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Compare Saint Helena (2004) - Laos (2001)

Compare Saint Helena (2004) z Laos (2001)

 Saint Helena (2004)Laos (2001)
 Saint HelenaLaos
Administrative divisions 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha* 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: 18.9% (male 710; female 689)


15-64 years: 71.4% (male 2,739; female 2,559)


65 years and over: 9.7% (male 319; female 399) (2004 est.)
0-14 years:
42.75% (male 1,212,577; female 1,196,795)

15-64 years:
53.94% (male 1,494,927; female 1,544,851)

65 years and over:
3.31% (male 85,632; female 101,185) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha) sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 1 (2003 est.) 51 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total:
8

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5

914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total:
43

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
17

under 914 m:
25 (2000 est.)
Area total: 410 sq km


land: 410 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Saint Helena Island, Ascension, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan da Cunha Island, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three Nightingale Islands
total:
236,800 sq km

land:
230,800 sq km

water:
6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Utah
Background Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough Island has a meteorological station. 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 12.68 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $11.2 million


expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY92/93)
revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)
Capital Jamestown Vientiane
Climate Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena) tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 60 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 1 January 1989 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Saint Helena
conventional long form:
Lao People's Democratic Republic

conventional short form:
Laos

local long form:
Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

local short form:
none
Currency Saint Helenian pound (SHP) kip (LAK)
Death rate 6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external NA (1996) $2.46 billion (1998 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Karen Brevard STEWART

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 none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission:
Ambassador VANG Rattanavong

chancery:
2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 332-6416

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-4923
Disputes - international none parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite
Economic aid - recipient $12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997) $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK. 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% during 1988-97. Reform efforts subsequently slowed, and GDP growth dropped an average of 3 percentage points. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it was damaged by the regional financial crisis beginning in 1997. Government mismanagement deepened the crisis, and from June 1997 to June 1999 the Lao kip lost 87% of its value. Laos' foreign exchange problems peaked in September 1999 when the kip fell from 3,500 kip to the dollar to 9,000 kip to the dollar in a matter of weeks. Now that the currency has stabilized, however, the government seems content to let the current situation persist, despite limited government revenue and foreign exchange reserves. A landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, Laos 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. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.
Electricity - consumption 4.65 million kWh (2001) 173.6 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 705 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 142 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 5 million kWh (2001) 792 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel:
2.78%

hydro:
97.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m
lowest point:
Mekong River 70 m

highest point:
Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues NA 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, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25% 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 Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), kips per US dollar - 7,578.00 (December 2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997), 921.02 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David HOLLAMBY (since 1999); Michael CLANCY (taking office in October 2004)


cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch
chief of state:
President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since NA March 2001)

head of government:
Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since NA March 2001); Deputy Prime Ministers THONGLOUN Sisolit (since NA March 2001), 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 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); 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 NA (2001) $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners US 26.7%, Tanzania 21.9%, Indonesia 9.4%, UK 8.7%, Japan 7.4%, Netherlands 7.2%, Nigeria 6.8%, Poland 5%, Spain 4.9% (2003) Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 October - 30 September
Flag description blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship 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 - $18 million (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA
agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA 4% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 56 S, 5 42 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns landlocked
Highways total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km)


paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km)


unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2000)
total:
14,000 km

paved:
3,360 km

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


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%:
4.2%

highest 10%:
26.4% (1992)
Illicit drugs - world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1999 - 21,800 hectares, a 16% decrease over 1998; estimated potential production in 1999 - 140 metric tons, about the same as in 1998); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis
Imports NA (2001) $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports - partners UK 29.1%, South Africa 24.7%, Spain 16.4%, Italy 8.8%, Tanzania 8.2%, US 5.8% (2003) Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate NA 7.5% (1999 est.)
Industries construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 15.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.2% (1997 est.) 33% (2000 est.)
International organization participation ICFTU, UPU ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

note:
rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court 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 3,500


note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)
1 million - 1.5 million
Labor force - by occupation agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.) agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries 0 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: 12.9%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 87.1% (2001)
arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
Languages English Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system NA based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 27 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 15
unicameral National Assembly (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - by presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99)

elections:
last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99
Life expectancy at birth total population: 77.57 years


male: 74.67 years


female: 80.61 years (2004 est.)
total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

female:
55.44 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition: age 20 and over can read and write


total population: 97%


male: 97%


female: 98% (1987 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
57%

male:
70%

female:
44% (1999 est.)
Location islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine none total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 4.2% (FY96/97)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49:
1,319,537 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49:
710,627 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males:
64,437 (2001 est.)
National holiday Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun: Saint Helenian(s)


adjective: Saint Helenian
noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:
Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha floods, droughts, and blight
Natural resources fish timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines - petroleum products 136 km
Political parties and leaders none Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders none noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 7,415 (July 2004 est.) 5,635,967 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA 46.1% (1993 est.)
Population growth rate 0.62% (2004 est.) 2.48% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown none
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 730,000 (1997)
Railways - 0 km
Religions Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female


total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 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:
0.85 male(s)/female

total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage NA years of age 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: can communicate worldwide


domestic: automatic network


international: country code - 290; HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascension Island, which is a major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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 2,200 (2002) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1997) 4,915 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 0


note: television programs are received in Saint Helena via satellite and distributed by cable (2002)
4 (1999)
Terrain Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains


note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 1.54 children born/woman (2004 est.) 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 14% (1998 est.) 5.7% (1997 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
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