Part 118
total: 61.19 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 35 male: 67.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62 years country comparison to the world: 181 male: 60.14 years
female: 63.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.22 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
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: 140
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: 73%
male: 83%
female: 63% (2005 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 164
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; amended in 2003
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 THONGSING Thammavong (since 24 December 2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Lt. 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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held on 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and elected by the 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 on 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 Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee)
Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ADB, 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 SENG Soukhathivong
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Karen B. STEWART
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26-7000
FAX: [856] 21-26-7190
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Pathet Lao, as well as the country's bright future
National anthem:
name: "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)
lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
note: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy
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 a rudimentary, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in urban areas and in many rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 30% of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The government in FY08/09 received $560 million from international donors. Economic growth has reduced official poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2009. The economy has benefited from high foreign investment in hydropower, mining, and construction. Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004, and is taking steps required to join the World Trade Organization, such as reforming import licensing. Related trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, Laos launched an effort to ensure the collection of taxes in 2009 as the global economic slowdown reduced revenues from mining projects. Simplified investment procedures and expanded bank credits for small farmers and small entrepreneurs will improve Lao's economic prospects. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among investors. The World Bank has declared that Laos's goal of graduating from the UN Development Program's list of least-developed countries by 2020 is achievable. According Laotian officials, the 7th Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2011-15 will outline efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.42 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 $14.41 billion (2009 est.)
$13.53 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.341 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 6.5% (2009 est.)
7.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $2,300 (2009 est.)
$2,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 29.8%
industry: 31.7%
services: 38.5% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
3.65 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 2.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
26% (2009 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)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 0% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.3% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 108 4% (31 December 2009)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
26% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 83 11% (30 November 2009)
Stock of narrow money:
$630 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 150 $691.1 million (31 December 2009)
Stock of broad money:
$1.818 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.549 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.562 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $1.095 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
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:
12% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - production:
1.656 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - consumption:
1.798 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - exports:
230 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports:
819.5 million kWh (2009 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - imports:
3,080 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Current account balance:
-$23 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64 -$356 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.215 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.104 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold
Exports - partners:
Thailand 29.18%, China 15.04%, Vietnam 14.96%, UK 4.29% (2009)
Imports:
$1.504 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $1.308 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Thailand 66.2%, China 11.45%, Vietnam 5.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$756 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $712.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.085 billion (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $3.179 billion (2006 est.)
Exchange rates:
kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,320.27 (2010), 8,516.04 (2009), 8,760.69 (2008), 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006)
Communications ::Laos
Telephones - main lines in use:
132,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 137
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.235 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 111
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 very rapidly
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China (2008)
Broadcast media:
2 television stations operating out of Vientiane - 1 government-operated and the other jointly-owned by the government and a Thai company; roughly 15 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated station in Vientiane; relays from Hanoi provide access to a Vietnamese television station; broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of foreign stations; state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies - 1 AM, 2 SW, and 2 FM; LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible (2008)
Internet country code:
.la
Internet hosts:
1,468 (2010) country comparison to the world: 161
Internet users:
300,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 130
Transportation ::Laos
Airports:
41 (2010) country comparison to the world: 102
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 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (2010)
Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 36,831 km country comparison to the world: 93 paved: 4,811 km
unpaved: 32,020 km (2007)
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 (2010)
Merchant marine:
total: 1 country comparison to the world: 157 by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Military ::Laos
Military branches:
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month conscript service obligation (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,633,725
females age 16-49: 1,654,235 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,056,050
females age 16-49: 1,121,640 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 77,910
female: 77,761 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 164
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 January 13, 2011
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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 and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates:
57 00 N, 25 00 E
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: Gaizina Kalns 312 m
Natural resources:
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, 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:
NA
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
Geography - note:
most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east
People ::Latvia
Population:
2,217,969 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.3% (male 152,472/female 145,161)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 756,469/female 797,505)
65 years and over: 17% (male 124,432/female 255,464) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.4 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 43.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.602% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 225
Birth rate:
9.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Death rate:
13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Net migration rate:
-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Urbanization:
urban population: 68% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.59 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 161 male: 10.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.42 years country comparison to the world: 121 male: 67.27 years
female: 77.84 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.31 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
10,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups:
Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% (2009)
Religions:
Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
Languages:
Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 67
Government ::Latvia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Riga
geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: