FAX: (21) 212584

FAX: (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Karen Brevard STEWART

embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane

mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546

telephone: (21) 212581, 212582, 212585

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

Laos Economy

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% during 1988-97. Reform efforts subsequently slowed, and GDP growth dropped an average of 3 percentage points. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it was damaged by the regional financial crisis beginning in 1997. Government mismanagement deepened the crisis, and from June 1997 to June 1999 the Lao kip lost 87% of its value. Laos' foreign exchange problems peaked in September 1999 when the kip fell from 3,500 kip to the dollar to 9,000 kip to the dollar in a matter of weeks. Now that the currency has stabilized, however, the government seems content to let the current situation persist, despite limited government revenue and foreign exchange reserves. A landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, Laos 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. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 51%

industry: 22%

services: 27% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line: 46.1% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2%

highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 33% (2000 est.)

Labor force: 1 million - 1.5 million

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

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1997 est.)

Budget: revenues: $211 million

expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production: 792 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.78%

hydro: 97.22%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption: 173.6 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports: 705 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports: 142 million kWh (1999)

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

Exports: $323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

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

Exports - partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium

Imports: $540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel

Imports - partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong
Kong

Debt - external: $2.46 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient: $345 million (1999 est.)

Currency: kip (LAK)

Currency code: LAK

Exchange rates: kips per US dollar - 7,578.00 (December 2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997), 921.02 (1996)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Laos Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 25,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,915 (1997)

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: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)

Internet users: 2,000 (2000)

Laos Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 14,000 km

paved: 3,360 km

unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)

Waterways: 4,587 km approximately

note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m

Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km

Ports and harbors: none

Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370
GRT/3,000 DWT

ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)

Airports: 51 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 8

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 17

under 914 m: 25 (2000 est.)

Laos Military

Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,319,537 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 710,627 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 64,437 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $55 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.2% (FY96/97)

Laos Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite

Illicit drugs: world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1999 - 21,800 hectares, a 16% decrease over 1998; estimated potential production in 1999 - 140 metric tons, about the same as in 1998); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis

@Latvia

Latvia Introduction

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 continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions.

Latvia Geography

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

land: 64,589 sq km

water: 0 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: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters

Terrain: low plain

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, arable land

Land use: arable land: 27%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 13%

forests and woodland: 46%

other: 14% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Latvia People

Population: 2,385,231 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.55% (male 201,746; female 193,036)

15-64 years: 68.15% (male 776,509; female 848,908)

65 years and over: 15.3% (male 118,110; female 246,922) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.81% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 8.03 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 14.8 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female

total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 15.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.7 years

male: 62.8 years

female: 74.9 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.15 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.11% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,250 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Latvian(s)

adjective: Latvian

Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%,
Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%

Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

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

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 99% (1989 est.)

Latvia Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia

conventional short form: Latvia

local long form: Latvijas Republika

local short form: Latvija

former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: 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, Leipaja*,
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: 18 November 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18
November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 18
November 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms

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 Andris BERZINS (since 5 May 2000)

cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament

elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president

election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)

election results: percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 7%; seats by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TB/LNNK 17, TSP 16, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8

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

Political parties and leaders: Anticommunist Union or PA [P.
MUCENIEKS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS];
Christian People's Party or KTP [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Democratic Party
"Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and
Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; For Human Rights
in a United Latvia [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's
Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the
Equal Rights Movement; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSKI];
Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Latvian National
Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Latvian National
Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic
Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDWU [Juris BOJARS and Janis
ADAMSONS, leaders]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS];
Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; New Christian Party [Ainars
SLESERS]; New Faction [Ingrida UDRE]; "Our Land" or MZ [M.
DAMBEKALNE]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V.
IVANOV]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Political Union of
Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,
EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Aivis RONIS

chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone: (202) 726-8213, 8214