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Compare Vanuatu (2001) - Latvia (2004)

Compare Vanuatu (2001) z Latvia (2004)

 Vanuatu (2001)Latvia (2004)
 VanuatuLatvia
Administrative divisions 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Age structure 0-14 years:
36.35% (male 35,822; female 34,299)

15-64 years:
60.43% (male 59,764; female 56,808)

65 years and over:
3.22% (male 3,348; female 2,869) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 15% (male 177,223; female 169,241)


15-64 years: 69.2% (male 772,496; female 823,410)


65 years and over: 15.8% (male 118,035; female 245,901) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 32 (2000 est.) 51 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 27


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 16 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
30

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
11

under 914 m:
17 (2000 est.)
total: 24


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 20 (2003 est.)
Area total:
12,200 sq km

land:
12,200 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes more than 80 islands
total: 64,589 sq km


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Connecticut slightly larger than West Virginia
Background The British and French who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Birth rate 25.4 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 8.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$94.4 million

expenditures:
$99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4 million (1996 est.)
revenues: $3.691 billion


expenditures: $3.871 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Capital Port-Vila Riga
Climate tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline 2,528 km 531 km
Constitution 30 July 1980 15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented the constitution
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Vanuatu

conventional short form:
Vanuatu

former:
New Hebrides
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia


conventional short form: Latvia


local long form: Latvijas Republika


local short form: Latvija


former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency vatu (VUV) Latvian lat (LVL)
Death rate 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 13.73 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $48 million (1997 est.) $6.793 billion (2003 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine Todd-Bailey


embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510


mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723


telephone: [371] 703-6200


FAX: [371] 782-0047
Diplomatic representation in the US Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US, it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS


chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214


FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Disputes - international claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights
Economic aid - recipient $45.8 million (1995) $96.2 million (1995)
Economy - overview The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. The most recent natural disaster, a severe earthquake in November 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to the northern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. GDP growth has risen less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government is moving to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.
Electricity - consumption 32.6 million kWh (1999) 6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 35 million kWh (1999) 4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

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

highest point:
Tabwemasana 1,877 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Environment - current issues a majority of the population does not have access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ethnic groups indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific Islanders Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)
Exchange rates vatu per US dollar - 143.95 (December 2000), 137.82 (2000), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996) lati per US dollar - 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000), 0.5852 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 16 April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Serge VOHOR (since 16 April 2001)

cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament

elections:
president elected for a four-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2003); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 16 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
Father John BANI elected president; percent of electoral college vote - NA%; Edward NATAPEI elected prime minister by Parliament with a total of 27 out of 52 votes

note:
the government of Prime Minister Barak SOPE was ousted in a no confidence vote on 14 April 2001 and Edward NATAPEI was elected the new prime minister by Parliament
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)


cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Exports $25.3 million (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities copra, kava, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners Japan 32%, Germany 14%, Spain 8%, New Caledonia 7%, Australia 2% (1997 est.) UK 15.6%, Germany 14.8%, Sweden 10.5%, Lithuania 8.2%, Estonia 6.6%, Denmark 6%, Russia 5.4% (2003)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
GDP purchasing power parity - $245 million (1999 est.) purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
20%

industry:
9%

services:
71% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 4.5%


industry: 24.5%


services: 70.9% (2003)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,300 (1999 est.) purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -2.5% (1999 est.) 7.4% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates 16 00 S, 167 00 E 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note - most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
Highways total:
1,070 km

paved:
256 km

unpaved:
814 km (1996)
total: 73,202 km


paved: 28,256 km


unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; vulnerable to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies, exchange firms, and the gaming industry; organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
Imports $77.2 million (f.o.b., 1999) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners Japan 52%, Australia 20%, New Caledonia, Singapore, New Zealand, France, Fiji (1997 est.) Germany 16.1%, Lithuania 9.7%, Russia 8.7%, Finland 7.4%, Estonia 6.4%, Sweden 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, Italy 4.4% (2003)
Independence 30 July 1980 (from France and UK) 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate 1% (1997 est.) 8% (2003 est.)
Industries food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Infant mortality rate 61.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 9.67 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.5% (1999 est.) 2.9% (2003 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer) Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km 200 sq km


note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission) Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Labor force NA 1.18 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.) agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,150 km


border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Land use arable land:
2%

permanent crops:
10%

permanent pastures:
2%

forests and woodland:
75%

other:
11% (1993 est.)
arable land: 29.67%


permanent crops: 0.47%


other: 69.86% (2001)
Languages English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Legal system unified system being created from former dual French and British systems based on civil law system
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note - political party associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government since the November 1995 elections

note:
the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
Life expectancy at birth total population:
60.95 years

male:
59.58 years

female:
62.39 years (2001 est.)
total population: 70.86 years


male: 65.91 years


female: 76.09 years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
53%

male:
57%

female:
48% (1979 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Location Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references Oceania Europe
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

contiguous zone:
24 NM

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

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine total:
54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,067,384 GRT/1,330,543 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 23, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 1, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 7, vehicle carrier 6

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, France 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 1, Japan 22, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, US 4 (2000 est.)
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT


by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1


foreign-owned: Germany 1, Greece 1, Ukraine 1


registered in other countries: 96 (2004 est.)
Military branches no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF) Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 1.2% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 594,596 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 466,659 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 19,209 (2004 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 30 July (1980) Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun:
Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)

adjective:
Ni-Vanuatu
noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
Natural hazards tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes NA
Natural resources manganese, hardwood forests, fish peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Willie TITONGOA]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party [Maxime Carlot KORMAN] Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; First Party of Latvia [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For Our Latvia or ML [Rihards Jablokovs]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [Jevgenijs Osiopovs]; Latvian National Front [Aivars GARDA]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Alfred RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC; Light of Latgale or LG; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; New Politics Party or JP [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Union for the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; United Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
Population 192,910 (July 2001 est.) 2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA
Population growth rate 1.7% (2001 est.) -0.71% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo) Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 62,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 2,303 km


broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2003)
Religions Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7% Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female


total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Telephone system general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use


domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications


international: country code - 371; international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
Telephones - main lines in use 4,000 (1996) 653,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 154 (1996) 1,219,600 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains low plain
Total fertility rate 3.19 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.25 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 8.6% (2003 est.)
Waterways none 300 km (2004)
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