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Compare Laos (2003) - Slovakia (2001)

Compare Laos (2003) z Slovakia (2001)

 Laos (2003)Slovakia (2001)
 LaosSlovakia
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 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
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:
18.86% (male 522,563; female 498,832)

15-64 years:
69.6% (male 1,872,496; female 1,896,249)

65 years and over:
11.54% (male 236,996; female 387,801) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Airports 51 (2002) 35 (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:
18

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
8 (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:
17

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
9

under 914 m:
7 (2000 est.)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
total:
48,845 sq km

land:
48,800 sq km

water:
45 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah about twice the size of New Hampshire
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. In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Historic, political, and geographic factors have caused Slovakia to experience more difficulty in developing a modern market economy than some of its Central European neighbors.
Birth rate 36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 10.05 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est. est.)
revenues:
$5.2 billion

expenditures:
$5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Capital Vientiane Bratislava
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
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:
Slovak Republic

conventional short form:
Slovakia

local long form:
Slovenska Republika

local short form:
Slovensko
Currency kip (LAK) Slovak koruna (SKK)
Death rate 12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 9.25 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.53 billion (1999) $10.3 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 Carl SPIELVOGEL

embassy:
Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava

mailing address:
use embassy street address

telephone:
[421] (7) 5443-3338

FAX:
[421] (7) 5443-0096
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 Martin BUTORA

chancery:
Suite 250, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; note - new chancery opening in June 2001 at International Court NW, Washington, DC

telephone:
[1] (202) 965-5161

FAX:
[1] (202) 965-5166
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 Gabcikovo/Nagymaros Dam dispute with Hungary is before the ICJ
Economic aid - recipient $345 million (1999 est.) $421.9 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. Slovakia continues the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The economic slowdown in 1999 stemmed from large budget and current account deficits, fast-growing external debt, and persistent corruption. Even though GDP growth reached only 2.2% in 2000, the year was marked by positive developments such as foreign direct investment of $1.5 billion, strong export performance, restructuring and privatization in the banking sector, entry into the OECD, and initial efforts to stem corruption. Strong challenges face the government in 2001, especially the maintenance of fiscal balance, the further privatization of the economy, and the reduction of unemployment.
Electricity - consumption 824.7 million kWh (2001) 21.471 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (2001) 930 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 1.4 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 1.317 billion kWh (2001) 22.582 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 1.4%


hydro: 98.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel:
37.56%

hydro:
18.27%

nuclear:
44.17%

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


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
lowest point:
Bodrok River 94 m

highest point:
Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
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, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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% Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.6%, Roma 1.6% (the 1992 census figures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is about 500,000), Czech, Moravian, Silesian 1.1%, Ruthenian and Ukrainian 0.6%, German 0.1%, Polish 0.1%, other 0.2% (1996)
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) koruny per US dollar - 48.09 (March 2001), 46.395 (2000), 41.363 (1999), 35.233 (1998), 33.616 (1997), 30.654 (1996)
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 Rudolf SCHUSTER (since 15 June 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30 October 1998)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

elections:
president elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 May 1999 (next to be held NA May/June 2004); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president

election results:
Rudolf SCHUSTER elected president in the first direct, popular election; percent of vote - Rudolf SCHUSTER 57%

note:
government coalition - SDK, SDL, SMK, SOP, KDH
Exports NA (2001) $12 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin machinery and transport equipment 39.4%, intermediate manufactured goods 27.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%, chemicals 8% (1999)
Exports - partners Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002) EU 59.7% (Germany 27.8%, Austria 8%, Italy 8.9%), Czech Republic 18.1% (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 equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue
GDP purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $55.3 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 53%


industry: 23%


services: 24% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
4.5%

industry:
29.3%

services:
66.2% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.7% (2002 est.) 2.2% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 48 40 N, 19 30 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:
17,710 km

paved:
17,533 km (including 288 km of expressways)

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


highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
lowest 10%:
5.1%

highest 10%:
18.2% (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 transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe
Imports NA (2001) $12.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods machinery and transport equipment 37.7%, intermediate manufactured goods 18%, fuels 13%, chemicals 11%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 9.5% (1999)
Imports - partners Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002) EU 51.4% (Germany 26%, Italy 7.1%), Czech Republic 16.6%, Russia 11.9% (1999)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (1999 est.) 9.3% (2000 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
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.)
8.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 10% (2002 est.) 12.2% (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) Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 6 (2000)
Irrigated land 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
800 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 elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council)
Labor force 2.4 million (1999) 3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
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:
1,355 km

border countries:
Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 515 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 90 km
Land use arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
arable land:
31%

permanent crops:
3%

permanent pastures:
17%

forests and woodland:
41%

other:
8% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages Slovak (official), Hungarian
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
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 Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 25-26 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - HZDS 27%, SDK 26.3%, SDL 14.7%, SMK 9.1%, SNS 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party - governing coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS 43, SNS 14)
Life expectancy at birth total population: 54.3 years


male: 52.34 years


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

male:
69.95 years

female:
78.2 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:
NA

total population:
NA%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Central Europe, south of Poland
Map references Southeast Asia Europe
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.)
total:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,041 GRT/19,517 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 3 (2000 est.)
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, Civil Defense Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $55 million (FY98) $380 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.2% (FY96) 1.71% (FY00)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
1,487,093 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
1,136,811 (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:
45,502 (2001 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun:
Slovak(s)

adjective:
Slovak
Natural hazards floods, droughts NA
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines refined products 540 km (2003) petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Liberal Democratic Union or LDU [Jan BUDAJ]; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or HZDS [Vladimir MECIAR]; Party of Civic Understanding or SOP [Pavol HAMZIK]; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Jozef MIGAS]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Bela BUGAR]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU [Mikulas DZURINDA]; note - this is DZURINDA's new party for 2002 elections; he remains chairman of a rump and splintering SDK; Slovak Democratic Coalition or SDK (loose parliamentary club grouping representing members of the smaller SSDS, SZS, and those committed to run under SDKU in 2002) [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Anna MALIKOVA]
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG
Population 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.) 5,414,937 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2002 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.45% (2003 est.) 0.13% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors none Bratislava, Komarno
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios - 3.12 million (1997)
Railways 0 km total:
3,660 km

broad gauge:
102 km 1.520-m gauge

standard gauge:
3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1,505 km electrified; 1,011 km double track)

narrow gauge:
51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (1998)
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%
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:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.95 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:
a modernization and privatization program is increasing accessibility to telephone service, reducing the waiting time for new subscribers, and generally improving service quality

domestic:
predominantly an analog system that is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been added

international:
three international exchanges (one in Bratislava and two in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services
Telephones - main lines in use 25,000 (1997) 1,934,558 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 4,915 (1997) 736,662 (April 1999)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 38 (plus 864 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Total fertility rate 4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.25 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 17% (2000 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
172 km (all on the Danube)
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