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Compare Laos (2001) - Grenada (2003)

Compare Laos (2001) z Grenada (2003)

 Laos (2001)Grenada (2003)
 LaosGrenada
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 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
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.)
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 15,840; female 15,492)


15-64 years: 61.3% (male 28,941; female 25,735)


65 years and over: 3.6% (male 1,502; female 1,748) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Airports 51 (2000 est.) 3 (2002)
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


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


under 914 m: 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.)
-
Area total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
total: 344 sq km


land: 344 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah twice the size of Washington, DC
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. 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.
Birth rate 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 22.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues: $85.8 million


expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997)
Capital Vientiane Saint George's
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 121 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 19 December 1973
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: none


conventional short form: Grenada
Currency kip (LAK) East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Death rate 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 7.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $2.46 billion (1998 est.) $196 million (2000)
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: 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
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 Denis G. ANTOINE


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


telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561


FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468


consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite none
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $8.3 million (1995)
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. Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange, especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output.
Electricity - consumption 173.6 million kWh (1999) 128.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 705 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 142 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 792 million kWh (1999) 138 million kWh (2001)
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% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Mekong River 70 m

highest point:
Phou Bia 2,817 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water NA
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
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
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% black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5% , and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
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) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
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: 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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Exports $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium Germany 14%, US 13.6%, Bangladesh 9.7%, Netherlands 8.6%, Saint Lucia 6.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.3%, France 4.1% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band 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
GDP purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $440 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 7.7%


industry: 23.9%


services: 68.4% (2000)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 2.5% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 12 07 N, 61 40 W
Geography - note landlocked the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
Highways total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

unpaved:
10,640 km (1991)
total: 1,040 km


paved: 638 km


unpaved: 402 km (1999 est.)
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 small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US
Imports $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong US 30.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 27.3%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 7 February 1974 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 0.7% (1997 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction
Infant mortality rate 92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 15.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 33% (2000 est.) 2.8% (2001 est.)
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) 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 (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 14 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

note:
rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
NA sq km
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) West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judge resides in Grenada)
Labor force 1 million - 1.5 million 42,300 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) services 62%, agriculture 24%, industry 14% (1999 est.)
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
0 km
Land use arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
arable land: 5.88%


permanent crops: 26.47%


other: 67.65% (1998 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages English (official), French patois
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice based on English common law
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
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 27 November 2003 (next to be held by NA November 2008)


election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7
Life expectancy at birth total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

female:
55.44 years (2001 est.)
total population: 64.52 years


male: 62.74 years


female: 66.31 years (2003 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: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Map references Southeast Asia Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims none (landlocked) exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 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.)
none (2002 est.)
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96/97) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,319,537 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
710,627 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
64,437 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Nationality noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
noun: Grenadian(s)


adjective: Grenadian
Natural hazards floods, droughts, and blight lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -14.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines petroleum products 136 km -
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Herbert PREUDHOMME]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [leader vacant]; New National Party or NNP [George McGUIRE]; People Labor Movement or PLM [leader NA]
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.) 89,258 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 46.1% (1993 est.) 32% (2000)
Population growth rate 2.48% (2001 est.) 0.08% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none Grenville, Saint George's
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 730,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
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.)
at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female


total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 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)
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
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 27,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 976 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 2 (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus volcanic in origin with central mountains
Total fertility rate 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.45 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 12.5% (2000)
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
none
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