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Compare Laos (2001) - East Timor (2002)

Compare Laos (2001) z East Timor (2002)

 Laos (2001)East Timor (2002)
 LaosEast Timor
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 13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Age structure 0-14 years:
42.75% (male 1,212,577; female 1,196,795)

15-64 years:
53.94% (male 1,494,927; female 1,544,851)

65 years and over:
3.31% (male 85,632; female 101,185) (2001 est.)
NA
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Airports 51 (2000 est.) 8 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
8

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5

914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 3 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,427 m: 1 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
43

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
17

under 914 m:
25 (2000 est.)
total: 5 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Area total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
total: 15,007 sq km


land: NA sq km


water: NA sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah slightly larger than Connecticut
Background 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. The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was subsequently incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur. A so-called campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which time an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people of Timor Timur voted for independence from Indonesia. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state and the world's newest democracy.
Birth rate 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 28.07 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA
Capital Vientiane Dili
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 706 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Country name conventional long form:
Lao People's Democratic Republic

conventional short form:
Laos

local long form:
Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

local short form:
none
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste


conventional short form: East Timor


local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]


local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]


former: Portuguese Timor
Currency kip (LAK) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $2.46 billion (1998 est.) $NA
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Karen Brevard STEWART

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
chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES


embassy: Avenido do Portugal, Farol, Dili


mailing address: NA


telephone: (670) 390 324 684


FAX: (670) 390 313 206
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador VANG Rattanavong

chancery:
2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 332-6416

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-4923
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Jose Luis GUTERRES


chancery: NA


telephone: NA


FAX: NA


consulate(s) general: NA
Disputes - international parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets to survey and delimit land boundary; Indonesia seeks resolution of East Timor refugees in Indonesia; Australia-East Timor-Indonesia are working to resolve maritime boundary and sharing of seabed resources in "Timor Gap"
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $2.2 billion
Economy - overview 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% during 1988-97. Reform efforts subsequently slowed, and GDP growth dropped an average of 3 percentage points. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it was damaged by the regional financial crisis beginning in 1997. Government mismanagement deepened the crisis, and from June 1997 to June 1999 the Lao kip lost 87% of its value. Laos' foreign exchange problems peaked in September 1999 when the kip fell from 3,500 kip to the dollar to 9,000 kip to the dollar in a matter of weeks. Now that the currency has stabilized, however, the government seems content to let the current situation persist, despite limited government revenue and foreign exchange reserves. A landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, Laos 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. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By mid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civil administration. One promising long-term project would be development of oil resources in nearby waters.
Electricity - consumption 173.6 million kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 705 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh
Electricity - imports 142 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh
Electricity - production 792 million kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
2.78%

hydro:
97.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0%
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Mekong River 70 m

highest point:
Phou Bia 2,817 m
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m


highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
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
NA
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% Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Exchange rates kips per US dollar - 7,578.00 (December 2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997), 921.02 (1996) -
Executive branch chief of state:
President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since NA March 2001)

head of government:
Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since NA March 2001); Deputy Prime Ministers THONGLOUN Sisolit (since NA March 2001), 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 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); 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%
chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation


head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)


cabinet: Council of State


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president


election results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do Amaral 17.3%
Exports $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium NA
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 July - 30 June
Flag description three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle
GDP purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $415 million (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 25%


industry: 17%


services: 57% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 18% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 8 50 S, 125 55 E
Geography - note landlocked Timor is the Malay word for "Orient"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

unpaved:
10,640 km (1991)
total: 3,800 km


paved: 428 km


unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
4.2%

highest 10%:
26.4% (1992)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1999 - 21,800 hectares, a 16% decrease over 1998; estimated potential production in 1999 - 140 metric tons, about the same as in 1998); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis NA
Imports $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel NA
Imports - partners Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong NA
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 8.5%
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Infant mortality rate 92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 51.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 33% (2000 est.) NA%
International organization participation ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) IBRD, IMF


note: UN membership is expected in September
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) NA
Irrigated land 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

note:
rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
1,065 sq km (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) Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the National Parliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for the Judiciary
Labor force 1 million - 1.5 million NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) NA
Land boundaries total:
5,083 km

border countries:
Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
total: 228 km


border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Land use arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
arable land: NA%


permanent crops: NA%


other: NA%
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English


note: there are a total of about 16 indigenous languages, of which Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice NA
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - by presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99)

elections:
last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99
unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis


elections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Life expectancy at birth total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

female:
55.44 years (2001 est.)
total population: 64.85 years


male: 62.64 years


female: 67.17 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
57%

male:
70%

female:
44% (1999 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 48% (2001)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Map references Southeast Asia Southeast Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone: NA NM


exclusive fishing zone: NA NM


continental shelf: NA NM


exclusive economic zone: NA NM


territorial sea: NA NM


extended fishing zone: NA NM
Merchant marine total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
total: NA


ships by type: NA
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department the East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises a light-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are to develop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reserve personnel over the next five years
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96/97) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,319,537 (2001 est.)
NA
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
710,627 (2001 est.)
NA
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age 18-21 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
64,437 (2001 est.)
NA
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Nationality noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
noun: Timorese


adjective: Timorese
Natural hazards floods, droughts, and blight floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 51.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines petroleum products 136 km NA
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Pary or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or TRABALHISTA [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida Santos COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 NA
Population 5,635,967 (July 2001 est.) 952,618 (July 2002 est.)


note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 46.1% (1993 est.) 42% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 2.48% (2001 est.) 7.26% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors none NA
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios 730,000 (1997) NA
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)
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:
0.85 male(s)/female

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 17 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)
NA
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) NA
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) NA
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus mountainous
Total fertility rate 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.88 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 50% (including underemployment)
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
NA
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