Chapter XXXIII: Front Matter (33)

Economy - overview:
Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible
record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world
economy. Four decades ago GDP per capita was comparable with levels
in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita
is 18 times North Korea's and equal to the lesser economies of the
European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by
a system of close government/business ties, including directed
credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and
a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw
materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and
encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian
financial crisis of 1997-99 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South
Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios,
massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector.
Growth plunged to a negative 6.6% in 1998, then strongly recovered
to 10.8% in 1999 and 9.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001
because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and the
perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms had
stalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an
impressive 6.2%, despite anemic global growth, followed by moderate
2.8% growth in 2003. In 2003 the National Assembly approved
legislation reducing the six-day work week to five days.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $857.8 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $17,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 36.4%
services: 60% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
29.6% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
4% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 22.5% (1999 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.6 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
22.92 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 8.8%, industry 19.1%, services 72.1% (2001)

Unemployment rate:
3.4% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $135.5 billion
expenditures: $128.7 billion, including capital expenditures of
$23.5 billion (2003)

Public debt:
13.8% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs,
chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:
electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel

Industrial production growth rate:
5.1% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
290.7 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
270.3 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2.14 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
804,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
2.965 million bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
20.92 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
21.11 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:
$12.32 billion (2003)

Exports:
$201.3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
Semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor
vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Exports - partners:
China 18.2%, US 17.8%, Japan 9%, Hong Kong 7.6% (2003)

Imports:
$175.6 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,
transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Imports - partners:
Japan 20.3%, US 13.9%, China 12.3%, Saudi Arabia 5.2% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$155.4 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$130.3 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - donor:
ODA $200 million

Currency:
South Korean won (KRW)

Currency code:
KRW

Exchange rates:
South Korean won per US dollar - 1,191.61 (2003), 1,251.09 (2002),
1,290.99 (2001), 1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Korea, South

Telephones - main lines in use:
22.877 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
33,591,800 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 82; fiber-optic submarine cable to
China; the Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1
Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 58, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios:
47.5 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations:
64 (additionally 119 Cable Operators; 239 Relay Cable Operators)
(2004)

Televisions:
15.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:
.kr

Internet hosts:
694,206 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2000)

Internet users:
29.22 million (2003)

Transportation Korea, South

Railways:
total: 3,125 km
standard gauge: 3,125 km 1.435-m gauge (661 km electrified) (2003)

Highways:
total: 86,990 km
paved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,182 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
1,608 km
note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan,
Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu

Merchant marine:
total: 535 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,978,949 GRT/9,761,699 DWT
registered in other countries: 442 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Bahrain 1, China 1, Gibraltar 1, Honduras 1,
Indonesia 1, Japan 3, Malaysia 1, Panama 1, Philippines 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 1, United Kingdom 1, United States 1
by type: bulk 97, cargo 174, chemical tanker 61, combination bulk
10, container 60, liquefied gas 19, passenger 3, petroleum tanker
73, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea/passenger
2, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 3

Airports:
102 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 88
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 88 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
206 (2003 est.)

Military Korea, South

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police
(Coast Guard)

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch
involved; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,233,895 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 8,966,241 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 341,697 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$14.522 billion (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.7% (FY03)

Transnational Issues Korea, South

Disputes - international:
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone
has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime
disputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; unresolved
dispute with Japan over Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima) and
occasional protests over fishing rights in grounds also claimed by
Japan

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Kuwait

Introduction Kuwait

Background:
Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling
Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961.
Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following
several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a
ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four
days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure
damaged during 1990-91.

Geography Kuwait

Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi
Arabia

Geographic coordinates:
29 30 N, 45 45 E

Map references:
Middle East

Area:
total: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:
total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline:
499 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:
dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain:
flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 0.73%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 99.16% (2001)

Irrigated land:
60 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy
rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms
occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and
August

Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and
most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the
water; air and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geography - note:
strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

People Kuwait

Population:
2,257,549
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.5% (male 316,237; female 304,671)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 1,007,298; female 569,128)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 38,408; female 21,807) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 22 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
3.36%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
21.85 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
2.44 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
14.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.84 years
male: 75.86 years
female: 77.86 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
3.03 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups:
Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions:
Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and
other 15%

Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 85.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

Government Kuwait

Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local short form: Al Kuwayt
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt

Government type:
nominal constitutional monarchy

Capital:
Kuwait

Administrative divisions:
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al
Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli

Independence:
19 June 1961 (from UK)

National holiday:
National Day, 25 February (1950)

Constitution:
approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Legal system:
civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have
resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at
age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but
have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the
first time

Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
December 1977); Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdullah al-Salim Al Sabah
head of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah
(since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
the Interior NAWWAF al-Ahmad Al Sabah (since 2003); Deputy Prime
Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad Al Sabah (since 2001) and Muhammad
Dayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and
deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Islamists 21,
government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note -
all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National
Assembly

Judicial branch:
High Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:
none; formation of political parties is illegal

Political pressure groups and leaders:
several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins,
merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and
nationalists

International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM al-Abdallah Jabir Al Sabah
FAX: [1] (202) 364-2868
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARON
embassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan
palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE
09880-9000
telephone: [965] 539-5307, 5308
FAX: [965] 538-0282

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a
black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to
1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Economy Kuwait

Economy - overview:
Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crude
oil reserves of about 98 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves.
Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues,
and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural
development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends
almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be
distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign
oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $41.46 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 59.5%
services: 40% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):
8% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
1.38 million
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force. (2003
est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:
2.1% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $29.41 billion
expenditures: $17.57 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

Public debt:
29.5% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
practically no crops; fish

Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:
-5% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
31.49 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
29.29 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
2.27 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
293,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.97 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:
97.68 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:
8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.548 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:
$8.652 billion (2003)

Exports:
$22.29 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners:
Japan 21.3%, South Korea 14.9%, US 11.5%, Singapore 9.8%, Taiwan
9.3% (2003)

Imports:
$9.606 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners:
US 14.7%, Japan 10.3%, Germany 9.6%, China 6.6%, UK 6.1%, Saudi
Arabia 5.5%, Italy 5%, France 4.2% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$7.685 billion (2003)

Debt - external:
$12.18 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
NA (2001)

Currency:
Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)

Currency code:
KWD

Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002), 0.3067
(2001), 0.3068 (2000), 0.3044 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Kuwait

Telephones - main lines in use:
486,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.42 million (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular
telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well
supplied with pay telephones
international: country code - 965; coaxial cable and microwave radio
relay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the
Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat
(1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and
2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
1.175 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Televisions:
875,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.kw

Internet hosts:
3,437 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)

Internet users:
567,000 (2003)

Transportation Kuwait

Highways:
total: 4,450 km
paved: 3,587 km
unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:
gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al
Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud

Merchant marine:
total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,319,082 GRT/3,768,828 DWT
registered in other countries: 5 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: India 1, Saudi Arabia 1
by type: bulk 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 4,
petroleum tanker 21, roll on/roll off 1

Airports:
7 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
3 (2003 est.)

Military Kuwait

Military branches:
Land Forces, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force),
National Guard

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 880,461 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 531,556 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 18,849 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$2,500.4 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
5.8% (2003)

Transnational Issues Kuwait

Disputes - international:
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime
boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the
Persian Gulf

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Kyrgyzstan

Introduction Kyrgyzstan

Background:
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud
nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; it
achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Current
concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises,
expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnic
relations, and combating terrorism.

Geography Kyrgyzstan

Location:
Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates:
41 00 N, 75 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 198,500 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:
total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in
southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Terrain:
peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass
entire nation

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Natural resources:
abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth
metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other
deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Land use:
arable land: 7.3%
permanent crops: 0.35%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut
forest (2001)
other: 92.35%

Irrigated land:
10,740 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; many people get their water directly from
contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases
are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation
practices

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range;
many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

People Kyrgyzstan

Population:
5,081,429 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.3% (male 835,599; female 804,384)
15-64 years: 61.6% (male 1,535,447; female 1,594,972)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 120,555; female 190,472) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.1 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 24 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
1.25% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
22.13 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 36.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 42.23 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 67.84 years
male: 63.84 years
female: 72.05 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
2.71 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
3,900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Ethnic groups:
Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian
1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)

Religions:
Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

Languages:
Kyrgyz - official language, Russian - official language
note: in December 2001, the Kyrgyzstani legislature made Russian an
official language, equal in status to Kyrgyz

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)

Government Kyrgyzstan

Country name:
conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
local short form: none
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy

Government type:
republic

Capital:
Bishkek

Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar);
Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad
Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty
(Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Independence:
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Constitution:
adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV
and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly
expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Nikolay TANAYEV (since 22 May
2002); note - Prime Minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV resigned on 22 May
2002 when five demonstrators were killed in a clash with police in
March of 2002; First Deputy Prime Minister Kubanychbek JUMALIYEV
(since 19 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
election results: Askar AKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote
- Askar AKAYEV 74%, Omurbek TEKEBAYEV 14%, other candidates 12%;
note - election marred by serious irregularities
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;
elections last held 29 October 2000 (next to be 30 October 2005);
prime minister appointed by the president; note - President AKAYEV
has publicly stated that he will not seek reelection when his
current term expires in 2005

Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kenesh consists of the
Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative
Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms); note - in accordance with a 2003 referendum, the
Parliament is slated to become unicameral with 75 deputies after the
27 February 2005 elections
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; and Legislative Assembly -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - total
seats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows: Union of
Democratic Forces 12, Communists 6, My Country Party of Action 4,
independents 73, other 10
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995
elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly of
People's Representatives and the Legislative Assembly
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20
February and 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA February 2005);
Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000;
elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Kenesh are to be
held 27 February 2005)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the
Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president);
Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

Political parties and leaders:
Adilet (Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian Labor Party of
Kyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [Erkin
ALIYEV]; Alga, Kyrgyzstan (Forward, Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV];
Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National
Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek
TEKEBAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA];
Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Erkin
Kyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [Bektur ASANOV];
Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Future of
Kyrgyzstan [Balbak TULEBAYEV]; Jany Kyrgyzstan (New Kyrgyzstan)
[Dosbol NUR UULU]; Kairan El [Dooronbek SADYKOV]; Kyrgyz National
Party [Bakyt BESHIMOV]; Kyrgyzstan Kelechegi [Ruslan CHYNYBAYEV];
Manas El (Party of Spiritual Restoration) [Chingiz AITMATOV]; Moya
Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Joomart OTORBAYEV]; Party of
Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Bakytbek BEKBOYEV]; Party of
Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants
[Esengul ISAKOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights
[Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of
Entrepreneurs

International organization participation:
AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,
UNMIL, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV
FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139
consulate(s): New York
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264

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,
and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has been fairly
progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved
regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first CIS
country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. With fits
and starts, inflation has been lowered to an estimated 7% in 2001,
2.1% in 2002, and 4.0% in 2003. 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.
Kyrgyzstan has distinguished itself by adopting relatively liberal
economic policies. The drop in output at the Kumtor gold mine
sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bounced back
to 6% in 2003. The government has made steady strides in controlling
its substantial fiscal deficit and aims to reduce the deficit to 4.4
percent of GDP in 2004. The government and the international
financial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensive
medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. Further
restructuring of domestic industry and success in attracting foreign
investment are keys to future growth.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $7.808 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.7% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 38.7%
industry: 22.9%
services: 38.4% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
17.6% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
50% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 27.7% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
34.6 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
2.7 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.2% (1999 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $371.5 million
expenditures: $387.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

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:
6% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
13.45 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
10.46 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
2.25 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Natural gas - production:
16 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
2.016 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:
$-108 million (2003)

Exports:
$548 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,
hydropower; machinery; shoes

Exports - partners:
UAE 24.7%, Switzerland 20.3%, Russia 16.7%, Kazakhstan 9.8%, Canada
5.3%, China 4% (2003)

Imports:
$601 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Russia 24.7%, Kazakhstan 24%, China 10.3%, US 6.7%, Uzbekistan
5.5%, Germany 5.3% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$399.3 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$50 million from the US (2001)

Currency:
Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)

Currency code:
KGS

Exchange rates:
soms per US dollar - 43.6484 (2003), 46.9371 (2002), 48.378 (2001),
47.7038 (2000), 39.0077 (1999)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Kyrgyzstan

Telephones - main lines in use:
394,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
53,100 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied
applications for household telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider,
probably limited to Bishkek region
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 - 1 Intersputnik
and 1 Intelsat; connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe
(TAE) fiber-optic line

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:
520,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay programs from
Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)

Televisions:
210,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.kg

Internet hosts:
12,299 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA

Internet users:
152,000 (2002)

Transportation Kyrgyzstan

Railways:
total: 470 km
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2003)

Highways:
total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
600 km (2004)

Pipelines:
gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Airports:
61 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 37 (2003 est.)

Military Kyrgyzstan

Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense, Security Forces, Border Troops

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,347,312 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,091,548 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 59,759 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$19.2 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.4% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan

Disputes - international:
boundary with China is fully demarcated; delimitation with
Kazakhstan is largely complete with only minor disputed areas;
disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with
Tajikistan; delimitation is underway with Uzbekistan but serious
disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar progress for
some 130 km of border

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

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Laos

Introduction Laos

Background:
Laos was under the control 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. Initial closer
ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual
return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment
laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.

Geography Laos

Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 230,800 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: 3.8%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 95.85% (2001)

Irrigated land:
1,640 sq km
note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation -
750 sq km (1998 est.)

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:
6,068,117 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,277,152; female 1,265,761)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 1,642,895; female 1,688,175)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 87,995; female 106,139) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.44% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
36.47 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
12.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 87.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 97.05 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.69 years
male: 52.71 years
female: 56.75 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.86 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:
typhoid fever, dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis
overall degree of risk: very high (2004)

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

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

Religions:
Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian
denominations 1.5%)

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

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.4%
male: 77.4%
female: 55.5% (2002)

Government Laos

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

Government type:
Communist state

Capital:
Vientiane

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, Louangphrabang,
Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan,
Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, 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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphadon (since 26 February
1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27
March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27
March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Bouasone BOUPHAVANH (since
3 October 2003) Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since
May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March
2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (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 24 February 2002 (next to be held
in 2007); 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%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats
increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)
elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109

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 [KHAMTAI Siphandon, party
president]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders:
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders
fled the country in 1975

International organization participation:
ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
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

Economy Laos

Economy - overview:
The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official
Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging
private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely
low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 except
during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis
beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a
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 economy will continue to benefit from
aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new
foreign investment in food processing and mining.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.32 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 49.4%
industry: 24.5%
services: 26.1% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:
40% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.3% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
2.6 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.7% (1997 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $298.5 million
expenditures: $429.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,
cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

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

Industrial production growth rate:
9.7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:
1.317 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
824.7 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
400 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA (2001)

Current account balance:
$-58 million (2003)

Exports:
$332 million (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:
garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin

Exports - partners:
Thailand 20.7%, Vietnam 15.9%, France 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Belgium
4% (2003)

Imports:
$492 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
Thailand 59.4%, China 12.8%, Vietnam 10.2% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$201 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$2.49 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:
$243 million (2001 est.)

Currency:
kip (LAK)

Currency code:
LAK

Exchange rates:
kips per US dollar - 10,443 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.58
(2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.02 (1999)

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Laos

Telephones - main lines in use:
61,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
55,200 (2002)

Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving
with over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional
48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone
network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:
730,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
4 (1999)

Televisions:
52,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
.la

Internet hosts:
937 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
15,000 (2002)

Transportation Laos

Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,664 km
unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
4,600 km
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are
intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)

Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:
none

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2004 est.)

Airports:
46 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Military Laos

Military branches:
Lao People's Army (LPA; including Riverine Force), Air Force

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,456,500 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 783,800 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 68,563 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$10.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
0.5% (2003)

Transnational Issues Laos

Disputes - international:
demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is
largely complete, but with Thailand several areas including Mekong
River islets remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and
Vietnam over squatters; concern among Mekong Commission members that
China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water
levels

Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation
in 2003 - 18,900 hectares, a 19% decrease over 2002; estimated
potential production in 2003 - 200 metric tons, a 11% increase from
2002); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and
methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis;
growing methamphetamine abuse problem

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

======================================================================

@Latvia

Introduction Latvia

Background:
After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars,
Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It 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
water: 1,000 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,
Russia 217 km

Coastline:
531 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: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Natural resources:
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 29.67%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 69.86% (2001)

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 (1998 est.)

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, and
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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with
some hills in the east

People Latvia

Population:
2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 177,223; female 169,241)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 772,496; female 823,410)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 118,035; female 245,901) (2004 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.8 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 41.9 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate:
-0.71% (2004 est.)

Birth rate:
8.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate:
13.73 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate:
-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.86 years
male: 65.91 years
female: 76.09 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate:
1.25 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian

Ethnic groups:
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%,
Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)

Religions:
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Languages:
Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)

Government Latvia

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Latvijas Republika

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
Riga

Administrative divisions:
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles
Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons,
Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons,
Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas
Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons,
Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons,
Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu
Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*,
Ventspils Rajons

Independence:
21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is
the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4
May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August
1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:
15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human
Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented
the constitution

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December
2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
appointed by the Parliament
elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term;
election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president;
parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast

Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by
direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL
18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%;
seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12,
First Party 10, LNNK 7

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)

Political parties and leaders:
Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS
(Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; First Party of
Latvia [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or
PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For Our Latvia or ML [Rihards Jablokovs];
Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [Jevgenijs Osiopovs];
Latvian National Front [Aivars GARDA]; Latvian Social-Democratic
Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Alfred RUBIKS]; Latvia's
Way Union or LC; Light of Latgale or LG; New Era Party or JL [Einars
REPSE]; New Politics Party or JP [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; People's
Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; People's Party or TP [Atis
SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Union
for the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME];
United Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS];
United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)
[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]

International organization participation:
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member),
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NIB, NSG,
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO,
WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS
FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine Todd-Bailey
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE
09723
telephone: [371] 703-6200
FAX: [371] 782-0047

Flag description:
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and
maroon

Economy Latvia

Economy - overview:
Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian
financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget
stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU
countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The
majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized,
although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large
enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization
in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top
foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government
deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to
increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget
deficit.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
7.4% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 24.5%
services: 70.9% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):
27.1% of GDP (2003)

Population below poverty line:
NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2003 est.)

Labor force:
1.18 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.6% (2003 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.691 billion
expenditures: $3.871 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2003 est.)

Public debt:
14.4% of GDP (2003)

Agriculture - products:
grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs;
fish

Industries:
buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers,
agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note -
dependent on imports for energy and raw materials

Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
4.365 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.046 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports:
703 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:
2.69 billion kWh (2001)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)