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Compare Laos (2002) - Oman (2001)

Compare Laos (2002) z Oman (2001)

 Laos (2002)Oman (2001)
 LaosOman
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 6 regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note - the US Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate, but this has not been confirmed by the US Board of Geographic Names (BGN)
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:
41.51% (male 554,727; female 533,627)

15-64 years:
56.12% (male 894,978; female 576,672)

65 years and over:
2.37% (male 32,863; female 29,331) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Airports 51 (2001) 143 (2000 est.)
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:
6

over 3,047 m:
4

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
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:
137

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
6

1,524 to 2,437 m:
56

914 to 1,523 m:
37

under 914 m:
36 (2000 est.)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
total:
212,460 sq km

land:
212,460 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah slightly smaller than Kansas
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. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
Birth rate 37.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 37.96 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues:
$4.7 billion

expenditures:
$5.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $490 million (1999)
Capital Vientiane Muscat
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 2,092 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
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:
Sultanate of Oman

conventional short form:
Oman

local long form:
Saltanat Uman

local short form:
Uman

former:
Muscat and Oman
Currency kip (LAK) Omani rial (OMR)
Death rate 12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 4.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $4.5 billion (2000 est.)
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
chief of mission:
Ambassador John B. CRAIG

embassy:
Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat

mailing address:
international: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

telephone:
[968] 698989

FAX:
[968] 699189
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
chief of mission:
Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB

chancery:
2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988

FAX:
[1] (202) 745-4933
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 boundary with the UAE has not been bilaterally defined; northern section in the Musandam Peninsula is an administrative boundary
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $76.4 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% 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. Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in November 2000.
Electricity - consumption 690.6 million kWh (2000) 8.026 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 142 million kWh (2000) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (2000) 8.63 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
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:
Arabian Sea 0 m

highest point:
Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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% Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
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) Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
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:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary
Exports $325 million (2001 est.) $11.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners Thailand 20%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.9%, UK 4.1%, Belgium 4% (2000) Japan 27%, China 12%, Thailand 18%, UAE 12%, South Korea 12%, US (1999)
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 three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band
GDP purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $19.6 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 22%


services: 25% (2000 est.)
agriculture:
3%

industry:
40%

services:
57% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,630 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $7,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2001 est.) 4.6% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 21 00 N, 57 00 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 strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Heliports - 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 14,000 km


paved: 3,360 km


unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)
total:
32,800 km

paved:
9,840 km (including 550 km of expressways)

unpaved:
22,960 km (1996)
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.) $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners Thailand 52%, Singapore 3.9%, Japan 1.6%, Hong Kong 1.5%, China 0.8% (2000) UAE 26% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 9%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, US (1999)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 4% (2000 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
Infant mortality rate 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 22.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2001 est.) -0.8% (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) ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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.)
580 sq km (1993 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

note:
the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) 850,000 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services 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
total:
1,374 km

border countries:
Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Land use arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
95% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited suffrage, however, the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)

elections:
last held NA September 2000 (next to be held NA September 2003)

election results:
NA; note - two women were elected for the first time to Majlis al-Shura, about 100,000 people voted
Life expectancy at birth total population: 53.88 years


male: 51.95 years


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

male:
69.9 years

female:
74.29 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 57%


male: 70%


female: 44% (1999 est.)
definition:
NA

total population:
approaching 80%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Map references Southeast Asia Middle East
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone:
24 NM

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:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,167 GRT/11,307 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes Royal Oman Police)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $2.4 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96/97) 13% (FY00)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,365,027 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
771,919 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 734,945 (2002 est.) males age 15-49:
429,811 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) 14 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 64,437 (2002 est.) males:
26,469 (2001 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun:
Omani(s)

adjective:
Omani
Natural hazards floods, droughts summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines petroleum products 136 km crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed none
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 none
Population 5,777,180 (July 2002 est.) 2,622,198

note:
includes 527,078 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2001 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.47% (2002 est.) 3.43% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios 730,000 (1997) 1.4 million (1997)
Railways 0 km (2001) 0 km
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
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:
1.55 male(s)/female

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

total population:
1.3 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura
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 consisting of open wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable

domestic:
open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 201,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 59,822 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Total fertility rate 5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.) 6.04 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) NA%
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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