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Compare Trinidad and Tobago (2001) - Laos (2005)

Compare Trinidad and Tobago (2001) z Laos (2005)

 Trinidad and Tobago (2001)Laos (2005)
 Trinidad and TobagoLaos
Administrative divisions 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria 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:
24.1% (male 143,730; female 138,160)

15-64 years:
69.2% (male 415,898; female 393,551)

65 years and over:
6.7% (male 34,785; female 43,558) (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 cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 6 (2000 est.) 44 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
3

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 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:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
2 (2000 est.)
total: 35


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 13


under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Area total:
5,128 sq km

land:
5,128 sq km

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


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Delaware slightly larger than Utah
Background The islands came under British control in the 19th century; independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. 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 13.73 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 35.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues:
$1.54 billion

expenditures:
$1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3 million (1998)
revenues: $284.3 million


expenditures: $416.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Capital Port-of-Spain Vientiane
Climate tropical; rainy season (June to December) tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 362 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 1 August 1976 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

conventional short form:
Trinidad and Tobago
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) -
Death rate 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $2.8 billion (2000 est.) $2.49 billion (2001)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III (until April, 2001)

embassy:
15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain

mailing address:
P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain

telephone:
[1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376, 6176

FAX:
[1] (868) 628-5462
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 (vacant)

chancery:
1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:
[1] (202) 467-6490

FAX:
[1] (202) 785-3130

consulate(s) general:
Miami and 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 none 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 $121.4 million (1995) $243 million (2001 est.)
Economy - overview Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign investment and trade are flourishing. Persistently high unemployment remains one of the chief challenges of the government. The petrochemical sector has spurred growth in other related sectors, reinforcing the government's commitment to economic diversification. Tourism is growing, especially in the pleasure boat sector. New investment and construction also will continue to drive the economy. 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 4.557 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 4.9 billion kWh (1999) 3.56 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
99.59%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0.41% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point:
El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, 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 black 39.5%, East Indian (a local term - primarily immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 18.4%, white 0.6%, Chinese and other 1.2% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.2688 (January 2001), 6.2998 (2000), 6.2989 (1999), 6.2983 (1998), 6.2517 (1997), 6.0051 (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 Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19 March 1997)

head of government:
Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November 1995)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament

elections:
president elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term; election last held 11 December 2000 (next to be held by NA 2005); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister

election results:
Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 69%
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 $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA
Exports - commodities petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners US 39.3%, Caricom countries 26.1%, Latin America 9.5%, EU 5.7% (1999) Thailand 19.3%, Vietnam 13.4%, France 8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 5% (2004)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September 1 October - 30 September
Flag description red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side 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 - $11.2 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
2%

industry:
44%

services:
54% (1998 est.)
agriculture: 49.5%


industry: 27.5%


services: 23% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $9,500 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5% (2000 est.) 6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 11 00 N, 61 00 W 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note - landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
Highways total:
8,320 km

paved:
4,252 km

unpaved:
4,068 km (1996)
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 transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis 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 $3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) NA
Imports - commodities machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners US 39.8%, Venezuela 11.9%, EU 11%, Caricom 4.8% (1999) Thailand 60.5%, China 10.3%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4% (2004)
Independence 31 August 1962 (from UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 3.8% (2000) 9.7% (2001 est.)
Industries petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism
Infant mortality rate 24.98 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) 3.2% (2000 est.) 12.3% (2004 est.)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, 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) 17 (2000) -
Irrigated land 220 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 of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Court of Justice; Court of Appeals; The Majistracy (hears minor civil cases and summary criminal cases) 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 558,700 (1998) 2.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation construction and utilities 12.4%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 9.5%, services 64.1% (1997 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:
15%

permanent crops:
9%

permanent pastures:
2%

forests and woodland:
46%

other:
28% (1993 est.)
arable land: 3.8%


permanent crops: 0.35%


other: 95.85% (2001)
Languages English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on English common 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 bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
House of Representatives - last held 11 December 2000 (next to be held by December 2005)

election results:
House of Representatives - percent of vote - UNC 58.1%, PNM 40.8%, NAR 1.1%; seats by party - UNC 19, PNM 16, NAR 1

note:
Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly, with 15 members serving four-year terms
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:
68.27 years

male:
65.74 years

female:
70.92 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:
97.9%

male:
98.8%

female:
97% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 66.4%


male: 77.4%


female: 55.5% (2002)
Location Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Southeast Asia
Maritime claims contiguous zone:
24 NM

continental shelf:
200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,439 GRT/4,040 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1 (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 Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $83 million (FY94) $10.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 0.5% (2004)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
346,043 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
247,297 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 31 August (1962) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun:
Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)

adjective:
Trinidadian, Tobagonian
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms floods, droughts
Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, asphalt timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -9.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km refined products 540 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Hochay CHARLES]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [leader NA]; People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphadon, party president]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders Jamaat Al Musilmeen [Abu BAKR] noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Population 1,169,682 (July 2001 est.) 6,217,141 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line 21% (1992 est.) 40% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate -0.51% (2001 est.) 2.42% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora -
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios 680,000 (1997) -
Railways minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968 -
Religions Roman Catholic 29.4%, Hindu 23.8%, Anglican 10.9%, Muslim 5.8%, Presbyterian 3.4%, other 26.7% Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.03 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 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
excellent international service; good local service

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
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 243,000 (1997) 61,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,411 (1997) 55,200 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1997) 4 (1999)
Terrain mostly plains with some hills and low mountains mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 1.81 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 12.8% (2000) 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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