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Compare Laos (2002) - Papua New Guinea (2004)

Compare Laos (2002) z Papua New Guinea (2004)

 Laos (2002)Papua New Guinea (2004)
 LaosPapua New Guinea
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 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
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: 38.3% (male 1,053,940; female 1,019,492)


15-64 years: 58% (male 1,622,124; female 1,519,104)


65 years and over: 3.8% (male 96,638; female 108,982) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork
Airports 51 (2001) 559 (2003 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: 21


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 14


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 1 (2004 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: 550


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 62


under 914 m: 478 (2004 est.)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
total: 462,840 sq km


land: 452,860 sq km


water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah slightly larger than California
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 eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.
Birth rate 37.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 30.52 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
revenues: $954.1 million


expenditures: $996.8 million, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2003 est.)
Capital Vientiane Port Moresby
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 5,152 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 16 September 1975
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: Independent State of Papua New Guinea


conventional short form: Papua New Guinea


former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea


abbreviation: PNG
Currency kip (LAK) kina (PGK)
Death rate 12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $2.909 billion (2003 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 Robert W. FITTS


embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby


mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240


telephone: [675] 321-1455


FAX: [675] 321-3423
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 Evan Jeremy PAKI


chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036


telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680


FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
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 seeks assistance from Australia to control illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including smuggling, drug trafficking, and Indonesian squatters and secessionists
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $400 million (1999 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% 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. Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The economy has faltered over the past four years. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had tried to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize the kina, restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in attracting international support, specifically gaining the backing of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance loans. Challenges face Prime Minister Michael SOMARE, including curbing inflation, gaining further investor confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, maintaining the support of members of Parliament, and balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler.
Electricity - consumption 690.6 million kWh (2000) 1.391 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) 1.496 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
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: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


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, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
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) kina per US dollar - 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002), 3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000), 2.5708 (1999)
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: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004)


head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); deputy prime minister (vacant)


cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the governor general
Exports $325 million (2001 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Exports - partners Thailand 20%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.9%, UK 4.1%, Belgium 4% (2000) Australia 25.6%, Japan 7.4%, China 5.8% (2003)
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 divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered
GDP purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $11.48 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 22%


services: 25% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 34%


industry: 37.7%


services: 28.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,630 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2001 est.) 1.4% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 6 00 S, 147 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 shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
Heliports - 2 (2003 est.)
Highways total: 14,000 km


paved: 3,360 km


unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)
total: 19,600 km


paved: 686 km


unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 31% (1997)
lowest 10%: 1.7%


highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
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 transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners Thailand 52%, Singapore 3.9%, Japan 1.6%, Hong Kong 1.5%, China 0.8% (2000) Australia 44.6%, Singapore 20.6%, New Zealand 7.7%, China 5% (2003)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) NA (FY01/02 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism
Infant mortality rate 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 53.15 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 57.39 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 48.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2001 est.) 14.7% (2003 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) ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (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) Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) 3.25 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) agriculture 85%, 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: 820 km


border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Land use arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0.46%


permanent crops: 1.44%


other: 98.1% (2001)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region


note: 715 indigenous languages -- many unrelated
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice based on English common 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 National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003; completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not later than June 2007


election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%, URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%; seats by party - National Alliance 19, UPR 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, Pangu 6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with political parties is fluid (2003)
Life expectancy at birth total population: 53.88 years


male: 51.95 years


female: 55.87 years (2002 est.)
total population: 64.56 years


male: 62.41 years


female: 66.81 years (2004 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: 64.6%


male: 71.1%


female: 57.7% (2002)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Map references Southeast Asia Oceania
Maritime claims none (landlocked) measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive fishing zone: 200 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: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT


by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 2


foreign-owned: Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6


registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department Papua New Guinea Defense Force: Ground Force, Maritime Operations Element, and Air Operations Element
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $16.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96/97) 1.4% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,365,027 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 1,403,467 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 734,945 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 775,064 (2004 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) Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun: Papua New Guinean(s)


adjective: Papua New Guinean
Natural hazards floods, droughts active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines petroleum products 136 km oil 264 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Christian Democratic Party [Dr.Banare BUN, party leader]; Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party leader]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George MANOA, party president]; National Party [Melchior PEP, party leader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Party [Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA, party leader]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU, party leader]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter O'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Andrew BAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE, party leader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party leader]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA, party leader]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE, party leader] (2004)
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.) 5,420,280 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2001 est.) 37% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 2.47% (2002 est.) 2.3% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors none Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Radios 730,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km (2001) -
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
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: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


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


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 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: services are adequate; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services


domestic: mostly radiotelephone


international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 62,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 15,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 3 (all in the Port Moresby area)


note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Total fertility rate 5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.) 4.04 children born/woman (2004 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
10,940 km (2003)
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