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Compare Laos (2002) - New Caledonia (2003)

Compare Laos (2002) z New Caledonia (2003)

 Laos (2002)New Caledonia (2003)
 LaosNew Caledonia
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 France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
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: 29.7% (male 31,990; female 30,695)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 68,093; female 67,205)


65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,016; female 6,799) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Airports 51 (2001) 30 (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: 9


over 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 6


under 914 m: 2 (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: 21


914 to 1,523 m: 12


under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
total: 19,060 sq km


land: 18,575 sq km


water: 485 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah slightly smaller than New Jersey
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. Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s seems to have dissipated.
Birth rate 37.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 19.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues: $861.3 million


expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52 million (1996 est.)
Capital Vientiane Noumea
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 2,254 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
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 New Caledonia and Dependencies


conventional short form: New Caledonia


local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances


local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Currency kip (LAK) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003
Death rate 12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 5.63 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $79 million (1998 est.)
Dependency status - overseas territory of France since 1956
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 (overseas territory of France)
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 (overseas territory of France)
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 Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $880 million annual subsidy from France
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. New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than one-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.
Electricity - consumption 690.6 million kWh (2000) 1.5 billion 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) 1.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 76.3%


hydro: 23.7%


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: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
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% Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
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) Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 135.04 (January 2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)
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 of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner Daniel CONSTANTIN (since 3 July 2002)


head of government: President of the Government Pierre FROGIER (since 5 April 2001)


cabinet: Consultative Committee


elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note - last election held 28 November 2002 when Pierre FROGIER was reelected
Exports $325 million (2001 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners Thailand 20%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.9%, UK 4.1%, Belgium 4% (2000) Japan 20.6%, France 20.4%, Taiwan 16.3%, South Africa 11.3%, Spain 7.7%, South Korea 5.4%, Australia 5.4%, Italy 5.3% (2002)
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 the flag of France is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 22%


services: 25% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 5%


industry: 30%


services: 65% (1997 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,630 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $14,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2001 est.) NA
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 21 30 S, 165 30 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 consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
Heliports - 5 (2002)
Highways total: 14,000 km


paved: 3,360 km


unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)
total: 4,825 km


paved: 2,287 km


unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
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 machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners Thailand 52%, Singapore 3.9%, Japan 1.6%, Hong Kong 1.5%, China 0.8% (2000) France 52.8%, Australia 12.7%, Singapore 9.8% (2002)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) -0.6% (1996)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism nickel mining and smelting
Infant mortality rate 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.76 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2001 est.) -0.6% (2000 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), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
160 sq km (1991)
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) Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) 79,395 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 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: 0.38%


permanent crops: 0.33%


other: 99.29% (1998 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
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 Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie 3, LKS 1


note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to be held by June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 53.88 years


male: 51.95 years


female: 55.87 years (2002 est.)
total population: 73.52 years


male: 70.57 years


female: 76.62 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: 91%


male: 92%


female: 90% (1976 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
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.)
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Malaysia 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of France
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $192.3 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96/97) 5.3% (FY96)
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) Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun: New Caledonian(s)


adjective: New Caledonian
Natural hazards floods, droughts cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
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 Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (anti independent) or RPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]
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.) 210,798 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.47% (2002 est.) 1.38% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors none Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
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 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
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: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 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: NA


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 13,040 (1998)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus coastal plains with interior mountains
Total fertility rate 5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.39 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 19% (1996)
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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