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Compare Iles Eparses (2006) - Laos (2002)

Compare Iles Eparses (2006) z Laos (2002)

 Iles Eparses (2006)Laos (2002)
 Iles EparsesLaos
Administrative divisions - 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: 42.5% (male 1,233,659; female 1,219,872)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 1,543,246; female 1,591,419)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 86,375; female 102,609) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products - sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 4 (2006) 51 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways - 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: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Area Bassas da India: total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon)


Europa Island: total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km


Glorioso Islands: total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km


Juan de Nova Island: total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0 sq km


Tromelin Island: total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative Bassas da India: land area about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC


Europa Island: about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC


Glorioso Islands: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC


Juan de Nova Island: about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC


Tromelin Island: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
slightly larger than Utah
Background The Iles Eparses, or scattered islands, are a group of five French entities - Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island - which on 1 April 1960 came under the authority of the Minister in charge of overseas possessions. On 19 September 1960 by decree, the islands were transferred to the charge of the Prefet of Reunion where they remained until 3 January 2005 when they were transferred by another decree to the Senior Administrator of the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).


Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic seamount surrounded by reefs and awash at high tide.


Europa Island: A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.


Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.


Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.


Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.
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, an easing of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Birth rate - 37.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget - revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
Capital - Vientiane
Climate tropical tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline Bassas da India: 35.2 km


Europa Island: 22.2 km


Glorioso Islands: 35.2 km


Juan de Nova Island: 24.1 km


Tromelin Island: 3.7 km
0 km (landlocked)
Constitution - promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island


local long form: none


local short form: Bassas da India, Ile Europa, Iles Glorieuses, Ile Juan de Nova, Ile Tromelin
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency - kip (LAK)
Death rate - 12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external - $2.53 billion (1999)
Dependency status possessions of France; administered by the Senior Administrator of the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), resident in Reunion -
Diplomatic representation from the US - 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 - 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 Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: claimed by Madagascar


Tromelin Island: claimed by Mauritius
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 - $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview no economic activity 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 - 690.6 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports - 400 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports - 142 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production - 1.02 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Bassas da India 2.4 m; Europa Island 24 m; Glorioso Islands 12 m; Juan de Nova Island 10 m; Tromelin Island 7 m (all unnamed locations)
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues - 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 - 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 - kips per US dollar - 9,467.00 (December 2001), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Senior Administrator Michel CHAMPON 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 - $325 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities - wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners - Thailand 20%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.9%, UK 4.1%, Belgium 4% (2000)
Fiscal 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 - $9.2 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 53%


industry: 22%


services: 25% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $1,630 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 5% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates Bassas da India: 21 30 S, 39 50 E


Europa Island: 22 20 S, 40 22 E


Glorioso Islands: 11 30 S, 47 20 E


Juan de Nova Island: 17 03 S, 42 45 E


Tromelin Island: 15 52 S, 54 25 E
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note Bassas da India: the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano


Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island: wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles


Glorioso Islands: the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system


Tromelin Island: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Highways - total: 14,000 km


paved: 3,360 km


unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 31% (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 - $540 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities - machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports - partners - Thailand 52%, Singapore 3.9%, Japan 1.6%, Hong Kong 1.5%, China 0.8% (2000)
Independence - 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate - 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries - tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate - 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 10% (2001 est.)
International organization participation - 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) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land - 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 (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 - 2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries none 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 Bassas da India - 100% rock, coral reef, and sand; Europa Island - 100% mangrove swamp and dry woodlands; Glorioso Islands - 100% lush vegetation and coconut palms; Juan de Nova Island - 90% forest, 10% other; Tromelin Island - 100% grasses and scattered brush arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Languages - Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system the laws of France, where applicable, apply based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Legislative branch - 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: 53.88 years


male: 51.95 years


female: 55.87 years (2002 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 57%


male: 70%


female: 44% (1999 est.)
Location Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean


Bassas da India: atoll in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half way from Madagascar to Mozambique


Europa Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique


Glorioso Islands: group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar


Juan de Nova Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique


Tromelin Island: island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; note - Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine - total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of France -
Military branches - 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% (FY96/97)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,365,027 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 734,945 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 64,437 (2002 est.)
National holiday - Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality - noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards all islands subject to periodic cyclones


Bassas da India: maritime hazard since it is under water for a period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and surrounded by reefs
floods, droughts
Natural resources Bassas da India and Europa Island: none


Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island: guano, phosphates; coconuts


Tromelin Island: fish
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 136 km
Political parties and leaders - Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders - noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population Bassas da India: uninhabitable


Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession; visited by scientists


Tromelin Island: uninhabited, except for visits by scientists
5,777,180 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line - 40% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate - 2.47% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - none
Radio broadcast stations - AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 730,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km (2001)
Religions - 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: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system - 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 - 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations - 4 (1999)
Terrain Bassas da India: atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon


Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy


Tromelin Island: low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate - 5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Transportation - note aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m -
Unemployment rate - 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways - 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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