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Compare Laos (2001) - Mongolia (2001)

Compare Laos (2001) z Mongolia (2001)

 Laos (2001)Mongolia (2001)
 LaosMongolia
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 18 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 3 municipalities* (hotuud, singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan*, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Erdenet*, Govi-Altay, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

note:
there may be a new province named Gobi-Sumber; further, there may now be 21 provinces and 1 capital city instead of 18 provinces and 3 municipalities
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:
32.99% (male 445,252; female 430,758)

15-64 years:
63.13% (male 837,771; female 838,384)

65 years and over:
3.88% (male 44,436; female 58,398) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry wheat, barley, potatoes, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses
Airports 51 (2000 est.) 34 (2000 est.)
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:
8

2,438 to 3,047 m:
7

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
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:
26

over 3,047 m:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
5

1,524 to 2,437 m:
10

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
5 (2000 est.)
Area total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
total:
1.565 million sq km

land:
1.565 million sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah slightly smaller than Alaska
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. Long a province of China, Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A communist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually yielded its monopoly on power. In 1996, the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) defeated the MPRP in a national election. Over the next four years the Coalition implemented a number of key reforms to modernize the economy and institutionalize democratic reforms. However, the former communists were a strong opposition that stalled additional reforms and made implementation difficult. In 2000, the MPRP won 72 of the 76 seats in Parliament and completely reshuffled the government. While it continues many of the reform policies, the MPRP is focusing on social welfare and public order priorities.
Birth rate 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 21.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues:
$262 million

expenditures:
$328 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Vientiane Ulaanbaatar
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 12 February 1992
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:
Mongolia

local long form:
none

local short form:
Mongol Uls

former:
Outer Mongolia
Currency kip (LAK) togrog/tugrik (MNT)
Death rate 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.46 billion (1998 est.) $760 million (2000 est.)
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 John DINGER

embassy:
inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol, Ulaanbaatar

mailing address:
United States Embassy in Mongolia, P. O. Box 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002

telephone:
[976] (11) 329095

FAX:
[976] (11) 320776
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 Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR

chancery:
2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone:
[1] (202) 333-7117

FAX:
[1] (202) 298-9227

consulate(s) general:
New York
Disputes - international parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite none
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $200 million (1998 est.)
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. Economic activity traditionally has been based on agriculture and breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive mineral deposits: copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990-91, at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was driven into deep recession, which was prolonged by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious economic reform. The Democratic Coalition (DC) government has embraced free-market economics, easing price controls, liberalizing domestic and international trade, and attempting to restructure the banking system and the energy sector. Major domestic privatization programs were undertaken, as well as the fostering of foreign investment through international tender of the oil distribution company, a leading cashmere company, and banks. Reform was held back by the ex-communist MPRP opposition and by the political instability brought about through four successive governments under the DC. Economic growth picked up in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996 due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of copper and cashmere. In August and September 1999, the economy suffered from a temporary Russian ban on exports of oil and oil products, and Mongolia remains vulnerable in this sector. Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in 1997. The international donor community pledged over $300 million per year at the last Consultative Group Meeting, held in Ulaanbaatar in June 1999. The MPRP government, elected in July 2000, is anxious to improve the investment climate; it must also deal with a heavy burden of external debt.
Electricity - consumption 173.6 million kWh (1999) 2.767 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 705 million kWh (1999) 80 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 142 million kWh (1999) 363 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 792 million kWh (1999) 2.671 billion kWh (1999)
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% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Mekong River 70 m

highest point:
Phou Bia 2,817 m
lowest point:
Hoh Nuur 518 m

highest point:
Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; policies of the former communist regime promoting rapid urbanization and industrial growth have raised concerns about their negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws have severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, the converting of virgin land to agricultural production have increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities have also had a deleterious effect on the environment
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

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% Mongol (predominantly Khalkha) 85%, Turkic (of which Kazakh is the largest group) 7%, Tungusic 4.6%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 3.4% (1998)
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) togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,097.00 (December 2000), 1,076.67 (2000), 1,072.37 (1999), 840.83 (1998), 789.99 (1997), 548.40 (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 Natsagiyn BAGABANDI (since 20 June 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 26 July 2000)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural in consultation with the president

elections:
president nominated by parties in the State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2005); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the State Great Hural; election last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)

election results:
Natsagiyn BAGABANDI reelected president; percent of vote - NA%; Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected prime minister by a vote in the State Great Hural of 68 to 3
Exports $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $454.3 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin copper, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals
Exports - partners Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium China 60%, US 20%, Russia 9%, Japan 2% (2000 est.)
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 three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)
GDP purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $4.7 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
36%

industry:
22%

services:
42% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,780 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) -1% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 46 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note landlocked landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia
Highways total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

unpaved:
10,640 km (1991)
total:
3,387 km

paved:
1,563 km

unpaved:
1,824 km

note:
there are also 45,862 km of rural roads that consist of rough, unimproved, cross-country tracks (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
4.2%

highest 10%:
26.4% (1992)
lowest 10%:
2.9%

highest 10%:
24.5% (1995)
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 -
Imports $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $510.7 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel machinery and equipment, fuels, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea
Imports - partners Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong Russia 33%, China 21%, Japan 12%, South Korea 10%, US 4% (1999)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 11 July 1921 (from China)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 2.4% (2000 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism construction materials, mining (particularly coal and copper); food and beverages, processing of animal products
Infant mortality rate 92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 53.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 33% (2000 est.) 7.6% (1999)
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) ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CCC, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 5 (2001)
Irrigated land 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

note:
rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
800 sq km (1993 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 (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts, but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts for approval by the president)
Labor force 1 million - 1.5 million 1.3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) primarily herding/agricultural
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:
8,161.9 km

border countries:
China 4,676.9 km, Russia 3,485 km
Land use arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
arable land:
5.7%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
81%

forests and woodland:
11.4%

other:
1.9% (2000 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice blend of Russian, Chinese, Turkish, and Western systems of law that combines aspects of a parliamentary system with some aspects of a presidential system; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 State Great Hural (76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held NA July 2004)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPRP 72, other 4
Life expectancy at birth total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

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

male:
62.14 years

female:
66.5 years (2001 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:
97%

male:
98%

female:
97.5% (2000)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Map references Southeast Asia Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
-
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department Mongolian Armed Forces (includes General Purpose Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense Troops); note - Border Troops are under Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs in peacetime
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $25.5 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96/97) 2.3% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,319,537 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
748,779 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
710,627 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49:
486,491 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
64,437 (2001 est.)
males:
30,230 (2001 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)
Nationality noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
noun:
Mongolian(s)

adjective:
Mongolian
Natural hazards floods, droughts, and blight dust and snow storms, grassland and forest fires, drought and "zud", which is a combination of drought followed by harsh winter conditions
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, wolfram, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron, phosphate
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines petroleum products 136 km -
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Citizens' Will Party or CWP (also called Civil Will Party) [Sanjaasurengyn OYUN]; Democratic Party or DP [D. DORLIGAN]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party or MDNSP [B. ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian Republican Party or MRP [B. JARGALSAIHAN]

note:
the MPRP is the ruling party
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.) 2,654,999 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 46.1% (1993 est.) 40% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate 2.48% (2001 est.) 1.47% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none none
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 7, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios 730,000 (1997) 155,900 (1999)
Railways 0 km 1,815 km

broad gauge:
1,815 km 1.524-m gauge (2001)
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism 96%, Muslim (primarily in the southwest), Shamanism, and Christian 4% (1998)
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:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1 male(s)/female (2001 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:
very low density: about 3.5 telephones for each thousand persons

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 104,100 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 110,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 4 (plus 18 provincial repeaters and many low powered repeaters) (1999)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Total fertility rate 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.39 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) NA%
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
400 km (1999)
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