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Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Population: 15,399,437
 |
| Background | |
| Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Kazakhstan's economy is larger than those of all the other Central Asian states combined, largely due to the country's vast natural resources and a recent history of political stability. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; achieving a sustainable economic growth; diversifying the economy outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; enhancing Kazakhstan's competitiveness; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers. |
Map data ©2010 AND, Geocentre Consulting, Tele Atlas - |
| Geography | |
| Landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050 | |
| Location: | Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in eastern-most Europe |
| Geographic coordinates: | 48 00 N, 68 00 E |
| Area: | total: 2,724,900 sq km land: 2,699,700 sq km water: 25,200 sq km Size comparison: slightly less than four times the size of Texas |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 12,185 km border countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,224 km, Russia 6,846 km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km |
| Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km) |
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
| Climate: | continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid |
| Terrain: | vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m |
| Natural resources: | major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium |
| Land use: | arable land: 8.28% permanent crops: 0.05% other: 91.67% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 35,560 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty |
| Current Environment Issues: | radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers that flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
| People | |
| Population: | 15,399,437 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 21.8% (male 1,717,469/female 1,643,920) 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 5,279,292/female 5,534,607) 65 years and over: 7.9% (male 426,494/female 797,655) (2009 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 29.6 years male: 28.1 years female: 31.3 years (2009 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.392% (2009 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 16.6 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Death rate: | 9.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 25.73 deaths/1,000 live births male: 30.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 67.87 years male: 62.58 years female: 73.47 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.88 children born/woman (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 12,000 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 500 (2007 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani |
| Ethnic groups: | Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uyghur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census) |
| Religions: | Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7% |
| Languages: | Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.5% male: 99.8% female: 99.3% (1999 est.) |
| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: Qazaqstan former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic |
| Government type: | republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch |
| Capital: | name: Astana geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) note: Kazakhstan is divided into two time zones |
| Administrative divisions: | 14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy*, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baykonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the lease to 2050 |
| Independence: | 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 16 December (1991) |
| Constitution: | first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995 |
| Legal system: | based on Islamic law and Roman law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January 2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Umirzak SHUKEYEV (since 3 March 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister Yerbol ORYNBAYEV (since 29 October 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president, with Mazhilis approval; note - constitutional amendments of May 2007 shortened the presidential term from seven years to five years and established a two-consecutive-term limit; changes will take effect after NAZARBAYEV's term ends; he, and only he, is allowed to run for president indefinitely election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A. TUYAKBAY 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAYMENOV 1.6% |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (47 seats; 15 members are appointed by the president; other members are elected by local assemblies; members serve six-year terms, but elections are staggered with half of the members up for re-election every three years) and the Mazhilis (107 seats; 9 out of the 107 Mazhilis members are elected by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, a presidentially appointed advisory body designed to represent the country's ethnic minorities; non-appointed members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - (indirect) last held October 2008; next to be held in 2011; Mazhilis - last held 18 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Nur Otan 16; Mazhilis - percent of vote by party - Nur-Otan 88.1%, NSDP 4.6%, Ak Zhol 3.3%, Auyl 1.6%, Communist People's Party 1.3%, Patriots Party .8% Ruhaniyat .4%; seats by party - Nur-Otan 98; note - parties must achieve a threshold of 7% of the electorate to qualify for seats in the Mazhilis |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (seven members) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, Zeynulla ALSHIMBAYEV, Serik ABDRAHMANOV, Bakhytbek AKHMETZHAN, Yerkin ONGARBAYEV, Tolegan SYDYKOV] (formerly Democratic Party of Kazakhstan); Agrarian and Industrial Union of Workers Block or AIST (Agrarian Party and Civic Party); Ak Zhol Party (Bright Path) [Alikhan BAYMENOV]; Alga [Vladimir KOZLOV] (unregistered); Auyl (Village) [Gani KALIYEV]; Azat Party (formerly True Ak Zhol Party) [Bolat ABILOV]; Communist Party of Kazakhstan or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN]; Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]; National Social Democratic Party (NSDP)[Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Nur-Otan [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with Otan); Patriots' Party [Gani KASYMOV]; Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) [Altynshash ZHAGANOVA] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [Ninel FOKINA]; Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; For Fair Elections [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV]; Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Pan-National Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan [Zharmakhan TUYAKBAY]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors [Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergey ZLOTNIKOV] |
| International organization participation: | ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Yerlan IDRISOV chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND embassy: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00 FAX: [7] (7172) 34-08-90 |
| Economy | |
| Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves and plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. Kazakhstan's industrial sector is primarily focused on the extraction and processing of these natural resources. Kazakhstan enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 and 8% or more per year in 2002-07 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to economic reform, good harvests, and increased foreign investment; GDP growth slowed to 2.4% in 2008, and turned negative in 2009, however, as a result of declines in oil and metals prices and problems in the banking sector following the global financial crisis. In the energy sector, the opening of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in 2001, from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised export capacity. In 2006, Kazakhstan completed the Atasu-Alashankou portion of an oil pipeline to China that is planned in future construction to extend from the country's Caspian coast eastward to the Chinese border. The country has embarked upon an industrial policy designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the oil sector by developing its manufacturing potential. The policy changed the corporate tax code to favor domestic industry as a means to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreign personnel. The government has engaged in several disputes with foreign oil companies over the terms of production agreements, most recently, with regard to the Kashagan project in 2007-08. Since 2007, Astana has provided financial support to the banking sector which has been struggling with poor asset quality and large foreign loans - problems that have been amplified by the global financial crisis in 2009. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $175.1 billion (2009 est.) $178.3 billion (2008 est.) $174.1 billion (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $107 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -1.8% (2009 est.) 2.4% (2008 est.) 8.5% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $11,400 (2009 est.) $11,600 (2008 est.) $11,400 (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 5.5% industry: 40.5% services: 53.9% (2009 est.) |
| Labor force: | 8.7 million (2009 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 31.5% industry: 18.4% services: 50% (2006) |
| Unemployment rate: | 7.5% (2009 est.) 6.629% (2008 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 13.8% (2007) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 26.5% (2004 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 30.4 (2005) 31.5 (2003) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.3% (2009 est.) 17% (2008 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 31.9% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $26.61 billion expenditures: $30.1 billion (2009 est.) |
| Public debt: | 14% of GDP (2009 est.) 8.6% of GDP (2008 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock |
| Industries: | oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials |
| Industrial production growth rate: | -6.6% (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 72.41 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 64.69 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 3.617 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 3.27 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 1.429 million bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 239,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 1.313 million bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 164,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 30 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 33.38 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 33.68 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 9.221 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 9.517 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $-2.59 billion (2009 est.) $6.978 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports: | $41.64 billion (2009 est.) $71.97 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals 5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal |
| Exports - partners: | China 13.5%, Russia 12%, Germany 10.6%, Italy 6.9%, Romania 6.6%, France 5.7%, Ukraine 5.4%, Turkey 4.1% (2008) |
| Imports: | $25.15 billion (2009 est.) $38.45 billion (2008 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, metal products, foodstuffs |
| Imports - partners: | Russia 35.9%, China 24.3%, Germany 6%, Ukraine 4.5% (2008) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $18.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $19.87 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $93.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $107.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $63.63 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $55.63 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $3.617 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $4.617 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $31.08 billion (31 December 2008) $41.38 billion (31 December 2007) $43.69 billion (31 December 2006) |
| Exchange rates: | tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 147.84 (2009), 120.25 (2008), 122.55 (2007), 126.09 (2006), 132.88 (2005) |
| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 3.41 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 45 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 14.911 million (2008) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: inherited an outdated telecommunications network from the Soviet era requiring modernization domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is gradually increasing and fixed-line teledensity now exceeds 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage is increasing rapidly and the subscriber base now is roughly 100 per 100 persons international: country code - 7; international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (2008) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 60, FM 18, shortwave 9 (2008) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 12 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998) |
| Internet country code: | .kz |
| Internet hosts: | 48,873 (2009) |
| Internet users: | 2.3 million (2008) |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 99 (2009) country comparison to the world: 61 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 67 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 9 (2009) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 32 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 13 (2009) |
| Heliports: | 4 (2009) |
| Pipelines: | condensate 658 km; gas 11,146 km; oil 10,376 km; refined products 1,095 km; water 1,465 km (2008) |
| Railways: | total: 13,700 km broad gauge: 13,700 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 91,563 km paved: 83,717 km unpaved: 7,846 km (2006) |
| Waterways: | 4,000 km (on the Ertis ((Irtysh)) River (80%) and Syr Darya ((Syrdariya)) River) (2008) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 5 by type: petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1 (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: | Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk) |
| Military | |
| Military branches: | Kazakh Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Mobile Forces, Air Defense Forces (2009) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 4,176,731 females age 16-49: 4,219,636 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 2,888,931 females age 16-49: 3,550,014 (2009 est.) |
Tag :
Kazakhstan,
World,
Laos
Laos Population: 6,834,345
 |
| 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 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997. |
| Geography | |
| Landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand | |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam |
| Geographic coordinates: | 18 00 N, 105 00 E |
| Area: | total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Size comparison: 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) |
| Natural hazards: | floods, droughts |
| Current Environment Issues: | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water |
| International Environment 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 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| People | |
| Population: | 6,834,345 (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: | 2.32% (2009 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 33.96 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Death rate: | 10.76 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | NA (2009 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: 77.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 86.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 68.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 56.57 years male: 54.45 years female: 58.79 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.41 children born/woman (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.2% (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 5,500 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2007 est.) |
| 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.) |
| Government | |
| 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 BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); 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 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 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, 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 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923 |
| 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 FAX: [856] 21-26-7190 |
| Economy | |
| 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 40% of GDP and provides more than 70% of total employment. The government in FY08/09 received $560 million from international donors. Economic growth has reduced poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2009. The economy has until recently 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 2011-2015 will outline efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $14.61 billion (2009 est.) $14.18 billion (2008 est.) $13.19 billion (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $5.721 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 3% (2009 est.) 7.5% (2008 est.) 7.5% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,100 (2009 est.) $2,100 (2008 est.) $2,000 (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 39.2% industry: 33.9% services: 26.9% (2009 est.) |
| Labor force: | 2.1 million (2006 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 2.4% (2005 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 26% (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) 37 (1997) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2009 est.) 8.6% (2008 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $937.1 million expenditures: $1.123 billion (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: | 2% (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 3.075 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 3.068 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 268 million kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 475.9 million kWh (2007 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 0 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 3,080 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $-23 million (2009 est.) $-52 million (2008 est.) |
| Exports: | $1.104 billion (2009 est.) $1.163 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold |
| Exports - partners: | Thailand 35.5%, Vietnam 15.5%, China 8.5% (2008) |
| Imports: | $1.308 billion (2009 est.) $1.384 billion (2008 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: | $715 million (31 December 2009 est.) $803 million (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $3.179 billion (2006 est.) |
| Exchange rates: | kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,556.56 (2009), 8,760.69 (2008), 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005) |
| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 97,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 145 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1.822 million (2008) |
| 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) and a second to be developed by China (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) |
| Internet users: | 130,000 (2008) |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 41 (2009) country comparison to the world: 103 |
| Airports (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 (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 paved: 4,010 km unpaved: 25,801 km (2006) |
| Waterways: | 4,600 km 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 by type: cargo 1 (2008) |
| Military | |
| 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) | |
| Military branches: | Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine 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.) |
