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Compare Laos (2005) - Bahrain (2001)

Compare Laos (2005) z Bahrain (2001)

 Laos (2005)Bahrain (2001)
 LaosBahrain
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, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang 12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah

note:
all municipalities administered from Manama
Age structure 0-14 years: 41.6% (male 1,300,094/female 1,289,227)


15-64 years: 55.2% (male 1,693,494/female 1,737,196)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 88,744/female 108,386) (2005 est.)
0-14 years:
29.6% (male 96,697; female 94,330)

15-64 years:
67.43% (male 257,360; female 177,839)

65 years and over:
2.97% (male 9,721; female 9,414) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Airports 44 (2004 est.) 3 (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 (2004 est.)
total:
2

over 3,047 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 13


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
total:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Area total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


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

land:
620 sq km

water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Utah 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. 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. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In 2001, the International Court of Justice awarded the Hawar Islands, long disputed with Qatar, to Bahrain.
Birth rate 35.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 20.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $284.3 million


expenditures: $416.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
revenues:
$1.8 billion

expenditures:
$2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Capital Vientiane Manama
Climate tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 161 km
Constitution promulgated 14 August 1991 adopted late December 2000 (new constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
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:
State of Bahrain

conventional short form:
Bahrain

local long form:
Dawlat al Bahrayn

local short form:
Al Bahrayn

former:
Dilmun
Currency - Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Death rate 11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $2.49 billion (2001) $2.7 billion (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH


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 Johnny YOUNG

embassy:
#979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama

mailing address:
American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama

telephone:
[973] 273-300

FAX:
[973] 272-594
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 (vacant)

chancery:
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 342-0741

FAX:
[1] (202) 362-2192

consulate(s) general:
New York
Disputes - international Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Laos and Thailand pledge to complete demarcation of boundaries in 2005, while ongoing disputes over squatters and boundary encroachment by Thailand including Mekong River islets persist; in 2004 Cambodian-Laotian boundary commission agrees to re-erect missing markers in two adjoining provinces; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and also adjusted Bahrain's maritime boundary with Qatar
Economic aid - recipient $243 million (2001 est.) $48.4 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 6% in 1988-2004 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. The government has sponsored major improvements in the road system. 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. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to face lower tariffs on their exports; this may help spur growth. In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil revenue granted as aid. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
Electricity - consumption 3.036 billion kWh (2002) 5.752 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (2002) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 125 million kWh (2002) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 3.56 billion kWh (2002) 6.185 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - 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:
Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point:
Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Environment - current issues unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, 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 and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Exchange rates kips per US dollar - 10,820 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.6 (2001), 7,887.6 (2000) Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.3760 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Executive branch chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphadon (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 Bouasone BOUPHAVANH (since 3 October 2003) Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since 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 in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term


election results: KHAMTAI Siphadon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%
chief of state:
Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)

head of government:
Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Exports NA $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7%
Exports - partners Thailand 19.3%, Vietnam 13.4%, France 8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 5% (2004) India 14%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5%, UAE 5%, Japan 4%, South Korea 4% (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 red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
GDP - purchasing power parity - $10.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 49.5%


industry: 27.5%


services: 23% (2004 est.)
agriculture:
1%

industry:
46%

services:
53% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,900 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 6% (2004 est.) 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 N, 105 00 E 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Geography - note landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Heliports - 1 (2000 est.)
Highways total: 21,716 km


paved: 9,664 km


unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
total:
3,164 km

paved:
2,433 km

unpaved:
731 km

note:
there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 3.2%


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

highest 10%:
NA%
Illicit drugs estimated cultivation in 2004 - 10,000 hectares, a 45% decrease from 2003; estimated potential production in 2004 - 49 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003 (2005) -
Imports NA $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Imports - partners Thailand 60.5%, China 10.3%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4% (2004) France 20%, US 14%, UK 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (1999)
Independence 19 July 1949 (from France) 15 August 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 9.7% (2001 est.) 2% (2000 est.)
Industries tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 95.04 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 75.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
19.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 12.3% (2004 est.) 2% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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.)
10 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) High Civil Appeals Court
Labor force 2.6 million (2001 est.) 295,000 (1998 est.)

note:
44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 80% (1997 est.) industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 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: 3.8%


permanent crops: 0.35%


other: 95.85% (2001)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
6%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
92% (1993 est.)
Languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Legal system based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice based on Islamic law and 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 in 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109
unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992; the National Action Charter created a bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum of 14 February 2001
Life expectancy at birth total population: 55.08 years


male: 53.07 years


female: 57.17 years (2005 est.)
total population:
73.2 years

male:
70.81 years

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


total population: 66.4%


male: 77.4%


female: 55.5% (2002)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
85.2%

male:
89.1%

female:
79.4% (1995 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Map references Southeast Asia Middle East
Maritime claims none (landlocked) contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
extending to boundaries to be determined

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


by type: cargo 1 (2005)
total:
7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 175,609 GRT/207,652 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2 (2000 est.)
Military - note Laos is one of the world's least developed countries; the Lao People's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; there is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likely to continue; the massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border (2005) -
Military branches Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $10.7 million (2004) $318 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.5% (2004) 5.2% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
222,141 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
121,833 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 15 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
5,926 (2001 est.)
National holiday Republic Day, 2 December (1975) National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection
Nationality noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
noun:
Bahraini(s)

adjective:
Bahraini
Natural hazards floods, droughts periodic droughts; dust storms
Natural resources timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines refined products 540 km (2004) crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Political parties and leaders Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphadon, party president]; other parties proscribed political parties prohibited
Political pressure groups and leaders noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975 Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically 1994-97, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active
Population 6,217,141 (July 2005 est.) 645,361

note:
includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line 40% (2002 est.) NA%
Population growth rate 2.42% (2005 est.) 1.73% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors - Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Radio broadcast stations AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios - 338,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.29 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal none
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: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
general assessment:
modern system

domestic:
modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones

international:
tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
Telephones - main lines in use 61,900 (2002) 152,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 55,200 (2002) 58,543 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1999) 4 (1997)
Terrain mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Total fertility rate 4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.) 2.79 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 5.7% (1997 est.) 15% (1998 est.)
Waterways 4,600 km


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)
none
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