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Compare Laos (2003) - Cameroon (2001)

Compare Laos (2003) z Cameroon (2001)

 Laos (2003)Cameroon (2001)
 LaosCameroon
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 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
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:
42.37% (male 3,385,898; female 3,310,504)

15-64 years:
54.28% (male 4,305,354; female 4,271,958)

65 years and over:
3.35% (male 244,419; female 285,087) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Airports 51 (2002) 49 (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:
11

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 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:
38

1,524 to 2,437 m:
7

914 to 1,523 m:
21

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
total:
475,440 sq km

land:
469,440 sq km

water:
6,000 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, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997. The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Birth rate 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 36.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
revenues:
$2.1 billion

expenditures:
$2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
Capital Vientiane Yaounde
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 402 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996
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:
Republic of Cameroon

conventional short form:
Cameroon

former:
French Cameroon
Currency kip (LAK) Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Death rate 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 11.99 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $10.9 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 M. YATES

embassy:
Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde

mailing address:
P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520

telephone:
[237] 23-40-14, 22-25-89, 23-05-12, 22-17-94

FAX:
[237] 23-07-53

branch office(s):
Douala
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 Jerome MENDOUGA

chancery:
2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-8790

FAX:
[1] (202) 387-3826
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 delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is complete and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; tripartite maritime boundary and economic zone dispute with Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria is currently before the ICJ
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; total debt relief now amounts to $1.26 billion
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. Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency and privatization. Higher oil prices in 2000 helped to offset the country's lower cocoa export revenues. A rebound in the cocoa market should increase growth to over 5% in 2001.
Electricity - consumption 824.7 million kWh (2001) 3.227 billion 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) 3.47 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel:
2.59%

hydro:
97.41%

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:
Fako 4,095 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified:
Nuclear Test Ban
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% Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
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) Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro
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 Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)

head of government:
Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19 September 1996)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the Prime Minister

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidates boycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote shares relatively meaningless
Exports NA (2001) $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Exports - partners Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002) Italy 24%, France 18%, Netherlands 10% (2000 est.)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 July - 30 June
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 green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
GDP purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $26 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
43.4%

industry:
20.1%

services:
36.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.7% (2002 est.) 4.4% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 6 00 N, 12 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 sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
Highways total: 21,716 km


paved: 9,664 km


unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
total:
34,300 km

paved:
4,288 km

unpaved:
30,012 km (1995)
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 -
Imports NA (2001) $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods machines and electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002) France 29%, Germany 7%, US 6%, Japan 6% (2000 est.)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 4.2% (1999 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber
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.)
69.83 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) ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CCC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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.)
210 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 (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of nine judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
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:
4,591 km

border countries:
Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Land use arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
arable land:
13%

permanent crops:
2%

permanent pastures:
4%

forests and woodland:
78%

other:
3% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice based on French civil law system, with common law influence; 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
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature)

elections:
last held 17 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RDCP 109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note - results from 7 contested seats were cancelled by the Supreme Court, further elections on 3 August 1997 gave these seats to the RDPC

note:
the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Life expectancy at birth total population: 54.3 years


male: 52.34 years


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

male:
53.76 years

female:
55.44 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 can read and write

total population:
63.4%

male:
75%

female:
52.1% (1995 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Map references Southeast Asia Africa
Maritime claims none (landlocked) territorial sea:
50 NM
Merchant marine total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
-
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $118.6 million (FY00/01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96) 1.4% (FY98/99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
3,762,369 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
1,903,149 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 67,260 (2003 est.) males:
174,308 (2001 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Republic Day, 20 May (1972)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun:
Cameroonian(s)

adjective:
Cameroonian
Natural hazards floods, droughts recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Pipelines refined products 540 km (2003) -
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader NA]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MLJC [Marcel YONDO]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA, chairman]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian Populations has two sections UPC-N [Ndeh NTUMAZAH] and UPC-K [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 Cameroon Anglophone Movement or CAM [Vishe FAI, secretary general]; Southern Cameroon National Council [Nfor Ngala NFOR, acting]
Population 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.) 15,803,220

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2002 est.) 48% (2000 est.)
Population growth rate 2.45% (2003 est.) 2.41% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios - 2.27 million (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
1,104 km

narrow gauge:
1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
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:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 20 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:
available only to business and government

domestic:
cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 75,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 4,200 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 1 (1998)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Total fertility rate 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.) 4.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 30% (1998 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
2,090 km (of decreasing importance)
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