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Compare Laos (2003) - Moldova (2001)

Compare Laos (2003) z Moldova (2001)

 Laos (2003)Moldova (2001)
 LaosMoldova
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 juletule (singular - juletul), 1 municipality*, and 1 autonomous territorial unit**; Balti, Cahul, Chisinau, Chisinau*, Dubasari, Edinet, Gagauzia**, Lapusna, Orhei, Soroca, Tighina, Ungheni
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:
22.44% (male 506,303; female 488,311)

15-64 years:
67.62% (male 1,437,492; female 1,559,090)

65 years and over:
9.94% (male 163,473; female 276,901) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk
Airports 51 (2002) 30 (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:
7

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

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:
23

2,438 to 3,047 m:
4

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
4

under 914 m:
14 (2000 est.)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
total:
33,843 sq km

land:
33,371 sq km

water:
472 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah slightly larger than Maryland
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. Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru (Dnister) River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe and plagued by a moribund economy, in 2001 Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a communist as its president.
Birth rate 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 13.35 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
revenues:
$536 million

expenditures:
$594 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Capital Vientiane Chisinau
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) moderate winters, warm summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979
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 Moldova

conventional short form:
Moldova

local long form:
Republica Moldova

local short form:
none

former:
Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia
Currency kip (LAK) Moldovan leu (MDL)
Death rate 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 12.6 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $900 million (2000)
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 Rudolf Vilem PERINA

embassy:
Strada Alexei Mateevicie, #103, Chisinau 2009

mailing address:
use embassy street address; pouch address - American Embassy Chisinau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7080

telephone:
[373] (2) 23-37-72

FAX:
[373] (2) 23-30-44
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 Ceslav CIOBANU

chancery:
2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 667-1130

FAX:
[1] (202) 667-1204
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 separatist Transnistria region, comprising the area between the Nistru (Dniester) River and Ukraine, has its own de facto government, dominated by Moldovan Slavs
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $100.8 million (1995); note - $547 million from the IMF and World Bank (1992-99)
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. Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. Yet these efforts could not offset the impact of political and economic difficulties, both internal and regional. In 1998, the economic troubles of Russia, by far Moldova's leading trade partner, were a major cause of the 8.6% drop in GDP. In 1999, GDP fell again, by 4.4%, the fifth drop in the past seven years; exports were down, and energy supplies continued to be erratic. GDP declined slightly in 2000, with a serious drought hurting agriculture. Growth should turn positive in 2001.
Electricity - consumption 824.7 million kWh (2001) 5.78 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (2001) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 1.916 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.317 billion kWh (2001) 4.155 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel:
93.62%

hydro:
6.38%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
lowest point:
Nistru (Dnister) River 2 m

highest point:
Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
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:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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% Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Gagauz 3.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, other 1.7% (1989 est.)

note:
internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region
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) lei per US dollar - 12.3728 (January 2001), 12.4342 (2000), 10.5158 (1999), 5.3707 (1998), 4.6236 (1997), 4.6045 (1996); note - lei is the plural form of leu
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 Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)

head of government:
Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001), three Deputy Prime Ministers: Valerian CRISTEA, Andrei CUCU, and Dmitri TODOROGLO (all since 19 April 2001)

cabinet:
selected by prime minister, subject to approval of Parliament

elections:
president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 4 April 2001; presidential elections were scheduled for December 2000, but in July 2000, Parliament canceled direct popular elections; Parliament's failure to chose a new president in December 2000 led to early parliamentary elections (moved up a year to February 2001); according to the Moldovan constitution, the president, on consulting with Parliament, will designate a candidate for the office of prime minister; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate will request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated on 15 April 2001, cabinet received vote of confidence on 19 April 2001

election results:
Vladimir VORONIN elected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 71, Dumitru BRAGHIS 15, Valerian CHRISTEA 3; Vasile TARLEV elected Prime Minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101
Exports NA (2001) $500 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin foodstuffs 57%, wine, tobacco; textiles and footwear, machinery (1999)
Exports - partners Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002) Russia 41%, Romania 9%, Germany 8%, Ukraine 7%, Italy, Belarus (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 same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow
GDP purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $11.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
31%

industry:
35%

services:
34% (1998)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.7% (2002 est.) -1.5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 47 00 N, 29 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 landlocked
Highways total: 21,716 km


paved: 9,664 km


unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
total:
20,000 km

paved:
13,900 km (these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather)

unpaved:
6,100 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1990)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
lowest 10%:
2.7%

highest 10%:
25.8% (1992)
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 limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US
Imports NA (2001) $761 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods mineral products and fuel 38%, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (1999)
Imports - partners Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002) Russia 21%, Romania 16%, Ukraine 14%, Germany 12%, Italy 6%, Belarus (1999)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 3% (2000 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles
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.)
42.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2002 est.) 32% (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, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (1999)
Irrigated land 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
3,110 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; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) 1.7 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) agriculture 40%, industry 14%, other 46% (1998)
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:
1,389 km

border countries:
Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Land use arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
arable land:
53%

permanent crops:
14%

permanent pastures:
13%

forests and woodland:
13%

other:
7% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents
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 Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs, as well as independent candidates, elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PCM 50.1%, Braghis Alliance 13.4%, PPCD 8.2%, other parties 28.3%; seats by party - PCM 71, Braghis Alliance 19, PPCD 11
Life expectancy at birth total population: 54.3 years


male: 52.34 years


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

male:
60.15 years

female:
69.26 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:
96%

male:
99%

female:
94% (1989 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Map references Southeast Asia Commonwealth of Independent States
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
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 Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $6 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96) 1% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
1,164,018 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
921,210 (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:
42,268 (2001 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun:
Moldovan(s)

adjective:
Moldovan
Natural hazards floods, droughts landslides (57 cases in 1998)
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines refined products 540 km (2003) natural gas 310 km (1992)
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Braghis Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]; Communist Party or PCM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 NA
Population 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.) 4,431,570 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2002 est.) 75% (1999 est.)
Population growth rate 2.45% (2003 est.) 0.05% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none none
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios - 3.22 million (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
1,328 km

broad gauge:
1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (1992)
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) Eastern Orthodox 98.5%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist (only about 1,000 members) (1991)
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:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.91 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:
inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau, some effort to modernize is under way

domestic:
new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular telephone service being introduced

international:
service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 627,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 2,200 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Total fertility rate 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.67 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 1.9% (includes only officially registered unemployed; large numbers of underemployed workers) (November 2000)
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
424 km (1994)
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