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Compare Guadeloupe (2002) - Laos (2003)

Compare Guadeloupe (2002) z Laos (2003)

 Guadeloupe (2002)Laos (2003)
 GuadeloupeLaos
Administrative divisions none (overseas department of France) 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: 24.9% (male 55,393; female 53,047)


15-64 years: 66.2% (male 142,945; female 145,757)


65 years and over: 8.9% (male 16,168; female 22,429) (2002 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 bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 9 (2001) 51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 8


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 5 (2002)
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: 1 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Area total: 1,780 sq km


land: 1,706 sq km


water: 74 sq km


note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin)
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative 10 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Utah
Background Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe 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 16.53 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $225 million


expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
Capital Basse-Terre Vientiane
Climate subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 306 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 28 September 1958 (French Constitution) promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe


conventional short form: Guadeloupe


local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe


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


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency euro (EUR); French franc (FRF) kip (LAK)
Death rate 6.03 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $2.53 billion (1999)
Dependency status overseas department of France -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas department of France) 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 (overseas department of France) 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 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 $NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview The economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy. 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 1.293 billion kWh (2000) 824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.39 billion kWh (2000) 1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


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


highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues NA unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements - 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 black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5% 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 Euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997) 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 Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since 6 August 2002)


head of government: President of the General Council Jacques GILLOT (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Lucette MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)


cabinet: NA


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils


election results: NA
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 $140 million f.o.b. (1997) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities bananas, sugar, rum wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1997) Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description the flag of France is used 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 - $3.7 billion (1997 est.) purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 15%


industry: 17%


services: 68% (1997 est.)
agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1997 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 16 15 N, 61 35 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller, eastern Grande-Terre landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Highways total: 2,560 km


paved: 965 km


unpaved: 1,595 km (1996)
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 - 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 $1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%, Netherlands Antilles 2% (1997) Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002)
Independence none (overseas department of France) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 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) NA% 10% (2002 est.)
International organization participation FZ, WCL, WFTU 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) 3 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 20 sq km (1998 est.) 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique 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 125,900 (1997) (1997) 2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation NA agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total: 10.2 km


border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 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: 10.65%


permanent crops: 4.14%


other: 85.21% (1998 est.)
arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Languages French (official) 99%, Creole patois Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system French legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice
Legislative branch unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)


elections: General Council - last held 22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, right-wing candidates 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 24.49%, PCG 5.29%, diverse right parties 5.73%; seats by party - RPR 25, PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 12, PCG 2, diverse right parties 2


note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1, FGPS 1; Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2002); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1, PS 2, PC 1
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: 77.35 years


male: 74.19 years


female: 80.66 years (2002 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: 90%


male: 90%


female: 90% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 52.8%


male: 67.5%


female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico 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: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,240 GRT/109 DWT


ships by type: passenger 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: France 1 (2002 est.)
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 4.2% (FY96)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
National holiday Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: Guadeloupian(s)


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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active volcano floods, droughts
Natural resources cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Christian CELESTE]; FGPS [Dominique LARIFLA]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Aldo BLAISE]; Socialist Party or PS [Georges LOUISOR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Marcel ESDRAS] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG; General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General Union of Guadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for Independent Guadeloupe or MPGI noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 435,739 (July 2002 est.) 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 1.04% (2002 est.) 2.45% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy), Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre none
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios 113,000 (1997) -
Railways total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines 0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1% Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 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 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: domestic facilities inadequate


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
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 171,000 (1996) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA 4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997) 4 (1999)
Terrain Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 1.92 children born/woman (2002 est.) 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 27.8% (1998) (1998) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways none 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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