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Compare Laos (2003) - Barbados (2001)

Compare Laos (2003) z Barbados (2001)

 Laos (2003)Barbados (2001)
 LaosBarbados
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 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
Age structure 0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,255,172; female 1,242,823)


15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,592,697; female 1,639,431)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,192; female 104,230) (2003 est.)
0-14 years:
21.68% (male 30,122; female 29,572)

15-64 years:
69.44% (male 93,283; female 97,915)

65 years and over:
8.88% (male 9,432; female 15,006) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Airports 51 (2002) 1 (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:
1

over 3,047 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)
-
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


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

land:
430 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah 2.5 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, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997. The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Its economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.
Birth rate 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 13.47 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
revenues:
$725.5 million

expenditures:
$750.6 million, including capital expenditures of $126.3 million (FY97/98 est.)
Capital Vientiane Bridgetown
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 97 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 30 November 1966
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:
none

conventional short form:
Barbados
Currency kip (LAK) Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Death rate 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $425 million (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 James A. DALEY

embassy:
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown

mailing address:
P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055

telephone:
[1] (246) 436-4950

FAX:
[1] (246) 429-5246
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 Michael KING

chancery:
2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 939-9200

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-7467

consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York

consulate(s):
Los Angeles
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.) $9.1 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. Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-2000. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. Growth should remain steady in 2001, with new tourist facilities a plus factor.
Electricity - consumption 824.7 million kWh (2001) 667.7 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.317 billion kWh (2001) 718 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
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:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mount Hillaby 336 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
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:
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity
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% black 80%, white 4%, other 16%
Exchange rates kips per US dollar - 7,562 (2002), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.02 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998) Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
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 Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)

head of government:
Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor general
Exports NA (2001) $260 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing
Exports - partners Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002) UK 14.8%, US 11.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.6%, Venezuela 6.1%, Jamaica 5.8% (1998)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
GDP purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
4%

industry:
16%

services:
80% (1998)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $14,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.7% (2002 est.) 2.8% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 13 10 N, 59 32 W
Geography - note landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand easternmost Caribbean island
Highways total: 21,716 km


paved: 9,664 km


unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
total:
1,600 km

paved:
1,578 km

unpaved:
22 km (1998)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 30.6% (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 one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US
Imports NA (2001) $800.3 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002) US 30.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.2%, Japan 8.3%, UK 7.7%, Canada 2.2% (1998)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 30 November 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 0.8% (1996)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Infant mortality rate total: 88.94 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 99.1 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 78.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
12.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2002 est.) 2% (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) ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 19 (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 of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) 136,000 (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 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:
37%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
5%

forests and woodland:
12%

other:
46% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages English
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
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 Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
House of Assembly - last held 20 January 1999 (next to be held by January 2004)

election results:
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 54.3 years


male: 52.34 years


female: 56.33 years (2003 est.)
total population:
73.25 years

male:
70.66 years

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


total population: 52.8%


male: 67.5%


female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:
97.4%

male:
98%

female:
96.8% (1995 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Map references Southeast Asia Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims none (landlocked) exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
total:
47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 671,545 GRT/1,125,635 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 10, cargo 28, combination bulk 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Canada 2, Hong Kong 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
78,069 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
53,576 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 67,260 (2003 est.) -
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun:
Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)

adjective:
Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Natural hazards floods, droughts infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones petroleum, fish, natural gas
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines refined products 540 km (2003) -
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [David THOMPSON]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Richard HAYNES]
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY]; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
Population 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.) 275,330 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2002 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.45% (2003 est.) 0.46% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 237,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.04 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 (2003 est.)
at birth:
1.01 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.93 male(s)/female (2001 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:
island-wide automatic telephone system

international:
satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 108,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 8,013 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Total fertility rate 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.64 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 11% (1999 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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