elections: last held 16 December 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ak Jol 71, Social Democratic Party 11, KCP 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the Jorgorku Kengesh on the recommendation of the president; their mandatory retirement age is 70 years); Higher Court of Arbitration; Local Courts (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council on Legal Affairs for a probationary period of five years, then 10 years)
Political parties and leaders:
Ak Jol (Good Luck) [Avtandil ARABAEV, Elmira IBRAIMOVA, VladimirNIFADYEV, co-chairs]; Ak Shumkar (Gerfalcon) [Temir SARIYEV];Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIEV]; Asaba (Banner NationalRevival Party) [Sovetbek JAMALDINOV]]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland)[Omurbek TEKEBAEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [ViktorTCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIEV];For Justice Movement [Alikbek JEKSHENKULOV]; Green Party [ErkinBULEKBAEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [MedetSADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [IskhakMASALIEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Partyof Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and Unity[Tabaldy OROZALIEV]; Revolutionary Committee [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV];Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan KARABAEV]; Social Democratic Party ofKyrgyzstan [Almaz ATAMBAEV]; Svoboda Vybora (Free Choice) Party[Vyacheslav LISOVSKIY]; Turan Party [Kanybek IMANALIYEV]; UluuBirimdik (Solidarity) Party [Emilbek KAPTAGAEV]; Union of DemocraticForces [Osmon ARTYKBAEV]; United Kyrgyzstan [Amangeldi MURALIEV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy andCivil Society [Dinara OSHURAKHUNOVA]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAEVA]
International organization participation:
ADB, CIS, CSTO, 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), ITSO, ITU, MIGA,MINURCAT, 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 SYDYKOVA
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tatiana C. GFOELLER
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
Flag description:
red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt
Economy ::Kyrgyzstan
Economy - overview:
Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, and electricity. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995, production began to recover and exports began to increase. The economy is heavily weighted toward gold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002 and a 0.6% decline in 2005. The government made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, nearly closing the gap between revenues and expenditures in 2006, before boosting expenditures more than 20% in 2007-08. The government and international financial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. In 2005, Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and, in 2006, became eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of domestic industry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys to future growth. GDP grew more than 6% annually in 2007-08, partly due to higher gold prices internationally, but growth is likely to decline from that level in 2009, due to declining demand and lower commodity prices in the wake of the international financial crisis.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.64 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $10.82 billion (2007 est.)
$9.971 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.05 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 8.5% (2007 est.)
3.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184 $2,000 (2007 est.)
$1,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29.8%
industry: 19.7%
services: 50.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.344 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 110
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 48%
industry: 12.5%
services: 39.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
18% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Population below poverty line:
40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30.3 (2003) country comparison to the world: 113 29 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Budget:
revenues: $1.274 billion
expenditures: $1.231 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
24.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 10.2% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19.86% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 10 25.32% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$911.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$303.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$558.3 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 109 $121 million (31 December 2007)
$92.69 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate:
10.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - production:
15.96 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - consumption:
9 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Electricity - exports:
2.379 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
958.4 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Oil - consumption:
15,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Oil - exports:
1,890 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Oil - imports:
12,850 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - proved reserves:
40 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - production:
30 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - consumption:
750 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - imports:
720 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - proved reserves:
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Current account balance:
-$680 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 -$267.9 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.847 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $1.337 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes
Exports - partners:
Switzerland 27.2%, Russia 19.2%, Uzbekistan 14.3%, Kazakhstan 11.4%,France 6.7% (2008)
Imports:
$3.754 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $2.636 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Russia 36.6%, China 17.9%, Kazakhstan 9.2%, Germany 8.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.225 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $1.177 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.467 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 115 $3.162 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$16.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
soms (KGS) per US dollar - 36.108 (2008 est.), 37.746 (2007), 40.149 (2006), 41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004)
Communications ::Kyrgyzstan
Telephones - main lines in use:
494,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 99
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.394 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 101
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is being upgraded; loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are being used to install a digital network, digital radio-relay stations, and fiber-optic links
domestic: fixed line penetration remains low and concentrated in urban areas; multiple mobile cellular service providers with growing coverage; mobile cellular subscribership exceeded 60 per 100 persons in 2008
international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intersputnik, 1 Intelsat); connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 23, shortwave NA (2007)
Television broadcast stations:
8 (2 countrywide and 6 regional stations; state-owned); note - there are about 20 private TV stations, most of which rebroadcast other channels (2007)
Internet country code:
.kg
Internet hosts:
82,496 (2009) country comparison to the world: 76
Internet users:
850,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 95
Transportation ::Kyrgyzstan
Airports:
29 (2009) country comparison to the world: 116
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 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 9 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 470 km country comparison to the world: 116 broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 18,500 km country comparison to the world: 116 paved: 16,909 km (includes 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,591 km (2003)
Waterways:
600 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 79
Ports and terminals:
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Military ::Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces), NationalGuard (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,398,878
females age 16-49: 1,419,374 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,083,777
females age 16-49: 1,229,406 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 57,659
female: 55,557 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Transnational Issues ::Kyrgyzstan
Disputes - international:
Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Laos (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Laos
Background:
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
Geography ::Laos
Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 236,800 sq km country comparison to the world: 83 land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total: 5,083 km
border 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)
Total renewable water resources:
333.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3 cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%)
per capita: 507 cu m/yr (2000)
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 thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
People ::Laos
Population:
6,834,942 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.8% (male 1,400,126/female 1,386,480)
15-64 years: 56.1% (male 1,898,995/female 1,936,892)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 92,070/female 120,379) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.3 years
male: 19 years
female: 19.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.316% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Birth rate:
33.94 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Death rate:
10.78 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 77.82 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 23 male: 86.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.68 years country comparison to the world: 190 male: 54.56 years
female: 58.9 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.41 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008) (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:
Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
Religions:
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.7%
male: 77%
female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 146
Government ::Laos
Country name:
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: Pathet Lao (unofficial)
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
name: Vientiane (Viangchan)
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001)
cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for five-year term
election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2
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:
International organization participation:
ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber),ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26-7000
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy ::Laos
Economy - overview:
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year from 1988-2008 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with support from Japan and China. Electricity is available in urban areas and in many rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about 40% of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The government depends upon aid from international donors for over 80% of its capital investment. The economy has until recently benefited from high foreign investment in hydropower, mining, and construction. The fiscal crisis of late 2008, and the rapid drop in commodity prices - especially copper - has slowed these investments. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. Laos, which gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004, is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization. Related trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime, which began with a few large businesses in early 2009, should slowly help streamline the government's inefficient tax system. Economic prospects will improve gradually as the administration continues to simplify investment procedures and as a more competitive banking sector extends credit to small farmers and small entrepreneurs. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among investors. Foreign donors have praised the Lao government for its efforts to improve the investment regime. The World Bank has declared that Laos' goal of graduating from the UN Development Program's list of least-developed countries by 2020 could be achievable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.01 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 $13.04 billion (2007 est.)
$12.13 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.374 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 7.5% (2007 est.)
8.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 $2,000 (2007 est.)
$1,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 39.2%
industry: 34.3%
services: 26.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.1 million (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.4% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 26
Population below poverty line:
30.7% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (2002) country comparison to the world: 88 37 (1997)
Budget:
revenues: $811.6 million
expenditures: $955.9 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 4.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.67% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 21 12.67% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
24% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 6 28.5% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$327.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$717.9 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$285.8 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:
copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
11% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - production:
3.075 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - consumption:
3.068 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - exports:
268 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
475.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Oil - imports:
3,080 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Current account balance:
-$52 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $107.3 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.163 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $922.7 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold
Exports - partners:
Thailand 35.5%, Vietnam 15.5%, China 8.5% (2008)
Imports:
$1.384 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $1.065 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Thailand 68.5%, China 10.5%, Vietnam 5.8% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$803 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $540 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.179 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 122
Exchange rates:
kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,760.69 (2008 est.), 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004)
Communications ::Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:
97,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 145
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.822 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 123
Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: multiple service providers; mobile cellular usage growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)
Internet country code:
.la
Internet hosts:
1,661 (2009) country comparison to the world: 152
Internet users:
130,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 145
Transportation ::Laos
Airports:
41 (2009) country comparison to the world: 103
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (2009)
Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 29,811 km country comparison to the world: 97 paved: 4,010 km
unpaved: 25,801 km (2006)
Waterways:
4,600 km country comparison to the world: 24 note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT country comparison to the world: 159 by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Military ::Laos
Military branches:
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includesRiverine Force), Air Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month conscript service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,549,774
females age 16-49: 1,570,702 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,023,205
females age 16-49: 1,085,197 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 75,310
female: 74,498 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 162
Military - note:
serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)
Transnational Issues ::Laos
Disputes - international:
Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Illicit drugs:
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares, about a 73% increase from 2007; estimated potential opium production in 2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem (2007)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Latvia (Europe)
Introduction ::Latvia
Background:
The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. 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:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 64,589 sq km country comparison to the world: 123 land: 62,249 sq km
water: 2,340 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,382 km
border countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 292 km
Coastline:
498 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: Galzina Kalns 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 km
note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
49.9 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.25 cu km/yr (55%/33%/12%)
per capita: 108 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements