Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 845,026 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 508,399 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 18,885 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1,967.3 million (FY01) note: Kuwait is changing its fiscal year; the above figure is for July-March 2001; future budget years will be April-March annually
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.5% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kuwait
Disputes - international:the Kuwait 1994 land and Khawr 'Abd Allah channel boundarydemarcation ended Iraqi claims to Kuwait and Bubiyan and Warbahislands; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are negotiating maritime boundarywith Iran
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Kyrgyzstan
Introduction Kyrgyzstan
Background:A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proudnomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; itachieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Currentconcerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises,expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnicrelations, and combating terrorism.
Geography Kyrgyzstan
Location:Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 198,500 sq kmwater: 7,200 sq kmland: 191,300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 3,878 kmborder countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical insouthwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompassentire nation
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 mhighest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earthmetals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; otherdeposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use:arable land: 7.04%permanent crops: 0.39%note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnutforest (1998 est.)other: 92.57%
Irrigated land:10,740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range;many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes
People Kyrgyzstan
Population:4,892,808 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.8% (male 836,593; female 819,615)15-64 years: 59.9% (male 1,436,371; female 1,492,884)65 years and over: 6.3% (male 117,405; female 189,940) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 22.7 yearsmale: 21.8 yearsfemale: 23.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.46% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:26.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 75.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 65.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 84.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 63.66 yearsmale: 59.49 yearsfemale: 68.03 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.12 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:over 500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:Kyrgyz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German2.4%, other 11.8%
Religions:Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:Kyrgyz - official language, Russian - official languagenote: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian anofficial language, equal in status to Kyrgyz
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 99%female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government Kyrgyzstan
Country name:conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republicconventional short form: Kyrgyzstanlocal short form: noneformer: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Government type:republic
Capital:Bishkek
Administrative divisions:7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar);Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-AbadOblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty(Karakol)note: administrative divisions have the same names as theiradministrative centers (exceptions have the administrative centername following in parentheses)
Independence:31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Constitution:adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEVand passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantlyexpands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)head of government: Prime Minister Nikolay TANAYEV (since 22 May2002); note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV resigned on 22 May2002 when five demonstrators were killed in a clash with police inMarch of 2002cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelection results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote- Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%;note - election marred by serious irregularitieselections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;elections last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held November orDecember 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of theAssembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the LegislativeAssembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent ofvote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; and Legislative Assembly -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - totalseats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows: Union ofDemocratic Forces 12, Communists 6, My Country Party of Action 4,independents 73, other 10note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly ofPeople's Representatives and the Legislative Assemblyelections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005);Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000 (nextto be held NA February 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed for 10-year terms by theSupreme Council on the recommendation of the president);Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson S. SYDYKOV]; AgrarianParty of Kyrgyzstan [Arkin ALIYEV]; Ata-Meken or Fatherland [OmurbekTEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Revival Party or ASABA [ChaprashtyBAZARBAY]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [JyparJEKSHEYEV]; Democratic Women's Party of Kyrgyzstan [T. A.SHAILIYEVA]; Dignity Party [Feliks KULOV]; Erkin KyrgyzstanProgressive and Democratic Party [Tursunbay Bakir UULU]; JusticeParty [Chingiz AYTMATOV]; Movement for the People's Salvation[Jumgalbek AMAMBAYEV]; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [JumagazyUSUPOV]; My Country Party of Action [Almazbek ISMANKULOV]; NationalUnity Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Party ofCommunists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Absamat M. MASALIYEV]; Party of theVeterans of the War in Afghanistan [leader NA]; Peasant Party[leader NA]; People's Party [Melis ESHIMKANOV]; Republican PopularParty of Kyrgyzstan [J. SHARSHENALIYEV]; Social Democratic Party orPSD [J. IBRAMOV]; Union of Democratic Forces (composed of SocialDemocratic Party of Kyrgyzstan or PSD [J. IBRAMOV], Economic RevivalParty, and Birimdik Party)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights[Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union ofEntrepreneurs
International organization participation:AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW(signatory), OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEVFAX: [1] (202) 338-5139consulate(s): New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 338-5141chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNGembassy: 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkekmailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217FAX: [996] (312) 551-264
Flag description:red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 raysrepresenting the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays runcounterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of thesun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylizedrepresentation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with apredominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meatare the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cottonare exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold,mercury, uranium, and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan hasbeen fairly progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as animproved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the firstCIS country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Withfits and starts, inflation has been lowered to an estimated 7% in2001, 2.1% in 2002, and 4.0% in 2003. Much of the government's stockin enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severeafter the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but bymid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase.Growth was held down to 2.1% in 1998 largely because of thespillover from Russia's economic difficulties, but moved ahead to3.6% in 1999, 5% in 2000, and 5% again in 2001. The drop in outputat the Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 andagain in 2003. On the positive side, the government and theinternational financial institutions have been engaged in acomprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growthstrategy. Further restructuring of domestic industry and success inattracting foreign investment are keys to future growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $13.88 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 25% services: 40% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 55% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 27.7% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:34.6 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.2% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $207.4 millionexpenditures: $238.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1999 est.)
Industries:small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawnlogs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earthmetals
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:13.45 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 7.6% hydro: 92.4% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:10.46 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:2.25 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:200 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:16 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.016 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Exports:$488 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:Switzerland 19.9%, Russia 16.5%, UAE 14.2%, China 8.5%, Kazakhstan7.6%, US 7.4%, Uzbekistan 5.7% (2002)
Imports:$587 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Kazakhstan 21.1%, Russia 19.9%, Uzbekistan 10.2%, China 10.1%, US8.1%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$1.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$50 million from the US (2001)
Currency:Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
Currency code:KGS
Exchange rates:soms per US dollar - 46.94 (2002), 48.38 (2001), 47.7 (2000), 39.01(1999), 20.84 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:351,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfiedapplications for household telephonesdomestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider,probably limited to Bishkek regioninternational: connections with other CIS countries by landline ormicrowave radio relay and with other countries by leased connectionswith Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satelliteearth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connectedinternationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line
Radio broadcast stations:AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:520,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay programs fromRussia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions:210,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:51,600 (2001)
Transportation Kyrgyzstan
Railways: total: 420 km broad gauge: 420 km 1.520-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 18,500 kmpaved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:600 km (1990)
Pipelines:gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports:68 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 36 (2002)
Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,265,019 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,026,063 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 54,445 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$19.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:Kyrgyzstan's constitutional court has ruled that 1,270 sq km cededto China in a 2000 delimitation agreement were legally transferred;delimitation with Kazakhstan is largely complete with only minordisputed areas; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion ofdelimitation with Tajikistan; serious disputes with Uzbekistanaround Uzbek enclaves mar progress on delimitation efforts
Illicit drugs:limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CISmarkets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transitpoint for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest ofEurope
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Laos
Introduction Laos
Background:In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government,ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnamand socialization were replaced with a gradual return to privateenterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and theadmission into ASEAN in 1997.
Geography Laos
Location:Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 236,800 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq kmland: 230,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:total: 5,083 kmborder countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season(December to April)
Terrain:mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:arable land: 3.47%permanent crops: 0.23%other: 96.3% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:1,640 sq kmnote: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation -750 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:floods, droughts
Environment - current issues:unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of thepopulation does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thicklyforested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary withThailand
People Laos
Population:5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.2% (male 1,255,172; female 1,242,823)15-64 years: 54.6% (male 1,592,697; female 1,639,431)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,192; female 104,230) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.5 yearsmale: 18.1 yearsfemale: 18.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.45% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:36.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:12.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 88.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 78.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 99.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 54.3 yearsmale: 52.34 yearsfemale: 56.33 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 150 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung(highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnicVietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions:Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christiandenominations 1.5%)
Languages:Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 52.8%male: 67.5%female: 38.1% (2003 est.)
Government Laos
Country name:conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republicconventional short form: Laoslocal short form: nonelocal long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Government type:Communist state
Capital:Vientiane
Administrative divisions: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
Independence:19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Constitution:promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system:based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures,and socialist practice
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27March 2001)head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli(since NA May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since27 March 2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since26 February 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approvedby the National Assemblyelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 24 February 2002 (next to be heldNA 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with theapproval of the National Assembly for a five-year termelection results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seatsincreased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109
Judicial branch:People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Courtis elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of theNational Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of thePeople's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the NationalAssembly Standing Committee)
Political parties and leaders:Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphandon, partypresident]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leadersfled the country in 1975
International organization participation:ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG PhommahaxayFAX: [1] (202) 332-4923telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. HARTWICK 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
Flag description:three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and redwith a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy Laos
Economy - overview:The government of Laos - one of the few remaining officialCommunist states - began decentralizing control and encouragingprivate enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremelylow base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 exceptduring the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisisbeginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains acountry with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, arudimentary road system, and limited external and internaltelecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urbanareas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit fromaid from the IMF and other international sources and from newforeign investment in food processing and mining.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $10.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 23% services: 24% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):10% (2002 est.)
Labor force:2.4 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $211 millionexpenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY98/99 est. est.)
Industries:tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agriculturalprocessing, construction, garments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:7.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.4% hydro: 98.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports:$345 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports - partners:Vietnam 25.7%, Thailand 19%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.3% (2002)
Imports:$555 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:Thailand 58.9%, Vietnam 12.3%, China 7.9% (2002)
Debt - external:$2.53 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:$345 million (1999 est.)
Currency:kip (LAK)
Currency code:LAK
Exchange rates:kips per US dollar - 7,562 (2002), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64(2000), 7,102.02 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:25,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4,915 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: service to general public is poor but improvingwith over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephonenetwork to communicate with remote areasdomestic: radiotelephone communicationsinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (IndianOcean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (1999)
Televisions:52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.la
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
Transportation Laos
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 21,716 kmpaved: 9,664 kmunpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:4,587 km approximatelynote: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km areintermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines:refined products 540 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:none
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWTships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:51 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 421,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 15under 914 m: 26 (2002)
Military Laos
Military branches:Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force,National Police Department
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,411,042 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 759,499 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 67,260 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$55 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.2% (FY96)
Transnational Issues Laos
Disputes - international:demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam isnearing completion, but with Thailand several areas including MekongRiver islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand andVietnam over squatters
Illicit drugs:world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivationin 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimatedpotential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin andmethamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis;growing methamphetamine abuse problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Latvia
Introduction Latvia
Background:After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars,Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished itsindependence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of theRussian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern toMoscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventualintegration into various Western European political and economicinstitutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Geography Latvia
Location:Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia andLithuania
Geographic coordinates:57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 64,589 sq kmwater: 1,000 sq kmland: 63,589 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,150 kmborder countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,Russia 217 km
Coastline:531 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:low plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Land use: arable land: 29.01% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:200 sq kmnote: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, notirrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural landhas been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to serviceindustries after the country regained independence; the mainenvironmental priorities are improvement of drinking water qualityand sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, andreduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accessionnegotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement ofEU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, withsome hills in the east
People Latvia
Population:2,348,784 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 39 yearsmale: 35.5 yearsfemale: 42.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.73% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.31 yearsmale: 63.46 yearsfemale: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Latvian(s)adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups:Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%,Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
Religions:Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages:Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%male: 99.8%female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Government Latvia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Latviaconventional short form: Latvialocal short form: Latvijaformer: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Latvijas Republika
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Riga
Administrative divisions:26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: AizkrauklesRajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons,Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons,Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, KraslavasRajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons,Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, TalsuRajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*,Ventspils Rajons
Independence:21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 isthe date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is thedate of independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister andappointed by the Parliamentelections: 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 presidentelection results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president;parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected bydirect, 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%, PCTVL18.9%, 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
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS(Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER PoliticalAlliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS];For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For HumanRights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition ofthe People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party orLSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS];Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [AndrisRUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats)or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS];Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [EinarsREPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [AivarsGARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party[Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; SocialDemocratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic WelfareParty or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia orLARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner),WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONISFAX: [1] (202) 726-6785telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSONembassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE09723telephone: [371] 703-6200FAX: [371] 781-0047
Flag description:three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), andmaroon
Economy Latvia
Economy - overview:Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russianfinancial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budgetstringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EUcountries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. Themajority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized,although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few largeenterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organizationin February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a topforeign policy goal. The current account and internal governmentdeficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts toincrease efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budgetdeficit.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 4.5%industry: 26%services: 69.5% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.6% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.4 billionexpenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2002 est.)
Industries: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
Industrial production growth rate:5.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.1% hydro: 70.9% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports:$2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,foodstuffs
Exports - partners:UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%,Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002)
Imports:$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners:Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002)
Debt - external:$3.4 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$96.2 million (1995)
Currency:Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code:LVL
Exchange rates:lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59(1999), 0.59 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use:734,693 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:401,263 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to providean international capability independent of the Moscow internationalswitch; more facilities are being installed for individual usedomestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfiedsubscriber applicationsinternational: international connections are now available via cableand a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connectionsfor most calls (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:.lv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):41 (2001)
Internet users:312,000 (2001)
Transportation Latvia
Railways:total: 2,347 kmbroad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 73,202 kmpaved: 28,256 kmunpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Waterways:300 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3,roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 222,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 162,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Latvia
Military branches:Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard,National Guard
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 19,477 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Latvia
Disputes - international:the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treatywith Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concernsover oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central andSouthwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin Americancocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; moneylaundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Lebanon
Introduction Lebanon
Background:Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its politicalinstitutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 16-year civilwar. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for nationalreconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitablepolitical system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say inthe political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisionsin the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese haveconducted several successful elections, most of the militias havebeen weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) haveextended central government authority over about two-thirds of thecountry. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons.Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, based mainly east ofBeirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troop deployment waslegitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in theTa'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continued military presence inLebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the LebaneseGovernment to implement all of the constitutional reforms in theTa'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from its security zone in southernLebanon in May 2000, however, has emboldened some LebaneseChristians and Druze to demand that Syria withdraw its forces aswell.