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Compare Guyana (2004) - Laos (2005)

Compare Guyana (2004) z Laos (2005)

 Guyana (2004)Laos (2005)
 GuyanaLaos
Administrative divisions 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo 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: 26.5% (male 95,431; female 91,806)


15-64 years: 68.3% (male 243,224; female 239,047)


65 years and over: 5.1% (male 16,000; female 20,295) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 41.6% (male 1,300,094/female 1,289,227)


15-64 years: 55.2% (male 1,693,494/female 1,737,196)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 88,744/female 108,386) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish (shrimp) sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 49 (2003 est.) 44 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 41


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 8


under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)
total: 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 13


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total: 214,970 sq km


land: 196,850 sq km


water: 18,120 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Idaho slightly larger than Utah
Background Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001. Laos was 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. 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 17.85 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 35.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $263.4 million


expenditures: $326.7 million, including capital expenditures of $93.4 million (2003)
revenues: $284.3 million


expenditures: $416.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital Georgetown Vientiane
Climate tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 459 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 6 October 1980 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana


conventional short form: Guyana


former: British Guiana
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Guyanese dollar (GYD) -
Death rate 9.71 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $1.2 billion (2002) $2.49 billion (2001)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Roland BULLEN


embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown


mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown


telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909


FAX: [592] 225-8497
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH


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 chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN


chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900


FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297


consulate(s) general: New York
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 all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Laos and Thailand pledge to complete demarcation of boundaries in 2005, while ongoing disputes over squatters and boundary encroachment by Thailand including Mekong River islets persist; in 2004 Cambodian-Laotian boundary commission agrees to re-erect missing markers in two adjoining provinces; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Economic aid - recipient $84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997) (2000 est.) $243 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Growth then slowed in 2003. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term by restructuring and partial privatization. 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. The government has sponsored major improvements in the road system. 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. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to face lower tariffs on their exports; this may help spur growth.
Electricity - consumption 792.4 million kWh (2001) 3.036 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 400 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 125 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 852 million kWh (2001) 3.56 billion kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation 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, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94


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 East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and mixed 7% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Guyanese dollars per US dollar - NA (2003), 190.665 (2002), 187.321 (2001), 182.43 (2000), 177.995 (1999) kips per US dollar - 10,820 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.6 (2001), 7,887.6 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN


head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December 1997)


cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature


elections: president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly following legislative elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of legislative vote - NA
chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphadon (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 Bouasone BOUPHAVANH (since 3 October 2003) Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since 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 in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term


election results: KHAMTAI Siphadon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%
Exports NA (2001) NA
Exports - commodities sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners Canada 23.2%, US 21.8%, UK 13.5%, Portugal 6.7%, Belgium 6.5%, Jamaica 6.1% (2003) Thailand 19.3%, Vietnam 13.4%, France 8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 5% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green 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 - $2.797 billion (2003 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 37.2%


industry: 22.7%


services: 40.1% (2003 est.)
agriculture: 49.5%


industry: 27.5%


services: 23% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.5% (2003 est.) 6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 5 00 N, 59 00 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively 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: 7,970 km


paved: 590 km


unpaved: 7,380 km (1999 est.)
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 transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis 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
Imports - commodities manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners US 22.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 19.2%, Italy 11.2%, UK 7.2%, Cuba 5.2% (2003) Thailand 60.5%, China 10.3%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4% (2004)
Independence 26 May 1966 (from UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 7.1% (1997 est.) 9.7% (2001 est.)
Industries bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 37.22 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 41.28 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 32.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 95.04 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 75.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.7% (2003 est.) 12.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Irrigated land 1,500 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 Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court 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 418,000 (2001 est.) 2.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total: 2,462 km


border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 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: 2.44%


permanent crops: 0.15%


other: 97.41% (2001)
arable land: 3.8%


permanent crops: 0.35%


other: 95.85% (2001)
Languages English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (68 seats, 65 elected by popular vote, 1 elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and 2 nonvoting members appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 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 in 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: 62.43 years


male: 60.12 years


female: 64.84 years (2004 est.)
total population: 55.08 years


male: 53.07 years


female: 57.17 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98.8%


male: 99.1%


female: 98.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 66.4%


male: 77.4%


female: 55.5% (2002)
Location Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references South America Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,475 GRT/8,758 DWT


by type: cargo 3, container 1, refrigerated cargo 1


foreign-owned: Barbados 1, Panama 1


registered in other countries: 8 (2004 est.)
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2005)
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 Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps; Guyana People's Militia Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $6.5 million (2003) $10.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.8% (2003) 0.5% (2004)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 209,545 (2004 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 157,264 (2004 est.) -
National holiday Republic Day, 23 February (1970) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)


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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons floods, droughts
Natural resources bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Alliance for Guyana or AFG (includes Guyana Labor Party or GLP and Working People's Alliance or WPA) [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader NA]; People's National Congress or PNC/R [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphadon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUC


note: the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well organized
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 705,803


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2004 est.)
6,217,141 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 0.61% (2004 est.) 2.42% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika -
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Railways total: 187 km


standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge


note: all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)
-
Religions Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5% 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: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 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: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: fair system for long-distance calling


domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines


international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 80,400 (2002) 61,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 87,300 (2002) 55,200 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997) 4 (1999)
Terrain mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 2.06 children born/woman (2004 est.) 4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.1% (understated) (2000) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways 1,077 km


note: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2004)
4,600 km


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)
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