05% (male 16,739; female 16,318)

15-64 years:
59.03% (male 27,850; female 24,820)

65 years and over:
3.92% (male 1,592; female 1,908) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 1,349,352/female 1,338,252)


15-64 years: 55.7% (male 1,795,029/female 1,835,168)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 90,188/female 114,009) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 3 (2000 est.) 42 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 33


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 23 (2007)
Area total:
340 sq km

land:
340 sq km

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


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Utah
Background One of the smallest independent countries in the western hemisphere, Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year. 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 had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination 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 23.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 34.98 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues:
$85.8 million

expenditures:
$102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997)
revenues: $470.4 million


expenditures: $643.5 million (2007 est.)
Capital Saint George's name: Vientiane


geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 121 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 19 December 1973 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Grenada
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD) -
Death rate 7.82 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 11.28 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $182.8 million (1998) $3.179 billion (2006)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada

embassy:
Point Salines, Saint George's

mailing address:
P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies

telephone:
[1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176

FAX:
[1] (473) 444-4820
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO


embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane


mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546


telephone: [856] 21-26-7000


FAX: [856] 21-26-7190
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE

chancery:
1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-2561

consulate(s) general:
New York
chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone


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 islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Economic aid - recipient $8.3 million (1995) $379 million (2006 est.)
Economy - overview In this island economy progress in fiscal reforms and prudent macroeconomic management have kept annual growth steady since 1998. The increase in economic activity has been led by construction and trade. Tourist facilities are being expanded; tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner. Major short-term concerns are the rising fiscal deficit and the deterioration in the external account balance. Grenada shares a common central bank and a common currency with seven other members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year in 1988-2007 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 underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. 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 support from Japan and China. Electricity is available in urban areas and in most rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about 40% of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from international donors and from foreign investment in hydropower and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years; the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime, slated to begin in 2008, should help streamline the government's inefficient tax system.
Electricity - consumption 111.6 million kWh (1999) 1.193 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 728 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 326 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 120 million kWh (1999) 1.715 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

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

highest point:
Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues NA unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, 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 82% some South Asians (East Indians) and Europeans, trace Arawak/Carib Amerindian 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 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) kips per US dollar - 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003)
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)

head of government:
Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995)

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

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor general from among the members of the House of Assembly
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)


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


cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly


elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for 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 $62.3 million (2000 est.) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold
Exports - partners Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991) Thailand 42.1%, Vietnam 9.5%, China 4% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions 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 - $394 million (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
9.7%

industry:
15%

services:
75.3% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 41.2%


industry: 32.5%


services: 26.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 7% (2000 est.) 7% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 07 N, 61 40 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada 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:
1,040 km

paved:
638 km

unpaved:
402 km (1996)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 3.4%


highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)
Illicit drugs small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2005 was 5,600 hectares, about a 45% decrease from 2004; estimated potential opium production in 2005 was 28 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem
Imports $217.5 million (2000 est.) 2,898 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel (1989) machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991) Thailand 68.8%, China 11.3%, Vietnam 5.6% (2006)
Independence 7 February 1974 (from UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 0.7% (1997 est.) 12% (2007 est.)
Industries food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement
Infant mortality rate 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 81.44 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.91 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 71.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.5% (2000 est.) 5% (2007 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO ACCT, ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 14 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 1,750 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judge resides in Grenada) 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 42,300 (1996) 2.1 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation services 62%, agriculture 24%, industry 14% (1999 est.) agriculture: 80%


industry and services: 20% (2005 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:
15%

permanent crops:
18%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
9%

other:
55% (1993 est.)
arable land: 4.01%


permanent crops: 0.34%


other: 95.65% (2005)
Languages English (official), French patois 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held on 18 January 1999 (next to be held by NA October 2004)

election results:
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NNP 14, GULP 1
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party 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:
64.52 years

male:
62.74 years

female:
66.31 years (2001 est.)
total population: 55.89 years


male: 53.82 years


female: 58.04 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
98%

male:
98%

female:
98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 68.7%


male: 77%


female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
Location Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago 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 none (2000 est.) total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2007)
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 Royal Grenada Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2008)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 0.5% (2006)
National holiday Independence Day, 7 February (1974) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun:
Grenadian(s)

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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November floods, droughts
Natural resources timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -15.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2007)
Political parties and leaders Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Herbert PREUDHOMME]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [leader vacant]; New National Party or NNP [George McGUIRE] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA political parties and groups other than LPRP are proscribed
Population 89,227 (July 2001 est.) 6,521,998 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 30.7% (2005 est.)
Population growth rate -0.06% (2001 est.) 2.37% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Grenville, Saint George's -
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)
Radios 57,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2% Buddhist 65%, animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.8% (1995 census)
Sex ratio at birth:
1 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.07 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.008 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.978 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.791 male(s)/female


total population: 0.984 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
automatic, islandwide telephone system

domestic:
interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links

international:
new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas


domestic: multiple service providers; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership about 10 per 100 persons


international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 27,000 (1997) 90,067 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 976 (1997) 638,200 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)
Terrain volcanic in origin with central mountains mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 2.54 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.59 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 15% (1997) 2.4% (2005 est.)
Waterways none 4,600 km


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)
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