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Compare Singapore (2001) - Laos (2005)

Compare Singapore (2001) z Laos (2005)

 Singapore (2001)Laos (2005)
 SingaporeLaos
Administrative divisions none 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
Age structure 0-14 years:
17.89% (male 397,124; female 372,058)

15-64 years:
75.16% (male 1,575,381; female 1,656,838)

65 years and over:
6.95% (male 130,815; female 168,203) (2001 est.)
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.)
Agriculture - products rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 9 (2000 est.) 44 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
9

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
1

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 (2004 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.)
Area total:
647.5 sq km

land:
637.5 sq km

water:
10 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than Utah
Background Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963, but withdrew two years later and became independent. It subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries, with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest) and with per capita GDP above that of the leading nations of Western Europe. 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.
Birth rate 12.8 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 35.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues:
$18.1 billion

expenditures:
$17.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.5 billion (FY99/00 est.)
revenues: $284.3 million


expenditures: $416.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital Singapore Vientiane
Climate tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon from June to September; inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 193 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution) promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Singapore

conventional short form:
Singapore
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Singapore dollar (SGD) -
Death rate 4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $9.7 billion (2000) $2.49 billion (2001)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant)

embassy:
27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508

mailing address:
PSC Box 470, FPO AP 96534-0001

telephone:
[65] 476-9100

FAX:
[65] 476-9340
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
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee

chancery:
3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 537-3100

FAX:
[1] (202) 537-0876

consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles, San Francisco

consulate(s):
New York
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 Pedra Branca Island (Pulau Batu Putih) disputed with Malaysia 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
Economic aid - recipient $NA $243 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview Singapore is blessed with a highly developed and successful free-market economy, a remarkably open and corruption-free business environment, stable prices, and the fifth highest per capita GDP in the world. Exports, particularly in electronics and chemicals, and services are the main drivers of the economy. Mainly because of robust exports, especially electronic goods, the economy grew 10.1% in 2000. Forecasters, however, are projecting only 4%-6% growth in 2001 largely because of weaker global demand, especially in the US. The government promotes high levels of savings and investment through a mandatory savings scheme and spends heavily in education and technology. It also owns government-linked companies (GLCs) - particularly in manufacturing - that operate as commercial entities. As Singapore looks to a future increasingly marked by globalization, the country is positioning itself as the region's financial and high-tech hub. 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.
Electricity - consumption 25.464 billion kWh (1999) 3.036 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 400 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 125 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production 27.381 billion kWh (1999) 3.56 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Singapore Strait 0 m

highest point:
Bukit Timah 166 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

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 Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.7365 (January 2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996) kips per US dollar - 10,820 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.6 (2001), 7,887.6 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 28 August 1999 (next to be held NA August 2005); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

election results:
Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN elected president unopposed
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%
Exports $137 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment (including electronics), chemicals, mineral fuels garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners US 19%, Malaysia 17%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 7%, Taiwan 5%, Thailand 4%, UK 4%, Netherlands 3.8%, China 3%, South Korea 3%, Germany 3% (1999) Thailand 19.3%, Vietnam 13.4%, France 8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 5% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March 1 October - 30 September
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle 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 - $109.8 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
NEGL%

industry:
30%

services:
70%
agriculture: 49.5%


industry: 27.5%


services: 23% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $26,500 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 10.1% (2000 est.) 6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 1 22 N, 103 48 E 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
3,150 km

paved:
3,066 km (including 150 km of expressways)

unpaved:
84 km (2000)
total: 21,716 km


paved: 9,664 km


unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 3.2%


highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Illicit drugs as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to use as a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money laundering 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 $127 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners US 17%, Japan 17%, Malaysia 16%, Thailand 5%, China 5%, Taiwan 4%, Germany 3%, Saudi Arabia 3% (1999) Thailand 60.5%, China 10.3%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4% (2004)
Independence 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 14% (2000 est.) 9.7% (2001 est.)
Industries electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade, biotechnology tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate 3.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 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.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.4% (2000) 12.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, Australia Group (observer), BIS, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNTAET, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO 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)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 9 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 1,640 sq km


note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals 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 2.1 million (2000) 2.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation financial, business, and other services 35%, manufacturing 21%, construction 13%, transportation and communication 9% 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:
2%

permanent crops:
6%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
5%

other:
87% (1993 est.)
arable land: 3.8%


permanent crops: 0.35%


other: 95.85% (2001)
Languages Chinese (official), Malay (official and national), Tamil (official), English (official) 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
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 2 January 1997 (next to be held by 26 August 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - PAP 65% (in contested constituencies), other 35%; seats by party - PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1; note - subsequent to the election, there was a change in the distribution of seats, the new distribution is as follows: PAP 80, WP 1, SPP 1, vacant 1
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
Life expectancy at birth total population:
80.17 years

male:
77.22 years

female:
83.35 years (2001 est.)
total population: 55.08 years


male: 53.07 years


female: 57.17 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
93.5%

male:
97%

female:
89.8% (1999)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 66.4%


male: 77.4%


female: 55.5% (2002)
Location Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Southeast Asia Southeast Asia
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone:
within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

territorial sea:
3 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
879 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,849,168 GRT/33,215,317 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 134, cargo 111, chemical tanker 63, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 6, container 167, liquefied gas 28, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 295, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 33

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Bermuda 12, Belgium 6, China 9, Denmark 29, Germany 8, Greece 1, Hong Kong 20, Indonesia 9, Japan 32, South Korea 3, Netherlands 2, Norway 9, Russia 1, Sweden 22, Thailand 22, Taiwan 17, UK 3, US 10 (2000 est.)
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2005)
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 Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $5 billion (FY00/01 est.) $10.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.5% (FY00/01 est.) 0.5% (2004)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,316,815 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
959,636 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 9 August (1965) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun:
Singaporean(s)

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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards NA floods, droughts
Natural resources fish, deepwater ports timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate 26.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines - refined products 540 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders People's Action Party or PAP [GOH Chok Tong, secretary general] - the governing party; Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong]; Workers' Party or WP [J. B. JEYARETNAM] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphadon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 4,300,419 (July 2001 est.) 6,217,141 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate 3.5% (2001 est.) 2.42% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Singapore -
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 16, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios 2.6 million (2000) -
Railways total:
38.6 km

narrow gauge:
38.6 km 1.000-m gauge

note:
there is a 83 km mass transit system with 48 stations
-
Religions Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
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.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal and compulsory 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
major consideration given to serving business interests; excellent international service

domestic:
excellent domestic facilities

international:
submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use 1.928 million (November 2000) 61,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2.333 million (November 2000) 55,200 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 6 (2000) 4 (1999)
Terrain lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 1.22 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 3% (2000 est.) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways none 4,600 km


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)
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