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Compare Rwanda (2001) - Laos (2002)

Compare Rwanda (2001) z Laos (2002)

 Rwanda (2001)Laos (2002)
 RwandaLaos
Administrative divisions 12 prefectures (in French - prefectures, singular - prefecture; in Kinyarwanda - plural - NA, singular - prefegitura); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri 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
Age structure 0-14 years:
42.4% (male 1,555,878; female 1,544,942)

15-64 years:
54.73% (male 1,989,501; female 2,013,012)

65 years and over:
2.87% (male 83,769; female 125,654) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,233,659; female 1,219,872)


15-64 years: 54.2% (male 1,543,246; female 1,591,419)


65 years and over: 3.3% (male 86,375; female 102,609) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 8 (2000 est.) 51 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total:
4

over 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 5


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total: 42


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 15


under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Area total:
26,338 sq km

land:
24,948 sq km

water:
1,390 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Maryland slightly larger than Utah
Background In 1959, three years before independence, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zaire, now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC). Since then most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda. Despite substantial international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 - the country continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural output and to foster reconciliation. A series of massive population displacements, a nagging Hutu extremist insurgency, and Rwandan involvement in two wars over the past four years in the neighboring DROC continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts. 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, an easing of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.
Birth rate 33.97 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 37.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues:
$198 million

expenditures:
$411 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $211 million


expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
Capital Kigali Vientiane
Climate temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted as Fundamental Law the constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the 1993 Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the Rwanda Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty protocol of understanding promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form:
Rwandese Republic

conventional short form:
Rwanda

local long form:
Republika y'u Rwanda

local short form:
Rwanda

former:
Ruanda
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Rwandan franc (RWF) kip (LAK)
Death rate 21.13 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $1.3 billion (1999) $2.53 billion (1999)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador George M. STAPLES

embassy:
Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali

mailing address:
B. P. 28, Kigali

telephone:
[250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771 47

FAX:
[250] 721 28
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
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard SEZIBERA

chancery:
1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:
[1] (202) 232-2882

FAX:
[1] (202) 232-4544
chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay


chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416


FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Disputes - international Rwandan military forces are supporting the rebel forces in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 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
Economic aid - recipient $591.5 million (1997); note - in summer 1998, Rwanda presented its policy objectives and development priorities to donor governments resulting in multiyear pledges in the amount of $250 million $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview Rwanda is a rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa; is landlocked; and has few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary exports are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made significant progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy. GDP has rebounded, and inflation has been curbed. In June 1998, Rwanda signed an Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) with the IMF. Rwanda has also embarked upon an ambitious privatization program with the World Bank. Continued growth in 2001 depends on the maintenance of international aid levels and the strengthening of world prices of coffee and tea. 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.
Electricity - consumption 191.8 million kWh (1999) 690.6 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 1 million kWh (1999) 400 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 70 million kWh (1999) 142 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 132 million kWh (1999) 1.02 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
3.03%

hydro:
96.97%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 2%


hydro: 98%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Rusizi River 950 m

highest point:
Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban

signed, but not ratified:
Law of the Sea
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
Ethnic groups Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Rwandan francs per US dollar - 432.24 (January 2001), 389.70 (2000), 333.94 (1999) 312.31 (1998), 301.53 (1997), 306.82 (1996) kips per US dollar - 9,467.00 (December 2001), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (FPR) (since 22 April 2000)

head of government:
Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:
normally the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special election for new president by deputies of the National Assembly and governmental ministers held 17 April 2000 (next national election to be held NA 2003); prime minister is appointed by the president

election results:
Paul KAGAME (FPR) elected president in a special parliamentary/ministerial ballot receiving 81 of a possible 86 votes
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%
Exports $68.4 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $325 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities coffee, tea, hides, tin ore wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners Germany, Belgium, Pakistan, Italy, Kenya Thailand 20%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.9%, UK 4.1%, Belgium 4% (2000)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
GDP purchasing power parity - $6.4 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
40%

industry:
20%

services:
40% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 53%


industry: 22%


services: 25% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $900 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,630 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.8% (2000 est.) 5% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 2 00 S, 30 00 E 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note landlocked; predominantly rural population landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Highways total:
12,000 km

paved:
1,000 km

unpaved:
11,000 km (1997 est.)
total: 14,000 km


paved: 3,360 km


unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
4.2%

highest 10%:
24.2% (1983-85)
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 31% (1997)
Illicit drugs - world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimated potential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from 2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis; growing methamphetamine abuse problem
Imports $245.9 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) $540 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports - partners Kenya, Tanzania, US, Benelux, France, India Thailand 52%, Singapore 3.9%, Japan 1.6%, Hong Kong 1.5%, China 0.8% (2000)
Independence 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 8.7% (1998 est.) 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate 118.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (2000) 10% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO 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)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 40 sq km (1993 est.) 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; communal courts; appeals courts 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 3.6 million 2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 90% agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total:
893 km

border countries:
Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 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:
35%

permanent crops:
13%

permanent pastures:
18%

forests and woodland:
22%

other:
12% (1993 est.)
arable land: 3.47%


permanent crops: 0.23%


other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Languages Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Legislative branch unicameral Transitional National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale de Transition (a power-sharing body with 70 seats established on 12 December 1994 following a multiparty protocol of understanding; members were named by their parties, number of seats per party predetermined by the Arusha peace accord)

note:
four additional seats, two for women and two for youth, added in 2001

elections:
the last national legislative elections were held 16 December 1988 for the National Development Council (the legislature prior to the advent of the Transitional National Assembly); no elections have been held for the Transitional National Assembly as the distribution of seats was predetermined by the Arusha peace accord

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FPR 13, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, RPA 6, PSR 2, PDI 2, UDPR 2; note - the distribution of seats was predetermined, four additional seats (two for women and two for youth) added in 2001
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
Life expectancy at birth total population:
38.99 years

male:
38.35 years

female:
39.65 years (2001 est.)
total population: 53.88 years


male: 51.95 years


female: 55.87 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
48%

male:
52%

female:
45% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 57%


male: 70%


female: 44% (1999 est.)
Location Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Merchant marine - total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure $58 million (FY01) $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 3.2% (FY01) 4.2% (FY96/97)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,815,633 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 1,365,027 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
924,544 (2001 est.)
males age 15-49: 734,945 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 64,437 (2002 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 1 July (1962) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun:
Rwandan(s)

adjective:
Rwandan
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo floods, droughts
Natural resources gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -1.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 136 km
Political parties and leaders Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Jean-Nipomuscene NAYINZIRA]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Charles NTAKIRUTINKA, Vincent BIRUTA, Augusin IYAMUREMYE]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA, Emile NTWARABAKIGA, Christian MARARA]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Pie MUGABO, Enock KABERA, Prosper MUGIRANEZA]; Rwanda Patriotic Army or RPA [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander]; Rwanda Patriotic Front or FPR [Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME]; Rwandan Socialist Party or PSR [Medard RUTIJANWA] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders IBUKA - association of genocide survivors noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 7,312,756

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
5,777,180 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line 70% (2000 est.) 40% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate 1.16% (2001 est.) 2.47% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye none
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios 601,000 (1997) 730,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km (2001)
Religions Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 24%, Adventist 10.4%, Muslim 1.9%, indigenous beliefs and other 6.5%, none 4.5% (1996) Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.03 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 (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal adult 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
telephone system primarily serves business and government

domestic:
the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone

international:
international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use 15,000 (1995) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular NA

note:
however, Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several prefecture capitals (2000)
4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 2 (1997) 4 (1999)
Terrain mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 4.89 children born/woman (2001 est.) 5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways note:
Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
4,587 km approximately


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
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