Laos

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

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

Currency

1 new kip (NK) = 100 at

Debt-external

$1.2 billion (1996)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $212.2 million

Economy-overview

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

217,000 kW (1997)

Electricity-consumption per capita

60 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

1.2 billion kWh (1996)

Exchange rates

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

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

Fiscal year

1 October-30 September Communications

GDP

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

GDP-composition by sector

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

GDP-per capita

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

GDP-real growth rate

1.5% (1997 est.)

Imports

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

16% (1997 est.)

Labor force

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

560,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

19,333 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

2

Televisions

32,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

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

Area

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

Area-comparative

slightly larger than Utah

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

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

Environment-current issues

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

Environment-international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography-note

landlocked

Irrigated land

1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

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

Land use

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

Location

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

floods, droughts, and blight

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

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

Constitution

promulgated 14 August 1991

Country name

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

LA

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

Executive branch

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

FAX

[1] (202) 332-4923

FAX

[856] (21) 212584

Flag description

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

Government type

Communist state

Independence

19 July 1949 (from France)

International organization participation

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

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

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

Legislative branch

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

National capital

Vientiane

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

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

$105 million (FY92/93)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

8.1% (FY92/93)

Military manpower-availability

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

Military manpower-fit for military service

males: 626,880 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 55,903 (1998 est.)

Age structure

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

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic groups

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

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

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

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

Population

5,260,842 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.76% (1998 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%

Sex ratio

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

5.66 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

52 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways

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

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

Highways

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

Merchant marine

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

Pipelines

petroleum products 136 km

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

0 km

Waterways

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