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Compare Laos (2001) - Turks and Caicos Islands (2001)

Compare Laos (2001) z Turks and Caicos Islands (2001)

 Laos (2001)Turks and Caicos Islands (2001)
 LaosTurks and Caicos Islands
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 none (overseas territory of the UK)
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:
32.58% (male 2,996; female 2,908)

15-64 years:
63.51% (male 6,050; female 5,459)

65 years and over:
3.91% (male 316; female 393) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Airports 51 (2000 est.) 8 (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:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

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.)
total:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Area total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

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

land:
430 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah 2.5 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. The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory.
Birth rate 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 24.89 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues:
$47 million

expenditures:
$33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-1998 est.)
Capital Vientiane Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk)
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 389 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988
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:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Currency kip (LAK) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.46 billion (1998 est.) $NA
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK
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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite none
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $4.1 million (1997)
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 Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of the 87,000 visitors; tourist arrivals had risen to 93,000 by 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
Electricity - consumption 173.6 million kWh (1999) 4.6 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) 5 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:
Blue Hills 49 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, private cisterns collect rainwater
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% black
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) the US dollar is used
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 1953), represented by Governor Mervyn JONES (since 27 January 2000)

head of government:
Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)

cabinet:
Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Exports $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $4.7 million (1993)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium US, UK
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 blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
GDP purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $128 million (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

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

industry:
NA%

services:
NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 8.7% (1999 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geography - note landlocked 30 islands (eight inhabited)
Highways total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

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

paved:
24 km

unpaved:
97 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 narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Imports $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $46.6 million (1993)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports - partners Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong US, UK
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) NA%
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism tourism, offshore financial services
Infant mortality rate 92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 18.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 33% (2000 est.) 4% (1995)
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) Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
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) Supreme Court
Labor force 1 million - 1.5 million 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services (1997 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:
2%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
98% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages English (official)
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice based on laws of England and Wales, with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
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 Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 4 March 1999 (next to be held by NA 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%, independent 6.9%; seats by party - PDM 9, PNP 4
Life expectancy at birth total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

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

male:
71.37 years

female:
75.77 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:
98%

male:
99%

female:
98% (1970 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
Map references Southeast Asia Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims none (landlocked) exclusive fishing 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 (2000 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), 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:
1,319,537 (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) Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Nationality noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
noun:
none

adjective:
none
Natural hazards floods, droughts, and blight frequent hurricanes
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones spiny lobster, conch
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.69 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 People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]
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.) 18,122 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 46.1% (1993 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.48% (2001 est.) 3.41% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Grand Turk, Providenciales
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 730,000 (1997) 8,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
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:
1.11 male(s)/female

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

total population:
1.07 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:
fair cable and radiotelephone services

domestic:
NA

international:
2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 0 (1994)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Total fertility rate 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.) 3.22 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 10% (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
none
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