Pipelines:gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports:61 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 37 (2003 est.)
Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,347,312 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,091,548 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 59,759 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$19.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:boundary with China is fully demarcated; delimitation withKazakhstan is largely complete with only minor disputed areas;disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation withTajikistan; delimitation is underway with Uzbekistan but seriousdisputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar progress forsome 130 km of border
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 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Laos
Introduction Laos
Background:Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18thcentury until the late 19th century when it became part of FrenchIndochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Laoborder with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took controlof the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closerties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradualreturn to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investmentlaws, and the admission 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: 3.8%permanent crops: 0.35%other: 95.85% (2001)
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; 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, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thicklyforested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the westernboundary with Thailand
People Laos
Population:6,068,117 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,277,152; female 1,265,761)15-64 years: 54.9% (male 1,642,895; female 1,688,175)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,995; female 106,139) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.6 yearsmale: 18.3 yearsfemale: 19 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.44% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:36.47 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:12.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 87.06 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 76.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 97.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 54.69 yearsmale: 52.71 yearsfemale: 56.75 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.86 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,700 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
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 and the Yao 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: 66.4%male: 77.4%female: 55.5% (2002)
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, Louangphrabang,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 Siphadon (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 Bouasone BOUPHAVANH (since3 October 2003) Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (sinceMay 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26February 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 heldin 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 in 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, 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)
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 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
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 - $10.32 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49.4% industry: 24.5% services: 26.1% (2003 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):15.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:2.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $298.5 millionexpenditures: $429.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agriculturalprocessing, construction, garments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:9.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:1.317 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:824.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:400 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-58 million (2003)
Exports:$332 million (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners:Thailand 20.7%, Vietnam 15.9%, France 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Belgium4% (2003)
Imports:$492 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:Thailand 59.4%, China 12.8%, Vietnam 10.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$201 million (2003)
Debt - external:$2.49 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$243 million (2001 est.)
Currency:kip (LAK)
Currency code:LAK
Exchange rates:kips per US dollar - 10,443 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.58(2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.02 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:61,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:55,200 (2002)
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: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1Intersputnik (Indian Ocean 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 hosts:937 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:15,000 (2002)
Transportation Laos
Highways:total: 21,716 kmpaved: 9,664 kmunpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:4,600 kmnote: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km areintermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)
Pipelines:refined products 540 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:none
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:46 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 351,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 13under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Military Laos
Military branches:Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,456,500 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 783,800 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 68,563 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$10.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.5% (2003)
Transnational Issues Laos
Disputes - international:demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam islargely complete, but with Thailand several areas including MekongRiver islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand andVietnam over squatters; concern among Mekong Commission members thatChina's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect waterlevels
Illicit drugs:world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivationin 2003 - 18,900 hectares, a 19% decrease over 2002; estimatedpotential production in 2003 - 200 metric tons, a 11% increase from2002); 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 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@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 joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
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: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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: 29.67% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 69.86% (2001)
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, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, withsome hills in the east
People Latvia
Population:2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure: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.)
Median age:total: 38.8 yearsmale: 35.6 yearsfemale: 41.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.71% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:8.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:13.73 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.67 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.86 yearsmale: 65.91 yearsfemale: 76.09 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.25 children born/woman (2004 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 500 (2003 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% (2002)
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 Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental HumanRights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplementedthe constitution
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 Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December2004)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)]; First Party ofLatvia [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia orPCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For Our Latvia or ML [Rihards Jablokovs];Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [Jevgenijs Osiopovs];Latvian National Front [Aivars GARDA]; Latvian Social-DemocraticWorkers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Alfred RUBIKS]; Latvia'sWay Union or LC; Light of Latgale or LG; New Era Party or JL [EinarsREPSE]; New Politics Party or JP [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; People'sHarmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; People's Party or TP [AtisSLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Unionfor 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:Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
International organization participation: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
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINSFAX: [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 Catherine Todd-Baileyembassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE09723telephone: [371] 703-6200FAX: [371] 782-0047
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 - $23.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.4% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.5% industry: 24.5% services: 70.9% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):27.1% of GDP (2003)
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):2.9% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.18 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:8.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.691 billionexpenditures: $3.871 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:14.4% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs;fish
Industries:buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers,agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note -dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Industrial production growth rate:8% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-955.9 million (2003)
Exports:$3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,foodstuffs
Exports - partners:UK 15.6%, Germany 14.8%, Sweden 10.5%, Lithuania 8.2%, Estonia6.6%, Denmark 6%, Russia 5.4% (2003)
Imports:$4.921 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners:Germany 16.1%, Lithuania 9.7%, Russia 8.7%, Finland 7.4%, Estonia6.4%, Sweden 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, Italy 4.4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.535 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$6.793 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$96.2 million (1995)
Currency:Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code:LVL
Exchange rates:lati per US dollar - 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001),0.6065 (2000), 0.5852 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use:653,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,219,600 (2003)
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: country code - 371; international connections are nowavailable via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enablingdirect connections for 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 hosts:51,758 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):41 (2001)
Internet users:936,000 (2003)
Transportation Latvia
Railways:total: 2,303 kmbroad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 73,202 kmpaved: 28,256 kmunpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Waterways:300 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWTforeign-owned: Germany 1, Greece 1, Ukraine 1registered in other countries: 96 (2004 est.)by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, rollon/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1
Airports:51 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 272,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 16 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 242,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 20 (2003 est.)
Military Latvia
Military branches:Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard(Zemessardze)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)
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.)
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; vulnerableto money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascentenforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation ofoffshore companies, exchange firms, and the gaming industry;organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion,stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Lebanon
Introduction Lebanon
Background:Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its politicalinstitutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-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, a radical Shia organization, retains itsweapons. Syria maintains about 16,000 troops in Lebanon, basedmainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Syria's troopdeployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civilwar and in the Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies its continuedmilitary presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and thefailure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of theconstitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal fromsouthern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanesegroups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. The passageof UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a resolution calling for Syriato withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebaneseaffairs - further emboldened Lebanese groups opposed to Syria'spresence in Lebanon.
Geography Lebanon
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel andSyria
Geographic coordinates:33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 10,400 sq kmwater: 170 sq kmland: 10,230 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline:225 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers;Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain:narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon andAnti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
Natural resources:limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficitregion, arable land
Land use:arable land: 16.62%permanent crops: 13.98%other: 69.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution inBeirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes;pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine LifeConservation
Geography - note:Nahr el Litani only major river in Near East not crossing aninternational boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate,protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion,clan, and ethnicity
People Lebanon
Population:3,777,218 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.9% (male 517,356; female 496,888)15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,197,430; female 1,305,339)65 years and over: 6.9% (male 117,930; female 142,275) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 26.9 yearsmale: 25.9 yearsfemale: 27.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.3% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:19.31 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.28 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.48 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 22.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 28.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.35 yearsmale: 69.91 yearsfemale: 74.91 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,800 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups:Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions:Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri),Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Melkite Catholic, ArmenianOrthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Roman Catholic,Protestant), other 1.3%note: seventeen religious sects recognized
Languages:Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 87.4%male: 93.1%female: 82.2% (2003 est.)
Government Lebanon
Country name:conventional long form: Lebanese Republicconventional short form: Lebanonlocal short form: Lubnanlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Government type:republic
Capital:Beirut
Administrative divisions:6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa,Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye
Independence:22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under Frenchadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution:23 May 1926, amended a number of times, most recently Charter ofLebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989
Legal system:mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law;no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women atage 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)head of government: Prime Minister Omar KARAMI (since 21 October2004); Deputy Prime Minister Issam FARES (since 23 October 2000)cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation withthe president and members of the National Assemblyelections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-yearterm; election last held 15 October 1998 (next election date NA);note - on 3 September 2004 the National Assembly voted 96 to 29 toextend Emile LAHUD's six-year term by three years; the primeminister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president inconsultation with the National Assembly; by agreement, the presidentis a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, andthe speaker of the legislature is a Shia Muslimelection results: For 15 October 1998 election: Emile LAHUD electedpresident; National Assembly vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against,10 abstentions
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) orAssemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popularvote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 27 August and 3 September 2000 (next to be heldspring 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by sect -Muslim 64 ( of which Sunnis 27, Shia 27, Druze 8, Alawite 2),Christian 64 (of which Maronite 34)
Judicial branch:four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercialcases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council(called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws);Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and primeminister as needed)
Political parties and leaders: political activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, ethnic, clan, and economic considerations
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUDconsulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los AngelesFAX: [1] (202) 939-6324telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey D. FELTMAN embassy: Awkar, Lebanon mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002 telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600 FAX: [961] (4) 544136
Flag description:three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and redwith a green cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy Lebanon
Economy - overview:The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economicinfrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but endedLebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub.Peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut,begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and governmentfacilities. Economic recovery was helped by a financially soundbanking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers.Family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports,and international aid provided the main sources of foreign exchange.Lebanon's economy made impressive gains since the launch in 1993 of"Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program.Real GDP grew 8% in 1994, 7% in 1995, 4% in 1996 and in 1997, butslowed to 1.2% in 1998, -1.6% in 1999, -0.6% in 2000, 0.8% in 2001,1.5% in 2002, and 3% in 2003. During the 1990s, annual inflationfell to almost 0% from more than 100%. Lebanon has rebuilt much ofits war-torn physical and financial infrastructure. The governmentnonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It hasfunded reconstruction by borrowing heavily - mostly from domesticbanks. In order to reduce the ballooning national debt, there-installed HARIRI government began an economic austerity programto rein in government expenditures, increase revenue collection, andprivatize state enterprises. The HARIRI government met withinternational donors at the Paris II conference in November 2002 toseek bilateral assistance restructuring its domestic debt at lowerrates of interest. While privatization of state-owned enterpriseshad not occurred by the end of 2003, massive receipts from donornations stabilized government finances in 2002-04.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $17.82 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 21% services: 67% (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):24.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:28% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.5 millionnote: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers(2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:18% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.414 billionexpenditures: $7.026 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:185.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives,tobacco; sheep, goats
Industries:banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral andchemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metalfabricating
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:6.728 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.44 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1.183 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:107,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-2.865 billion (2003)
Exports:$1.359 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumergoods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric powermachinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper
Exports - partners:Switzerland 10.8%, UAE 10%, Saudi Arabia 7.5%, US 7.3%, Turkey5.5%, Jordan 4.4% (2003)
Imports:$6.073 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat andlive animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco
Imports - partners:France 13.4%, Germany 11.7%, Italy 10.7%, Syria 5.3%, China 5.2%,UK 4.9%, US 4.5% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$16.35 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$20.79 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001); $4.2 billion in soft loan pledgesNovember 2002 Paris II Aid Conference (2002)
Currency:Lebanese pound (LBP)
Currency code:LBP
Exchange rates:Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2003), 1,507.5 (2002),1,507.5 (2001), 1,507.5 (2000), 1,507.84 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Lebanon
Telephones - main lines in use:678,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:775,100 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: telecommunications system severely damaged bycivil war; rebuilding well underwaydomestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cableinternational: country code - 961; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations);coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria butinoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:2.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.18 million (1997)
Internet country code:.lb
Internet hosts:6,998 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):22 (2000)
Internet users:400,000 (2002)
Transportation Lebanon
Railways:total: 401 kmstandard gauge: 319 km 1.435-mnote: rail system was unusable because of damage during the civilwar in the 1980s; short sections are operable (2003)narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m
Highways: total: 7,300 km paved: 6,198 km unpaved: 1,102 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:oil 209 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Antilyas, Batroun, Beirut, Chekka, El Mina, Ez Zahrani, Jbail,Jounie, Naqoura, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 198,602 GRT/248,313 DWTregistered in other countries: 52 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Greece 7, India 1, Netherlands 4, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines 1, Spain 1, Syria 2by type: bulk 5, cargo 23, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1,container 2, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 8, refrigeratedcargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 3
Airports:8 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)