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Compare Laos (2001) - Zambia (2005)

Compare Laos (2001) z Zambia (2005)

 Laos (2001)Zambia (2005)
 LaosZambia
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 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
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: 46.5% (male 2,626,911/female 2,609,857)


15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,848,402/female 2,904,376)


65 years and over: 2.4% (male 118,043/female 154,206) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee
Airports 51 (2000 est.) 109 (2004 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: 10


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 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: 99


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 62


under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)
Area total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
total: 752,614 sq km


land: 740,724 sq km


water: 11,890 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah slightly larger than Texas
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 territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the prosecution of former President Frederick CHILUBA and many of his supporters in late 2003. Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
Birth rate 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 41.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues: $1.129 billion


expenditures: $1.307 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital Vientiane Lusaka
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 24 August 1991
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: Republic of Zambia


conventional short form: Zambia


former: Northern Rhodesia
Currency kip (LAK) -
Death rate 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 20.23 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $2.46 billion (1998 est.) $5.353 billion (2004 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 Martin George BRENNAN


embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues


mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka


telephone: [260] (1) 250-955


FAX: [260] (1) 252-225
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 Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA


chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719


FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
Disputes - international parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections and joined Namibia in supporting plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; 90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated from Zambia by 2004, the remaining 160,000 are expected to return in 2005
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $651 million (2000 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. Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economic growth remains somewhat below the 5% to 7% needed to reduce poverty significantly. Privatization of government-owned copper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output increased in 2004 and is expected to increase again in 2005, due to higher copper prices and the opening of new mines. The maize harvest was again good in 2004, helping boost GDP and agricultural exports. Cooperation continues with international bodies on programs to reduce poverty, including a new lending arrangement with the IMF in the second quarter, 2004. A tighter monetary policy will help cut inflation, but Zambia still has a serious problem with fiscal discipline.
Electricity - consumption 173.6 million kWh (1999) 5.345 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 705 million kWh (1999) 2.25 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 142 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 792 million kWh (1999) 8.167 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
2.78%

hydro:
97.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Mekong River 70 m

highest point:
Phou Bia 2,817 m
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m


highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
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, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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% African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
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) Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 4,778.9 (2004), 4,733.3 (2003), 4,398.6 (2002), 3,610.9 (2001), 3,110.8 (2000)
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 Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006); vice president appointed by the president


election results: Levy MWANAWASA elected president; percent of vote - Levy MWANAWASA 29%, Anderson MAZOKA 27%, Christon TEMBO 13%, Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%, Godfrey MIYANDA 8%, Benjamin MWILA 5%, Michael SATA 3%, other 5%
Exports $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton
Exports - partners Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium South Africa 25.6%, UK 17%, Switzerland 16%, Tanzania 7.4%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7%, Zimbabwe 5.8% (2004)
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 green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 14.9%


industry: 28.9%


services: 56.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 4.6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 15 00 S, 30 00 E
Geography - note landlocked landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe
Highways total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

unpaved:
10,640 km (1991)
total: 91,440 km


paved: 20,117 km


unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
4.2%

highest 10%:
26.4% (1992)
lowest 10%: 1.1%


highest 10%: 41% (1998)
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 moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers
Imports $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong South Africa 46.2%, UK 14.2%, UAE 7.1%, Zimbabwe 6% (2004)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 24 October 1964 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 6.9% (2004 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Infant mortality rate 92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 88.29 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 95.63 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 80.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 33% (2000 est.) 18.3% (2004 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, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (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.)
460 sq km (1998 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 (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)
Labor force 1 million - 1.5 million 4.63 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%
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: 5,664 km


border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Land use arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
arable land: 7.08%


permanent crops: 0.03%


other: 92.9% (2001)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; 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 National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%, UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%; seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP 1, independents 1; seats not determined 2
Life expectancy at birth total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

female:
55.44 years (2001 est.)
total population: 39.7 years


male: 39.43 years


female: 39.98 years (2005 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 English


total population: 80.6%


male: 86.8%


female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Southern Africa, east of Angola
Map references Southeast Asia Africa
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 Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Army, Air Force, Police, National Service
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $106.8 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96/97) 1.8% (2004)
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, 24 October (1964)
Nationality noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
noun: Zambian(s)


adjective: Zambian
Natural hazards floods, droughts, and blight periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines petroleum products 136 km oil 771 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA, acting president]; National Leadership for Development or NLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline KONIE]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA, president]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]
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.) 11,261,795


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line 46.1% (1993 est.) 86% (1993)
Population growth rate 2.48% (2001 est.) 2.12% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors none Mpulungu
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios 730,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 2,173 km


narrow gauge: 2,173 km 1.067-m gauge


note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2004)
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
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: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 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: facilities are aging but still among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa


domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms


international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 88,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 241,000 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 9 (2002)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Total fertility rate 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.) 5.47 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 50% (2000 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
2,250 km


note: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers (2003)
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