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Compare Laos (2001) - Saint Kitts and Nevis (2001)

Compare Laos (2001) z Saint Kitts and Nevis (2001)

 Laos (2001)Saint Kitts and Nevis (2001)
 LaosSaint Kitts and Nevis
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 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
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:
29.84% (male 5,909; female 5,654)

15-64 years:
61.37% (male 11,870; female 11,915)

65 years and over:
8.79% (male 1,406; female 2,002) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Airports 51 (2000 est.) 2 (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:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 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.)
-
Area total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
total:
261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)

land:
261 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah 1.5 times 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. First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed.
Birth rate 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 18.78 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues:
$64.1 million

expenditures:
$73.3 million, including capital expenditures of $10.4 million (1997 est.)
Capital Vientiane Basseterre
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 135 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 19 September 1983
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:
Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

conventional short form:
Saint Kitts and Nevis

former:
Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Currency kip (LAK) East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Death rate 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 9.21 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.46 billion (1998 est.) $115.1 million (1998)
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
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
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 Dr. Osbert W. LIBURD

chancery:
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

telephone:
[1] (202) 686-2636

FAX:
[1] (202) 686-5740
Disputes - international parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite none
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $5.5 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. The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking activity have assumed larger roles. Most food is imported. The government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs. In 1997 some leaders in Nevis were urging separation from Saint Kitts on the basis that Nevis was paying far more in taxes than it was receiving in government services, but the vote on cessation failed in August 1998. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $445 million in damages and limited GDP growth for the year.
Electricity - consumption 173.6 million kWh (1999) 83.7 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 705 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 142 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 792 million kWh (1999) 90 million 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:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
Mount Liamuiga 1,156 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, 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% predominantly black some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
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 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
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 Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultation with the prime minister

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Exports $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $53.2 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium US 68.5%, UK 22.3%, Caricom countries 5.5% (1995 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 divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
GDP purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $274 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
agriculture:
5.5%

industry:
22.5%

services:
72% (1996)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 17 20 N, 62 45 W
Geography - note landlocked -
Highways total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

unpaved:
10,640 km (1991)
total:
320 km

paved:
136 km

unpaved:
184 km (2000)
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 transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Imports $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $151.5 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong US 42.4%, Caricom countries 17.2%, UK 11.3% (1995 est.)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 19 September 1983 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) NA%
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Infant mortality rate 92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 33% (2000 est.) 2.5% (2000 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, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 16 (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) Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Labor force 1 million - 1.5 million 18,172 (June 1995)
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
0 km
Land use arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
arable land:
22%

permanent crops:
17%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
17%

other:
41% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages English
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
unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 6 March 2000 (next to be held by July 2005)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SKNLP 8, CCM 2, NRP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

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

male:
68.22 years

female:
73.97 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 has ever attended school

total population:
97%

male:
97%

female:
98% (1980 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Map references Southeast Asia Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

territorial sea:
12 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 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 (2000 est.)
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force, Coast Guard, Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force
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, 19 September (1983)
Nationality noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
noun:
Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)

adjective:
Kittitian, Nevisian
Natural hazards floods, droughts, and blight hurricanes (July to October)
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones arable land
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -10.68 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 Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM [Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS]
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.) 38,756 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 46.1% (1993 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.48% (2001 est.) -0.11% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Basseterre, Charlestown
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 730,000 (1997) 28,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
58 km

narrow gauge:
58 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations (1995)
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
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:
1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.98 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:
good interisland and international connections

domestic:
interisland links to Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) are handled by VHF/UHF/SHF radiotelephone

international:
international calls are carried by radiotelephone to Antigua and Barbuda and switched there to submarine cable or to Intelsat; or carried to Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) by radiotelephone and switched to Intelsat
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 17,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 205 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 1 (plus three repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus volcanic with mountainous interiors
Total fertility rate 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.41 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 4.5% (1997)
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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