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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry; tobacco

Budget [time series]

revenues: $230.2 million expenditures: $365.9 million, including capital expenditures of $317 million (1996)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 new kip (NK) = 100 at

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$1.2 billion (1996)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $212.2 million

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

The government of Laos-one of the few remaining official communist states-has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it fell victim to the financial crisis in the region in 1997, when growth was a mere 1.5%. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is glutinous rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

217,000 kW (1997)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

60 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

1.2 billion kWh (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

new kips (NK) per US$1-2,500 (January 1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995), 717.67 (1994), 716.25 (1993) note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was adopted

Exports [time series]

total value: $313.1 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October-30 September Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$5.9 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 56% industry: 19% services: 25% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$1,150 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

1.5% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $678 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

16% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1 million-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

560,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

service to general public is poor but improving, with over 19,000 telephones currently in service and 86,000 expected to be installed by 2000; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station-1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

19,333 (1996)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

32,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.7% overall; 4.5% in urban areas (1995 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than Utah

Climate [time series]

tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 5,083 km border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 40% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

floods, droughts, and blight

Natural resources [time series]

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Terrain [time series]

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Constitution [time series]

promulgated 14 August 1991

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate VANG Lattanavong chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President KHAMTAI Siphandon (elected 26 February 1998 by the National People's Assembly to succeed NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN who retired); Vice President OUDOM Khattiya (since 26 February 1998) head of government: Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since 26 February 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI Keoboualapha (since 15 August 1991), BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 20 April 1996), CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 26 February 1998), SOMSAVAT Lengsavad (since 26 February 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[856] (21) 212584

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Government type [time series]

Communist state

Independence [time series]

19 July 1949 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note-by presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99) elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99; note-the distribution of seats as of January 1998 is as follows-LPRP 98, independents 1

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Vientiane

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$105 million (FY92/93)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

8.1% (FY92/93)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,161,497 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 626,880 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 55,903 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 1,205,210; female 1,174,323) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,318,061; female 1,393,386) 65 years and over: 3% (male 77,388; female 92,474) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

40.58 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.97 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

91.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.7 years male: 52.13 years female: 55.34 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.6% male: 69.4% female: 44.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

5,260,842 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.76% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.66 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's third largest opium producer (cultivation in 1997-28,150 hectares, an 11% increase over 1996; potential production-210 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996); heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and amphetamines produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis LATVIA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

52 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 25 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 22,321 km paved: 3,502 km unpaved: 18,819 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT (1997 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 136 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m