Airports - with paved runways: total: 88 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 88 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 206 (2004 est.)
Military Korea, South
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police(Coast Guard)
Military service age and obligation: 20-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; women, in service since 1950, are admitted to seven service branches, including infantry; excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 12,458,257 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 9,932,026 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 344,723 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$16.18 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.8% (2004)
Transnational Issues Korea, South
Disputes - international:Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zonehas separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritimedisputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; South Koreaand Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied bySouth Korea since 1954
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Kuwait
Introduction Kuwait
Background:Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the rulingKuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961.Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Followingseveral weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began aground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in fourdays. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructuredamaged during 1990-91.
Geography Kuwait
Location:Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and SaudiArabia
Geographic coordinates:29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 17,820 sq kmland: 17,820 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:499 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.73% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 99.16% (2001)
Irrigated land:60 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavyrain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust stormsoccur throughout the year, but are most common between March andAugust
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People Kuwait
Population: 2,335,648 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.2% (male 323,382/female 311,700)15-64 years: 70.1% (male 1,045,589/female 591,243)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 40,439/female 23,295) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 25.86 yearsmale: 28.05 yearsfemale: 22.12 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:3.44%note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration ofexpatriates (2005 est.)
Birth rate:21.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:2.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:14.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.03 yearsmale: 76.01 yearsfemale: 78.1 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.97 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Kuwaiti(s)adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups:Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, andother 15%
Languages:Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.5%male: 85.1%female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Government Kuwait
Country name:conventional long form: State of Kuwaitconventional short form: Kuwaitlocal long form: Dawlat al Kuwaytlocal short form: Al Kuwayt
Government type:nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital:Kuwait
Administrative divisions:5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, AlFarwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence:19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or haveresided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants atage 21note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification buthave been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for thefirst time
Executive branch:chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 31December 1977); Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabahhead of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah(since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofthe Interior NAWWAF al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 2003); Deputy PrimeMinisters JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 2001) and MuhammadDayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister andapproved by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister anddeputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Islamists 21,government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note -all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the NationalAssembly
Judicial branch:High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders:several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins,merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists andnationalists
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabahchancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702FAX: [1] (202) 364-2868
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARONembassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayanpalace), Kuwait Citymailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE09880-9000telephone: [965] 539-5307, 5308FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with ablack trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I
Economy Kuwait
Economy - overview:Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crudeoil reserves of about 96 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves.Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues,and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agriculturaldevelopment. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it dependsalmost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must bedistilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreignoil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$48 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $21,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.4% industry: 60.5% services: 39.1% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 1.42 million note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:2.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $35.82 billionexpenditures: $19.53 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:29.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:practically no crops; fish
Industries:petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair,desalination, food processing, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:32.43 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:30.16 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:2.319 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:293,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:1.97 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:96.5 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.548 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$12.04 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$27.42 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:Japan 20.5%, South Korea 13.7%, US 12.4%, Singapore 11.3%, Taiwan9.9% (2004)
Imports:$11.12 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:US 12.9%, Germany 11.9%, Japan 7.9%, UK 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%,Italy 5%, France 4.5%, China 4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$7.333 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$15.02 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA (2001)
Currency (code):Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Currency code:KWD
Exchange rates:Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039(2002), 0.3067 (2001), 0.3068 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:486,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.42 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: the quality of service is excellentdomestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for newsubscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellulartelephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is wellsupplied with pay telephonesinternational: country code - 965; coaxial cable and microwave radiorelay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via theFiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat(1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.175 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions:875,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kw
Internet hosts:3,437 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:567,000 (2003)
Transportation Kuwait
Highways: total: 4,450 km paved: 3,587 km unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi,Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine:total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,319,082 GRT/3,768,828 DWTby type: bulk carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestockcarrier 5, petroleum tanker 20registered in other countries: 19 (2005)
Airports:7 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Heliports:3 (2004 est.)
Military Kuwait
Military branches:Land Forces, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense Force), NationalGuard (2002)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 864,745 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 737,292 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 18,743 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2,584.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.3% (2004)
Transnational Issues Kuwait
Disputes - international:Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritimeboundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in thePersian Gulf
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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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. Nation-widedemonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster ofPresident Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990.Subsequent presidential elections in July of 2005 were wonoverwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. 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 kmland: 191,300 sq kmwater: 7,200 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: 7.3%permanent crops: 0.35%other: 92.35%note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnutforest (2001)
Irrigated land:10,740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:water pollution; many people get their water directly fromcontaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseasesare prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigationpractices
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, OzoneLayer Protectionsigned, 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:5,146,281 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31.6% (male 827,751/female 796,029)15-64 years: 62.3% (male 1,571,476/female 1,632,506)65 years and over: 6.2% (male 123,992/female 194,527) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 23.39 yearsmale: 22.52 yearsfemale: 24.27 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.29% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:22.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.13 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 35.64 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 40.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 30.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.16 yearsmale: 64.16 yearsfemale: 72.38 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.7 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,900 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups:Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)
Religions:Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages:Kyrgyz (official), Russian (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.7%male: 99.3%female: 98.1% (1999 est.)
Government Kyrgyzstan
Country name:conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republicconventional short form: Kyrgyzstanlocal long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasylocal short form: noneformer: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
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 Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 14 August 2005);note - former President Askar AKAYEV resigned effective 11 April2005 following widespread protests that forced him to flee thecountry on 24 March 2005head of government: Prime Minister Feliks KULOV (since 1 September2005)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; election last held 10 July 2005 (next scheduled for NA 2010);prime minister nominated by the president for approval by Parliamentelection results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected president; percent ofvote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, othercandidates 7.5%; Feliks KULOV approved as prime minister 55-8
Legislative branch:bicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku 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); note - in accordance with a 2003 referendum, theParliament is slated to become unicameral with 75 deputies after the27 February 2005 electionselections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20February and 12 March 2000; Legislative Assembly - last held 20February and 12 March 2000; elections for the new unicameral body orJorgorku Kenesh were held 27 February 2005, but the vast majority ofpositions remained undecided and were to be contested in a runoffelection scheduled for 13 March 2005; election irregularities causedwidespread protests that resulted in the president being forced toflee the country; new legislative elections have not yet beenrescheduledelection 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 Assembly
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:Adilet (Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian Labor Party ofKyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [ErkinALIYEV]; Alga, Kyrgyzstan (Forward, Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV];Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner NationalRevival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [OmurbekTEKEBAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA];Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; ErkinKyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [Bektur ASANOV];Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Future ofKyrgyzstan [Balbak TULEBAYEV]; Jany Kyrgyzstan (New Kyrgyzstan)[Dosbol NUR UULU]; Kairan El [Dooronbek SADYKOV]; Kyrgyz NationalParty [Bakyt BESHIMOV]; Kyrgyzstan Kelechegi [Ruslan CHYNYBAYEV];Manas El (Party of Spiritual Restoration) [Chingiz AITMATOV]; MoyaStrana (My Country Party of Action) [Joomart OTORBAYEV]; Party ofCommunists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Bakytbek BEKBOYEV]; Party ofJustice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants[Esengul ISAKOV]
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, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,UNMIL, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVAchancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNGembassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016mailing 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 poor, mountainous country with a predominantlyagricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the mainagricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exportedin any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium,and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has been fairlyprogressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improvedregulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first CIScountry to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. With fitsand starts, inflation has been lowered to an estimated 7% in 2001,2.1% in 2002, 4% in 2003, and 3.2% in 2004. Much of the government'sstock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had beensevere after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, butby mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began toincrease. Kyrgyzstan has distinguished itself by adopting relativelyliberal economic policies. The drop in output at the Kumtor goldmine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bouncedback to 6% in 2003 and 2004. The government has made steady stridesin controlling its substantial fiscal deficit and aims to reduce thedeficit to 3% of GDP in 2004. The government and the internationalfinancial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensivemedium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. Furtherrestructuring of domestic industry and success in attracting foreigninvestment are keys to future growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.495 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38.5% industry: 22.8% services: 38.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:2.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:18% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 23.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:29 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $431.3 millionexpenditures: $445.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries;sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawnlogs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earthmetals
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:11.72 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 7.6% hydro: 92.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:10.21 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:1.062 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:375 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Natural gas - production:16 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.016 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-87.92 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$646.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:UAE 28.2%, Russia 19.1%, China 12%, Kazakhstan 11.1%, Switzerland6.3% (2004)
Imports:$775.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:China 26.3%, Russia 22.3%, Kazakhstan 17.1%, Turkey 5.4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$498.7 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.97 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$50 million from the US (2001)
Currency (code):
Currency code:KGS
Exchange rates:soms per US dollar - 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003), 46.937 (2002),48.378 (2001), 47.704 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:394,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:53,100 (2002)
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: country code - 996; connections with other CIScountries by landline or microwave radio relay and with othercountries by leased connections with Moscow international gatewayswitch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnikand 1 Intelsat; connected internationally 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 hosts:12,299 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:152,000 (2002)
Transportation Kyrgyzstan
Railways: total: 470 km broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 18,500 kmpaved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:600 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports:52 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)
Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:Army, Air Force, National Guard (2004)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,193,529 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 871,493 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 61,091 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$19.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:delimitation with Kazakhstan is complete; disputes in Isfara Valleydelay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation isunderway with Uzbekistan but serious disputes around enclaves andelsewhere continue to mar progress for some 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 20 October, 2005
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@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 kmland: 230,800 sq kmwater: 6,000 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:6,217,141 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.6% (male 1,300,094/female 1,289,227)15-64 years: 55.2% (male 1,693,494/female 1,737,196)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 88,744/female 108,386) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 18.74 yearsmale: 18.42 yearsfemale: 19.08 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.42% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:35.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 95.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 75.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 55.08 yearsmale: 53.07 yearsfemale: 57.17 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.77 children born/woman (2005 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.)
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 long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Laolocal short form: none
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 (Vientiane)*,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 Siphadon 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 Siphadon, partypresident]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leadersfled the country in 1975
International organization participation:ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxaychancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
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 6% in 1988-2004 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. The government has sponsored major improvementsin the road system. 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. In late 2004, Laosgained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowingLaos-based producers to face lower tariffs on their exports; thismay help spur growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$11.28 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49.5% industry: 27.5% services: 23% (2004 est.)
Labor force:2.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.7% (1997 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):12.3% (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $284.3 millionexpenditures: $416.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agriculturalprocessing, construction, garments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:9.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:3.56 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.4% hydro: 98.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.036 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:400 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:125 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-80.76 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$365.5 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners:Thailand 19.3%, Vietnam 13.4%, France 8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 5% (2004)
Imports:$579.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:Thailand 60.5%, China 10.3%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$193.1 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$2.49 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$243 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):kip (LAK)
Currency code:LAK
Exchange rates:kips per US dollar - 10,820 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002),8,954.6 (2001), 7,887.6 (2000)
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)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2005)
Airports:44 (2004 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; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 15-49: 1,500,625 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 15-49: 954,816 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 73,167 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$10.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.5% (2004)
Military - note:Laos is one of the world's least developed countries; the LaoPeople's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectivelyresourced; there is little political will to allocate sparse fundingto the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likelyto continue; the massive drug production and trafficking industrycentered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcoticstransit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active onthe Lao-Burma border (2005)
Transnational Issues Laos