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Compare Zambia (2001) - Laos (2008)

Compare Zambia (2001) z Laos (2008)

 Zambia (2001)Laos (2008)
 ZambiaLaos
Administrative divisions 9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Age structure 0-14 years:
47.36% (male 2,324,128; female 2,303,349)

15-64 years:
50.14% (male 2,433,250; female 2,465,747)

65 years and over:
2.5% (male 105,694; female 138,031) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 1,349,352/female 1,338,252)


15-64 years: 55.7% (male 1,795,029/female 1,835,168)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 90,188/female 114,009) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Airports 112 (2000 est.) 42 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total:
13

over 3,047 m:
1

2,438 to 3,047 m:
3

1,524 to 2,437 m:
5

914 to 1,523 m:
3

under 914 m:
1 (2000 est.)
total: 9


2,438 to 3,047 m: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
99

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
65

under 914 m:
31 (2000 est.)
total: 33


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 23 (2007)
Area total:
752,614 sq km

land:
740,724 sq km

water:
11,890 sq km
total: 236,800 sq km


land: 230,800 sq km


water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than Texas slightly larger than Utah
Background The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until takeover by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination 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 and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
Birth rate 41.46 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 34.98 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues:
$900 million

expenditures:
$1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA million (1999 est.)
revenues: $470.4 million


expenditures: $643.5 million (2007 est.)
Capital Lusaka name: Vientiane


geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E


time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April) tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Coastline 0 km (landlocked) 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 2 August 1991 promulgated 14 August 1991
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Zambia

conventional short form:
Zambia

former:
Northern Rhodesia
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic


conventional short form: Laos


local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao


local short form: none
Currency Zambian kwacha (ZMK) -
Death rate 21.97 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 11.28 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $6.5 billion (2000) $3.179 billion (2006)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador David B. DUNN

embassy:
corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues

mailing address:
P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka

telephone:
[260] (1) 250-955

FAX:
[260] (1) 252-225
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO


embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane


mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546


telephone: [856] 21-26-7000


FAX: [856] 21-26-7190
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Atan SHANSONGA

chancery:
2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719

FAX:
[1] (202) 332-0826
chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone


chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416


FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Disputes - international - Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Economic aid - recipient $1.99 billion (1995) $379 million (2006 est.)
Economy - overview Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economy has a long way to go. Privatization of government-owned copper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. In late 2000, Zambia was determined to be eligible for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Inflation and unemployment rates remain high, but the GDP growth rate should rise in 2001. The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year in 1988-2007 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 underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with support from Japan and China. Electricity is available in urban areas and in most rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about 40% of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from international donors and from foreign investment in hydropower and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years; the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime, slated to begin in 2008, should help streamline the government's inefficient tax system.
Electricity - consumption 5.926 billion kWh (1999) 1.193 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 1.6 billion kWh (1999) 728 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 419 million kWh (1999) 326 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 7.642 billion kWh (1999) 1.715 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
0.55%

hydro:
99.45%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Zambezi river 329 m

highest point:
unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m


highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment - current issues air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks 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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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 African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2% Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Exchange rates Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 4,024.53 (January 2001), 3,110.84 (2000), 2,388.02 (1999), 1,862.07 (1998), 1,314.50 (1997), 1,207.90 (1996) kips per US dollar - 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Frederick CHILUBA (since 2 November 1991); Vice President Enoch KAVINDELE (since 4 May 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:
President Frederick CHILUBA (since 2 November 1991); Vice President Enoch KAVINDELE (since 4 May 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); vice president appointed by the president

election results:
Frederick CHILUBA reelected president; percent of vote - Frederick CHILUBA 72.5%, Dean MUNGO'MBA 12.6%, Humphrey MULEMBA 7%, Akashambatwa LEWANIKA 4.7%, Chama CHAKOMBOKA 3.2%
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)


head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001)


cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly


elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for five-year term


election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%
Exports $928 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities copper, cobalt, electricity, tobacco wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold
Exports - partners Japan, Saudi Arabia, India, Thailand, South Africa, US, Malaysia (1997) Thailand 42.1%, Vietnam 9.5%, China 4% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 October - 30 September
Flag description green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag 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 - $8.5 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
18%

industry:
27%

services:
55% (1999 est.)
agriculture: 41.2%


industry: 32.5%


services: 26.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $880 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2000 est.) 7% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 15 00 S, 30 00 E 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Geography - note landlocked 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:
66,781 km

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km (1997 est.)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
1.6%

highest 10%:
39.2% (1995)
lowest 10%: 3.4%


highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and possibly Europe; regional money-laundering center estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2005 was 5,600 hectares, about a 45% decrease from 2004; estimated potential opium production in 2005 was 28 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem
Imports $1.05 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.) 2,898 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery, transportation equipment, fuels, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners South Africa 48%, Saudi Arabia, UK, Zimbabwe (1997) Thailand 68.8%, China 11.3%, Vietnam 5.6% (2006)
Independence 24 October 1964 (from UK) 19 July 1949 (from France)
Industrial production growth rate 6.1% (2000 est.) 12% (2007 est.)
Industries copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement
Infant mortality rate 90.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 81.44 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 90.91 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 71.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 27.3% (2000 est.) 5% (2007 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO ACCT, ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 3 (2000) -
Irrigated land 460 sq km (1993 est.) 1,750 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and 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 3.4 million 2.1 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9% agriculture: 80%


industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Land boundaries total:
5,664 km

border countries:
Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 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:
7%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
40%

forests and woodland:
39%

other:
14% (1993 est.)
arable land: 4.01%


permanent crops: 0.34%


other: 95.65% (2005)
Languages English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Legal system based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 18 November 1996 (next to be held NA December 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MMD 131, NP 5, Zadeco 2, AZ 2, independents 10
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2
Life expectancy at birth total population:
37.29 years

male:
37.06 years

female:
37.53 years (2001 est.)
total population: 55.89 years


male: 53.82 years


female: 58.04 years (2007 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English

total population:
78.2%

male:
85.6%

female:
71.3% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 68.7%


male: 77%


female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
Location Southern Africa, east of Angola Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Map references Africa Southeast Asia
Maritime claims none (landlocked) none (landlocked)
Merchant marine - total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT


by type: cargo 1 (2007)
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, Air Force, National Service, police Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2008)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $76 million (FY97) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.8% (FY97) 0.5% (2006)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
2,246,640 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
1,193,047 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 24 October (1964) Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Nationality noun:
Zambian(s)

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


adjective: Lao or Laotian
Natural hazards tropical storms (November to April) floods, droughts
Natural resources copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Net migration rate -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 1,724 km refined products 540 km (2007)
Political parties and leaders Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Akashambatwa LEWANIKA]; Labor Party or LP [Chibiza MFUNI]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Democratic Process or MDP [Chama CHAKOM BOKA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Frederick CHILUBA]; National Party or NP [Daniel LISULO]; Republican Party or RP [Ben MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline Konie]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji KAUNDA]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or Zadeco [Eden JERRY, acting head] Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA political parties and groups other than LPRP are proscribed
Population 9,770,199

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
6,521,998 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line 86% (1993 est.) 30.7% (2005 est.)
Population growth rate 1.93% (2001 est.) 2.37% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Mpulungu -
Radio broadcast stations AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998) AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)
Radios 1.03 million (1997) -
Railways total:
2,164 km (1995)

narrow gauge:
2,164 km 1.067-m gauge (13 km double track)

note:
the total includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates 1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam and Kapiri Mposhi where it connects to the Zambia Railways system; TAZARA is not a part of the Zambia Railways system; Zambia Railways assets are scheduled for concessioning in 2001
-
Religions Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1% Buddhist 65%, animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.8% (1995 census)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.008 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.978 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.791 male(s)/female


total population: 0.984 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa

domestic:
high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms

international:
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas


domestic: multiple service providers; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership about 10 per 100 persons


international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Telephones - main lines in use 77,935 (in addition there are about 40,000 fixed telephones in wireless local loop connections) (1997) 90,067 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular 6,000 (1998) 638,200 (2006)
Television broadcast stations 9 (1997) 7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)
Terrain mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Total fertility rate 5.53 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.59 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 50% (2000 est.) 2.4% (2005 est.)
Waterways 2,250 km

note:
includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers
4,600 km


note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)
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