lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 140% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1 million - 1.5 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $202.7 million
expenditures: $385.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.34 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 2.99%
hydro: 97.01%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 514 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 782 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 50 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee,
sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs,
cattle, poultry
Exports: $271 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: wood products, garments, electricity, coffee,
tin
Exports - partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium
Imports: $497 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports - partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong
Kong
Debt - external: $2.32 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $345 million (1999 est.)
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 7,674.00 (January
2000),7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997), 921.02
(1996), 804.69 (1995)
note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was
adopted
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Laos:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 20,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,600 (1997)
Telephone system: 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 Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Laos:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,673.5 km
unpaved: 12,042.5 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897
additional km are sectionally 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 (1999 est.)
Airports: 52 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 43
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
@Laos:Military
Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia element),
Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air Force,
National Police Department
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,275,184 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 686,803 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 62,243 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $77 million (FY96/97)
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 methamphetamines 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: 2,404,926 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17% (male 212,483; female 203,417)
15-64 years: 68% (male 777,289; female 849,967)
65 years and over: 15% (male 116,575; female 245,195) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.84% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 7.8 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 14.88 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 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 (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.41 years
male: 62.48 years
female: 74.62 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (2000 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: 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
Data code: LG
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: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
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
(amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); 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 -
amended from three-year terms on 4 December 1997)
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 8%; seats
by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TB/LNNK 17, 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]; Association of Latvian Social Democrats [Juris BOJARS,
Janis ADAMSONS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS ;
Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front of Latvia or
LTF) ; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis
CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB ,
merged with LNNK; Green Party or LZP ; Latvian
Liberal Party or LLP ; Latvian National Conservative Party
or LNNK ; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP
; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social
Democrats) or LSDSP ; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP
; Latvian Unity Party or LVP ;
Latvia's Way or LC ; National Harmony Party or TSP
; New Party ; "Our Land" or MZ [M.
DAMBEKALNE]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People
; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V.
IVANOV]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B.
PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA
; People's Party
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 (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate
partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: (202) 726-8213, 8214
FAX: (202) 726-6785
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES
embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
telephone: 721-0005
FAX: 782-0047
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white
(half-width), and maroon
@Latvia:Economy
Economy - overview: In 1999 Latvia, a transitional economy,
experienced zero GDP growth as it continued to feel the impact of the
August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Latvia officially joined the
World Trade Organization (WTrO) in February 1999 - the first Baltic
state to join - band was invited at the Helsinki EU Summit in December
1999 to begin accession talks in early 2000. Unemployment reached 9.6%
in 1999, up from 9.2% in 1998 and 6.7% in 1997. Privatization of large
state-owned utilities, especially the energy sector, faced more delays
in 1999, but is expected to accelerate in the next two years. Latvia
projects 3.5% GDP growth, 3% inflation, and a 2% fiscal deficit in
2000. Preparing for EU membership by 2003 remains a top foreign policy
priority.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,200 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 29%
services: 63% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.4 million (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 16%, industry
41%, services 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1999 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.33 billion
expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers,
agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on
imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products
Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 4.766 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.58%
hydro: 70.42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.882 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 850 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables;
beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and
equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners: Germany 16%, UK 14%, Russia 12%, Sweden 10% (1998)
Imports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners: Germany 17%, Russia 12%, Finland 10%, Sweden 7%
(1998)
Debt - external: $212 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: $96.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1 - 0.583 (January 2000),0.585
(1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Latvia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 748,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 175,348 (1999)
Telephone system: inadequate but is being modernized to provide an
international capability independent of the Moscow international
switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,
rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber
applications
international: international connections are now available via cable
and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for
most calls (1998)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 74 (1998)
Televisions: 1.22 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (1999)
@Latvia:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 59,178 km
paved: 22,843 km
unpaved: 36,335 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560
km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:
total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,699 GRT/64,043 DWT
ships by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 6 (1999
est.)
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 36
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
@Latvia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 590,236 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 463,254 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 18,239 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $60 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY99)
@Latvia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with
Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary
dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from
Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin
American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS;
limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and ecstasy for
export
______________________________________________________________________
LEBANON
@Lebanon:Introduction
Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political
institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since 1991 and the
end of the devastating 16-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the
blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established
a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a
greater say in the political process while institutionalizing
sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, the
Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the
militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed
Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about
two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains
its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel
maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy
militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of
territory contiguous to its border. Syria maintains about 25,000
troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa
Valley. Syria's troop deployment was legitimized by the Arab League
during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Damascus justifies
its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing the continued
weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and the failure of the
Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in
the Ta'if Accord.
@Lebanon:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel
and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 10,400 sq km
land: 10,230 sq km
water: 170 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 454 km
border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry
summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates
Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a
water-deficit region, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 21%
permanent crops: 9%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and
the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw
sewage and oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not
crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped
isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on
religion, clan, and ethnicity
@Lebanon:People
Population: 3,578,036 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 508,936; female 489,122)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,115,457; female 1,226,448)
65 years and over: 7% (male 108,706; female 129,367) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.38% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 20.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.42 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.25 years
male: 68.87 years
female: 73.74 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Shi'a,
Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 30% (11
legally recognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6
Catholic, 1 Protestant), Jewish NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian widely
understood
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 90.8%
female: 82.2% (1997 est.)
@Lebanon:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: Lubnan
Data code: LE
Government type: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (mohafazat, singular -
mohafazah); Beyrouth, Ech Chimal, Ej Jnoub, El Bekaa, Jabal Loubnane
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and
civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for
women at age 21 with elementary education