Land use:arable land: 6.55%permanent crops: 0.28%other: 93.17%note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnutforest (2005)
Irrigated land:10,720 sq km (2003)
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 Protection, Wetlandssigned, 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:5,213,898 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.9% (male 821,976/female 789,687)15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,607,396/female 1,669,612)65 years and over: 6.2% (male 126,847/female 198,380) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 23.6 yearsmale: 22.8 yearsfemale: 24.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.32% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:22.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.08 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 34.49 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 39.72 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 28.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.49 yearsmale: 64.48 yearsfemale: 72.7 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.69 children born/woman (2006 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: Kyrgyzstanformer: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Bishkekgeographic coordinates: 42 54 N, 74 36 Etime difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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 AskarAKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003significantly expanded the powers of the president at the expense ofthe legislature; during large-scale demonstrations in November 2006,President BAKIYEV and the opposition negotiated a new constitutiongranting greater powers to the parliament and the government
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)head of government: Prime Minister Azim ISABEKOV (since 29 January2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar USENOV (since 10 May 2006)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime minister; note - the new constitution ofNovember 2006 calls for the legislature to appoint the primeminister and members of the Cabinet after the elections of 2010elections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 July 2005(next scheduled for 2010); prime minister nominated by the presidentfor approval by Parliament; note - the new constitution of November2006 calls for the legislature to appoint the prime minister andmembers of the Cabinet after the elections of 2010election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected president; percent ofvote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, othercandidates 7.5%; Azim ISABEKOV approved as prime minister 57-4
Legislative branch:unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kenesh (75 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve five year terms); note - theNovember 2006 constitution calls for 90 seatselections: elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Keneshwere held 27 February 2005, but the vast majority of positionsremained undecided and were contested in a runoff election on 13March 2005; election irregularities caused widespread protests thatresulted in the president being forced to flee the countryelection results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme andConstitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by theJorgorku Kenesh on the recommendation of the president); HigherCourt of Arbitration; Local Courts (judges appointed by thepresident on the recommendation of the National Council on LegalAffairs for a probationary period of five years, then 10 years)
Political parties and leaders:Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner NationalRevival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV and Roza OTUNBAYEVA]; Ata-Meken(Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstanor DDK [Viktor TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [TopchubekTURGUNALIYEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [MedetSADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [IshakMASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV];Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor andUnity [Tabaldy OROZALIYEV]; Sanjira (Tree of Life) [EdnanKARABAYEV]; Social Democratic Party [Almaz ATAMBAYEV]; Sodruzhestvo(Cooperation) [Alisher SABIROV]; Union of Democratic Forces[Kubatbek BAIBOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy andCivil Society [Edil BAISALOV]; For Reforms [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV andAlmazbek ATAMBAYEV]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAYEVA]
International organization participation:AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC,OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVAchancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCHembassy: 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,natural gas, and electricity. Following independence Kyrgyzstan wasprogressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improvedregulatory system and land reform, but political instability during2005-06 has undercut the investment climate. Kyrgyzstan was thefirst CIS country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization.Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Dropsin production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Unionin December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover andexports began to increase. The economy is heavily weighted towardgold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold minesparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bounced backthe following year. In 2005 Kyrgyzstan again experienced a declinein GDP, this time 0.6%. The government has made steady strides incontrolling its substantial fiscal deficit, virtually balancingrevenues and expenditures in 2006. The government and internationalfinancial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensivemedium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy; in 2005Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and in 2006 becameeligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative.Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of domesticindustry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys tofuture growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$10.49 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.24 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.5% industry: 19.5% services: 46.1% (2006 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):6.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $498.3 millionexpenditures: $544.8 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries;sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawnlogs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earthmetals
Industrial production growth rate:-4.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:14.06 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 7.6% hydro: 92.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.777 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:6.4 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:100 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:1,378 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:10,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:29 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:919 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:890 million cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-287.3 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$701.8 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:UAE 35.6%, Russia 18.6%, China 13.4%, Kazakhstan 13% (2005)
Imports:$1.177 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:China 43%, Russia 19.7%, Kazakhstan 12.1%, Turkey 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$621.2 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$2.483 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$50 million from the US (2001)
Currency (code):som (KGS)
Currency code:KGS
Exchange rates:soms per US dollar - 40.673 (2006), 41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004),43.648 (2003), 46.937 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:438,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:541,700 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: development of telecommunicationsinfrastructure is slow; fixed line penetration remains low andconcentrated in Bishkekdomestic: mobile cellular subscribership has risen sharply since2000 reaching 541,700 in 2005 as three companies compete for therapidly expanding market; main line availability has been virtuallyflat over the same timeframe; four major providers compete forshares of the main line marketinternational: 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:7 (2006)
Televisions:210,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kg
Internet hosts:18,928 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:280,000 (2005)
Transportation Kyrgyzstan
Airports: 37 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 16 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2006)
Railways: total: 470 km broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km unpaved: 1,646 km (1999)
Waterways:600 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:Army, Air Force, National Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,193,529females age 18-49: 1,219,080 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 871,493females age 18-49: 1,024,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 61,091females age 18-49: 59,784 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$19.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:Kyrgystan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation withKazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion ofdelimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border withUzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and otherareas
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 8 February, 2007
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@Laos
Introduction Laos
Background:Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of LanXang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For threehundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodiaand Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries ofgradual decline, Laos came under the control of Siam (Thailand) fromthe late 18th century until the late 19th century when it becamepart of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 definedthe current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist PathetLao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchyand instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned toVietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and theliberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos becamea member of 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: 4.01% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 95.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,750 sq km (2003)
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:6,368,481 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,324,207/female 1,313,454)15-64 years: 55.4% (male 1,744,206/female 1,786,139)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 89,451/female 111,024) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.9 yearsmale: 18.6 yearsfemale: 19.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.39% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:35.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:11.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 83.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 92.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 73.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 55.49 yearsmale: 53.45 yearsfemale: 57.61 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.68 children born/woman (2006 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:name: Vientianegeographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 Etime difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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 Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8June 2006) and Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVATLengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27March 2001)cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by NationalAssemblyelections: president and vice president elected by National Assemblyfor five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be heldin 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected byNational Assembly for five-year termelection results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANGVolachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote -100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent ofNational Assembly vote - 97%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -LPRP 113, independents 2
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 [CHOUMMALI Saignason];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, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM,OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakonechancery: 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, That Dam Road, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] 21-26 7000 FAX: [856] 21-26 7074
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 official Communiststates, began decentralizing control and encouraging privateenterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely lowbase, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year in 1988-2006except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financialcrisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laosremains a country with a primitive infrastructure. It has norailroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external andinternal telecommunications, though the government is sponsoringmajor improvements in the road system with possible support fromJapan. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas.Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about halfof GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy willcontinue to benefit from aid by the IMF and other internationalsources and from new foreign investment in hydropower and mining.Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially ashydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policychanges since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gainedNormal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-basedproducers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is takingsteps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years;the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the businessenvironment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime,slated to begin in 2008, will streamline the government'sinefficient tax system.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$13.43 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.768 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 43.4% industry: 30.6% services: 26% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 2.8 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:34% (2005 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):5.9% (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $400 millionexpenditures: $537.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power,agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement
Industrial production growth rate:13% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:3.936 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.4% hydro: 98.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.26 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:600 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:200 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-381.7 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$593.6 million (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners:Thailand 29.4%, Vietnam 12.5%, France 6%, Germany 4.5% (2005)
Imports:$1.092 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:Thailand 66.8%, China 9.1%, Vietnam 5.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$316.9 million (2006 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 - 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004),10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:90,067 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:520,546 (2006)
Telephone system:general assessment: service to general public is poor butimproving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network tocommunicate with remote areasdomestic: radiotelephone communicationsinternational: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2007)
Radios:730,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7; note - including one station relaying Vietnam Television fromHanoi (2006)
Televisions:52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.la
Internet hosts:1,108 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:25,000 (2005)
Transportation Laos
Airports:44 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 351,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 13under 914 m: 21 (2006)
Pipelines:refined products 540 km (2006)
Roadways:total: 31,210 kmpaved: 4,494 kmunpaved: 26,716 km (2003)
Waterways:4,600 kmnote: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km areintermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2006)
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 serviceobligation - minimum 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 15-49: 1,500,625females age 15-49: 1,521,116 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 15-49: 954,816females age 15-49: 1,006,082 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 73,167females age 15-49: 71,432 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$11.04 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (2005 est.)
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
Disputes - international:Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to checkthe spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcationwith Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River;concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction ofdams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Laos is a source country for men and womentrafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation;a significant number are economic migrants who are subjected tocommercial sexual exploitation or conditions of forced or bondedlabor in Thailand; to a lesser extent, Laos is a transit anddestination country for women who are trafficked for sexualexploitation including a small number of victims from China andVietnam trafficked to work as street vendors and for sexualexploitation in prostitutiontier rating: Tier 3 - Laos does not fully comply with the minimumstandards for the elimination of trafficking and is not makingsignificant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:estimated cultivation in 2004 - 10,000 hectares, a 45% decreasefrom 2003; estimated potential production in 2004 - 49 metric tons,a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003 (2005)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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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 - an action never recognizedby the US and many other countries. 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 kmland: 63,589 sq kmwater: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,368 kmborder countries: Belarus 167 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km,Russia 282 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: 28.19% permanent crops: 0.45% other: 71.36% (2005)
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 (2003)
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, aswell as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EUaccession negotiation chapter on environment committing to fullenforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, withsome hills in the east
People Latvia
Population:2,274,735 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14% (male 162,562/female 155,091)15-64 years: 69.6% (male 769,004/female 815,042)65 years and over: 16.4% (male 121,646/female 251,390) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 39.4 yearsmale: 36.3 yearsfemale: 42.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.67% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:13.66 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 11.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.33 yearsmale: 66.08 yearsfemale: 76.85 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.27 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:7,600 (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) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3%(2000 census)
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 long form: Latvijas Republikalocal short form: Latvijaformer: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Rigageographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
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:18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)
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; restored to force by the Constitutional Law ofthe Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August1991; multiple amendments since
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(no term limits); election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be heldby July 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 byproportional representation from party lists across five districtsthrough direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held October 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party -TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament);Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed byParliament)
Political parties and leaders:First Party of Latvia or LPP [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights ina United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland andFreedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [RobertsZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Janis URBANOVICS, NilsUSAKOVS]; Latvian Farmer's Union or LZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; LatvianSocial Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [JurisBOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; Latvia'sWay or LC [Ivars GODMANIS, Ainars BERZINS]; New Democrats or JD[Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE, KrisjanisKARINS]; People's Party or TP [Aigars KALVITIS]; The Union ofLatvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Indulis EMSIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
International organization participation:Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO,NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maris SELGAchancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860
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 government's budget stringencyand a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries,lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority ofcompanies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although thestate still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latviaofficially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EUmembership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The currentaccount deficit - 15.7% of GDP in 2006 - remains a major concern.The perception that many of Latvia's banks facilitate illicitactivity could damage the country's vibrant financial sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$35.08 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$16.13 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$15,400 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.7% industry: 26.3% services: 70% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 1.136 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15% industry: 25% services: 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.7% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.1% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.03 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):31.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.172 billionexpenditures: $6.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:11% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs;fish
Industries:buses, vans, street and railroad cars; synthetic fibers,agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note -dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Industrial production growth rate:8.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:4.55 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.1% hydro: 70.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.329 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:636 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:2.733 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:47,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:0 bbl/day (2004)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-2.538 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$6.98 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Lithuania 11%, Estonia 10.8%, Germany 10.2%, UK 10.2%, Russia 7.9%,Sweden 7.8%, Denmark 5.3%, Poland 5.3% (2005)
Imports:$10.33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners:Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 13.6%, Russia 8.6%, Estonia 7.9%, Poland6.4%, Finland 5.9%, Belarus 5.8%, Sweden 5.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.61 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$18.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$96.2 million
Currency (code):Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code:LVL
Exchange rates:lati per US dollar - 0.55991 (2006), - 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402(2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use:731,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.872 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competitionto the telecommunications sector, beginning in 2003; the number offixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephony expandsdomestic: two wireless service providers in addition to Lattelekom,the incumbent monopolyinternational: country code - 371; the Latvian network is nowconnected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden
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:65,858 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):41 (2001)
Internet users:1.03 million (2005)
Transportation Latvia
Airports: 46 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 19 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 1,097 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,303 kmbroad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 69,532 km paved: 69,532 km (2004)
Waterways:300 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 250,559 GRT/336,136 DWTby type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2,passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1registered in other countries: 105 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas1, Belize 6, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 4, Dominica 1, Gibraltar 2, Liberia14, Malta 40, Marshall Islands 7, Panama 3, Russia 2, Saint Vincentand the Grenadines 18) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Riga, Ventspils
Military Latvia
Military branches:Latvian Republic Defense Force: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force,Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 517,713females age 19-49: 519,631 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 361,098females age 19-49: 422,913 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 19,137females age 19-49: 18,505 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (FY01)