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Compare Singapore (2003) - Laos (2001)

Compare Singapore (2003) z Laos (2001)

 Singapore (2003)Laos (2001)
 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, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Age structure 0-14 years: 17.3% (male 411,656; female 385,575)


15-64 years: 75.5% (male 1,687,217; female 1,793,783)


65 years and over: 7.2% (male 144,277; female 186,087) (2003 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 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 (2002) 51 (2000 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 (2002)
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: 692.7 sq km


land: 682.7 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 Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated 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 equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe. 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 12.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues: $27.9 billion


expenditures: $19.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.4 billion (FY 00/01 est.)
revenues:
$211 million

expenditures:
$462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 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) kip (LAK)
Death rate 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $8.2 billion (2002 est.) $2.46 billion (1998 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin L. LAVIN


embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508


mailing address: PSC Box 470, FPO AP 96507-0001


telephone: [65] 6476-9100


FAX: [65] 6476-9340
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 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: San Francisco


consulate(s): New York
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 disputes with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation works on Johor, maritime boundaries, and Singapore-occupied Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih persist - parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three years parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite
Economic aid - recipient $NA $345 million (1999 est.)
Economy - overview Singapore, a highly developed and successful free market economy, enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and manufacturing. It was hard hit in 2001-2002 by the global recession and the slump in the technology sector. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle than the current export-led model but is unlikely to abandon efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia'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 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 28.35 billion 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 30.48 billion kWh (2001) 792 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel:
2.78%

hydro:
97.22%

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; a majority 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, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, 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 ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.72 (2000), 1.69 (1999), 1.67 (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: 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 Brig. Gen. (Ret.) LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and TAN Keng Yam Tony (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 by 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 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 machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners Malaysia 17.4%, US 15.3%, Hong Kong 9.2%, Japan 7.1%, China 5.5%, Taiwan 4.9%, Thailand 4.6%, South Korea 4.2% (2002) Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium
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 - $112.4 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NEGL%


industry: 33%


services: 67% (2001 est.)
agriculture:
51%

industry:
22%

services:
27% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 2.2% (2002 est.) 4% (2000 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
Highways total: 3,066 km


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


unpaved: 0 km (1999)
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 as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to be used as a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money laundering 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 machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports - partners Malaysia 18.2%, US 14.3%, Japan 12.5%, China 7.6%, Thailand 4.6%, Taiwan 4.6% (2002) Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong
Independence 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate -9.8% (2002 est.) 7.5% (1999 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 total: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 3.87 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) -0.4% (2002 est.) 33% (2000 est.)
International organization participation APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO 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) 9 (2000) 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 (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 2.19 million (2000) 1 million - 1.5 million
Labor force - by occupation financial, business, and other services 35%, manufacturing 21%, construction 13%, transportation and communication 9%, other 22% 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: 1.64%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 98.36% (1998 est.)
arable land:
3%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
3%

forests and woodland:
54%

other:
40% (1993 est.)
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 (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; the losing opposition candidate who came closest to winning a seat may be appointed as a "nonconstituency" member


elections: last held 3 November 2001 (next to be held 25 June 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 75.3% (in contested constituencies), other 24.7%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1
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: 80.42 years


male: 77.46 years


female: 83.6 years (2003 est.)
total population:
53.48 years

male:
51.58 years

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


total population: 93.2%


male: 96.7%


female: 89.7% (2003 est.)
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
57%

male:
70%

female:
44% (1999 est.)
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: 859 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,836,021 GRT/32,765,063 DWT


ships by type: bulk 125, cargo 85, chemical tanker 87, combination bulk 6, combination ore/oil 8, container 176, liquefied gas 38, livestock carrier 3, multi-functional large-load carrier 2, petroleum tanker 277, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 31


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 7, Belgium 6, China 12, Denmark 27, Germany 17, Greece 4, Hong Kong 44, Indonesia 8, Japan 52, Malaysia 4, Monaco 22, Netherlands 2, Norway 42, Philippines 6, Russia 3, Slovenia 1, South Korea 10, Sweden 13, Switzerland 7, Taiwan 46, Tanzania 2, Thailand 22, UAE 4, UK 14, US 1 (2002 est.)
total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force, Police Force Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department
Military expenditures - dollar figure $4.47 billion (FY01 est.) $55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 4.9% (FY01) 4.2% (FY96/97)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 1,392,740 (2003 est.) males age 15-49:
1,319,537 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 1,012,498 (2003 est.) 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 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, and blight
Natural resources fish, deepwater ports timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate 25.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines gas 139 km (2003) petroleum products 136 km
Political parties and leaders governing party: People's Action Party or PAP [GOH Chok Tong]; opposition parties: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [leader NA]; National Solidarity Party or NSP [Steve CHIA]; Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong] (includes SPP, PKMS, NSP, SJP); Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore Justice Party or SJP [leader NA]; Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS [Muhammad ALI Aman]; Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong]; Workers' Party or WP [LOW Thia Kiang] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 4,608,595 (July 2003 est.) 5,635,967 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 46.1% (1993 est.)
Population growth rate 3.42% (2003 est.) 2.48% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Singapore none
Radio broadcast stations AM 0, FM 16, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios - 730,000 (1997)
Railways total: 38.6 km


narrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gauge


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


under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 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 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:
satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 1.95 million (2000) 25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2.74 million (2000) 4,915 (1997)
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 1.24 children born/woman (2003 est.) 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.6% (2002 est.) 5.7% (1997 est.)
Waterways none 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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