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Compare Laos (2002) - Guam (2003)

Compare Laos (2002) z Guam (2003)

 Laos (2002)Guam (2003)
 LaosGuam
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 (territory of the US)
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,233,659; female 1,219,872)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 1,543,246; female 1,591,419)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 86,375; female 102,609) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 35.1% (male 30,334; female 27,264)


15-64 years: 58.4% (male 50,258; female 45,538)


65 years and over: 6.4% (male 5,269; female 5,278) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Airports 51 (2001) 5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
total: 4


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2002)
total: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
total: 549 sq km


land: 549 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah three 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. Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.
Birth rate 37.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 23.19 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues: $340 million


expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital Vientiane Hagatna (Agana)
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 125.5 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 Organic Act of 1 August 1950
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: Territory of Guam


conventional short form: Guam


local long form: Guahan
Currency kip (LAK) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $NA
Dependency status - organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. HARTWICK


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 (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay


chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416


FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is nearing completion, but with Thailand, several areas including Mekong River islets, remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and Vietnam over squatters none
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury ($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
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% in 1988-2001 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure; it 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. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food-processing and mining. The economy depends on US military spending, tourism, and the export of fish and handicrafts. Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry has recently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japanese slowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
Electricity - consumption 690.6 million kWh (2000) 771.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 142 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (2000) 830 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
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: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
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% Chamorro 37%, Filipino 26%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other 27%
Exchange rates kips per US dollar - 9,467.00 (December 2001), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997) 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 27 March 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27 March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since NA May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March 2001), and Deputy Prime Minister 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 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); 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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Felix P. P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003) and Lieutenant Governor Kaleo MOYLAN (since 6 January 2003)


cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Felix P. P. CAMACHO elected governor; percent of vote - Felix P. P. CAMACHO (Republican Party) 55.4%, Robert A. UNDERWOOD (Democratic Party) 44.6%
Exports $325 million (2001 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products; construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports - partners Thailand 20%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.9%, UK 4.1%, Belgium 4% (2000) Japan 81.7%, South Korea 6.1%, Canada 2.4% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 October - 30 September
Flag description three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag
GDP purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $3.2 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 22%


services: 25% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 7%


industry: 15%


services: 78% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,630 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2001 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Geography - note landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
Highways total: 14,000 km


paved: 3,360 km


unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)
total: 885 km


paved: 675 km


unpaved: 210 km


note: there are also 685 km of roads classified non-public, including roads located on federal government installations
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 31% (1997)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimated potential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from 2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis; growing methamphetamine abuse problem -
Imports $540 million f.o.b. (2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners Thailand 52%, Singapore 3.9%, Japan 1.6%, Hong Kong 1.5%, China 0.8% (2000) Singapore 40.5%, South Korea 21.7%, Japan 21.6%, Hong Kong 4.9% (2002)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) none (territory of the US)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) NA%
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Infant mortality rate 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 6.46 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 6.62 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2001 est.) 0% (1999 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 20 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,640 sq km


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) Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) 60,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) federal and territorial government 26%, private 74% (trade 24%, other services 40%, industry 10%) (2000 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: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
arable land: 10.91%


permanent crops: 10.91%


other: 78.18% (1998 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages English, Chamorro, Japanese
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)


elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109
unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6


note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party) was elected as delegate; percent of vote by party - Democratic Party 64.6%, Republican Party 35.4%; seats by party - Democratic Party 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 53.88 years


male: 51.95 years


female: 55.87 years (2002 est.)
total population: 78.27 years


male: 75.96 years


female: 80.9 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: 99%


male: 99%


female: 99% (1990 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Map references Southeast Asia Oceania
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/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), 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: 1,365,027 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 734,945 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 64,437 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun: Guamanian(s)


adjective: Guamanian
Natural hazards floods, droughts frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 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 Democratic Party (controls the legislature) [speaker, Vicente (Ben) PANGELINAN]; Republican Party (party of Governor CAMACHO) [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 NA
Population 5,777,180 (July 2002 est.) 163,941 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2001 est.) 23% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 2.47% (2002 est.) 1.89% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none Apra Harbor
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2003)
Radios 730,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km (2001) 0 km
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
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: 0.84 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female


total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
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: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers


domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internet


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, and GTE, linking the US and Asia)
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 84,134 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 55,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 5 (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south
Total fertility rate 5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.) 3.62 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 15% (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
none
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