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Compare Papua New Guinea (2008) - Laos (2007)

Compare Papua New Guinea (2008) z Laos (2007)

 Papua New Guinea (2008)Laos (2007)
 Papua New GuineaLaos
Administrative divisions 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain 15 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Age structure 0-14 years: 37.6% (male 1,107,568/female 1,070,594)


15-64 years: 58.5% (male 1,745,385/female 1,643,830)


65 years and over: 3.9% (male 106,487/female 122,023) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 1,349,352/female 1,338,252)


15-64 years: 55.7% (male 1,795,029/female 1,835,168)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 90,188/female 114,009) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 578 (2007) 42 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 21


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 14


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 557


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 58


under 914 m: 489 (2007)
total: 33


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 23 (2007)
Area total: 462,840 sq km


land: 452,860 sq km


water: 9,980 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than California slightly larger than Utah
Background The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives. Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came 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 and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
Birth rate 28.76 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 34.98 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues: $2.209 billion


expenditures: $1.994 billion (2007 est.)
revenues: $392.3 million


expenditures: $541.3 million (2006 est.)
Capital name: Port Moresby


geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E


time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
name: Vientiane


geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 5,152 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 16 September 1975 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea


conventional short form: Papua New Guinea


local short form: Papuaniugini


former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea


abbreviation: PNG
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Death rate 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 11.28 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $1.814 billion (31 December 2007 est.) $3.179 billion (2006)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie W. Rowe


embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby, N.C.D.


mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240


telephone: [675] 321-1455


FAX: [675] 321-3423
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO


embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam Road, Vientiane


mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546


telephone: [856] 21-26-7000


FAX: [856] 21-26-7190
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI


chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036


telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680


FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone


chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416


FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Disputes - international relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Economic aid - recipient $266.1 million (2005) $379 million (2006 est.)
Economy - overview Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including copper, gold, and oil, account for nearly two-thirds of export earnings. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended much of its energy remaining in power. He was the first prime minister ever to serve a full five-year term. The government also brought stability to the national budget, largely through expenditure control; however, it relaxed spending constraints in 2006 and 2007 as elections approached. Numerous challenges still face the government including regaining investor confidence, restoring integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations with Australia, its former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural challenges could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic and chronic law and order and land tenure issues. Australia will supply more than $300 million in aid in FY07/08, which accounts for nearly 20% of the national budget. 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% per year in 1988-2006 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, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with possible support from Japan. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid by the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in hydropower and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years; the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime, slated to begin in 2008, will streamline the government's inefficient tax system.
Electricity - consumption 3.439 billion kWh (2005) 1.193 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 728 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 326 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 3.698 billion kWh (2005) 1.715 billion kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected 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
Ethnic groups Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates kina per US dollar - 3.03 (2007), 3.0643 (2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003) kips per US dollar - 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004)


head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); Deputy Prime Minister Puka TEMU (since 29 August 2007)


cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister


elections: none; monarch is hereditary; governor general nominated by parliament and appointed by chief of state; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by governor general
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)


head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001)


cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly


elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for five-year term


election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%
Exports 44,580 bbl/day (2004) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners Australia 30.2%, Japan 8.2%, China 5.7% (2006) Thailand 41%, Vietnam 9.7%, China 4.1%, Malaysia 4% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 35.5%


industry: 37%


services: 27.5% (2007 est.)
agriculture: 42.7%


industry: 31%


services: 26.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2007 est.) 8.3% (2006 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 147 00 E 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Heliports 2 (2007) -
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: 1.7%


highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
lowest 10%: 3.4%


highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)
Illicit drugs major consumer of cannabis estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2005 was 5,600 hectares, about a 45% decrease from 2004; estimated potential opium production in 2005 was 28 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem
Imports 24,020 bbl/day (2004) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners Australia 52%, Singapore 12.6%, China 5.9%, Japan 4.3% (2006) Thailand 68.8%, China 11.3%, Vietnam 5.5% (2006)
Independence 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 4.8% (2007 est.) 15.7% (2006 est.)
Industries copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement
Infant mortality rate total: 48.46 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 52.52 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 44.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
total: 81.44 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.91 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 71.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.8% (2007 est.) 6.8% (2006 est.)
International organization participation ACP, ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Irrigated land NA 1,750 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission) 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)
Labor force 3.557 million (2007 est.) 2.1 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 85%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 80%


industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Land boundaries total: 820 km


border countries: Indonesia 820 km
total: 5,083 km


border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Land use arable land: 0.49%


permanent crops: 1.4%


other: 98.11% (2005)
arable land: 4.01%


permanent crops: 0.34%


other: 95.65% (2005)
Languages Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region


note: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's total)
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Parliament (109 seats, 89 filled from open electorates and 20 from provinces and national capital distict; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); constitution allows up to 126 seats


elections: last held from 30 June to 10 July 2007; next to be held in June 2012


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - National Alliance 27, PNGP 8, PAP 6, URP 6, PANGU 5, PDM 5, independents 19, others 33; note - election to 1 seat was nullified


note: 15 other parties won 4 or fewer seats; association with political parties is fluid
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2
Life expectancy at birth total population: 65.62 years


male: 63.41 years


female: 67.95 years (2007 est.)
total population: 55.89 years


male: 53.82 years


female: 58.04 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 57.3%


male: 63.4%


female: 50.9% (2000 census)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 68.7%


male: 77%


female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
Location Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Oceania Southeast Asia
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


territorial sea: 12 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 56,157 GRT/72,821 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 20, petroleum tanker 1


foreign-owned: 6 (UK 6) (2007)
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2007)
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 Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element) (2008) Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.4% (2005 est.) 0.5% (2006)
National holiday Independence Day, 16 September (1975) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: Papua New Guinean(s)


adjective: Papua New Guinean
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis floods, droughts
Natural resources gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines oil 264 km (2007) refined products 540 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI [Andrew KUMBAKOR]; Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Michael OGIO]; People's Action Party or PAP [Gabriel KAPRIS]; United Resources Party or URP [William DUMA] (2007) Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 5,795,887 (July 2007 est.) 6,521,998 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 37% (2002 est.) 30.7% (2005 est.)
Population growth rate 2.163% (2007 est.) 2.37% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998) AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)
Religions Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs 34% Buddhist 65%, animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.8% (1995 census)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.035 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.062 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.873 male(s)/female


total population: 1.043 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.008 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.978 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.791 male(s)/female


total population: 0.984 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services


domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density is less than 3 telephones per 100 persons


international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas


domestic: multiple service providers; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership about 10 per 100 persons


international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 63,700 (2005) 90,067 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 75,000 (2005) 638,200 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 3 (all in the Port Moresby area; stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned) (2004) 7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)
Terrain mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 3.79 children born/woman (2007 est.) 4.59 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 1.9% up to 80% in urban areas (2004) 2.4% (2005 est.)
Waterways 11,000 km (2006) 4,600 km


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)
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