Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos.
After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.
General Info
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Southeast Asia
total: 236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 84
slightly larger than Utah
total: 5,274 km
border countries (5): Burma 238 km, Cambodia 555 km, China 475 km, Thailand 1,845 km, Vietnam 2,161 km
0 km (landlocked)
none (landlocked)
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
mean elevation: 710 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
agricultural land: 10.6%
arable land 6.2%; permanent crops 0.7%; permanent pasture 3.7%
forest: 67.9%
other: 21.5% (2011 est.)
3,100 sq km (2012)
333.5 cu km (2011)
total: 3.49 cu km/yr (4%/5%/91%)
per capita: 588.9 cu m/yr (2005)
floods, droughts
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
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
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Lao 54.6%, Khmou 10.9%, Hmong 8%, Tai 3.8%, Phuthai 3.3%, Lue 2.2%, Katang 2.1%, Makong 2.1%, Akha 1.6%, other 10.4%, unspecified 1% (2005 est.)
Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Buddhist 66.8%, Christian 1.5%, other 31%, unspecified 0.7% (2005 est.)
6,911,544 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 1,190,119/female 1,166,774)
15-24 years: 21.31% (male 731,531/female 741,107)
25-54 years: 35.54% (male 1,211,600/female 1,245,010)
55-64 years: 5.23% (male 177,142/female 184,409)
65 years and over: 3.82% (male 119,392/female 144,460) (2015 est.)
total dependency ratio: 62.8%
youth dependency ratio: 56.6%
elderly dependency ratio: 6.2%
potential support ratio: 16.1% (2015 est.)
total: 22.3 years
male: 22 years
female: 22.6 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
1.55% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
24.25 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
-1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
urban population: 38.6% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 4.93% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
VIENTIANE (capital) 997,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
197 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
total: 52.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 58.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
total population: 63.88 years
male: 61.88 years
female: 65.95 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
2.82 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
49.8% (2011/12)
2% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 181
0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)
improved:
urban: 85.6% of population
rural: 69.4% of population
total: 75.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14.4% of population
rural: 30.6% of population
total: 24.3% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 94.5% of population
rural: 56% of population
total: 70.9% of population
unimproved:
urban: 5.5% of population
rural: 44% of population
total: 29.1% of population (2015 est.)
0.26% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
11,100 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
500 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
3% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 179
26.5% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 22
4.2% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 147
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.9%
male: 87.1%
female: 72.8% (2015 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2014)
total number: 175,138
percentage: 11% (2006 est.)
conventional long form: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: Pathet Lao (unofficial)
etymology: name means “Land of the Lao [people]”
communist state
name: Vientiane (Viangchan)
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaimsomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang
19 July 1949 (from France)
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991; amended 2003, 2015 (2016)
civil law system similar in form to the French system
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Laos
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President BOUNNYANG Vorachit (since 20 April 2016); Vice President PHANKHAM Viphavan (since 20 April 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 20 April 2016); Deputy Prime Ministers BOUNTHONG Chitmani, SONXAI Siphandon, SOMDI Douangdi (since 20 April 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 20 April 2016 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for 5-year term
election results: BOUNNYANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; PHANKHAM Viphavan (LPRP) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote – NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulit (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote – NA
description: unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (132 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 20 April 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – LPRP 128, independent 4
highest court(s): People’s Supreme Court (consists of NA judges)
judge selection and term of office: president of People’s Supreme Court elected by National Assembly on recommendation of National Assembly Standing Committee; vice president of People’s Supreme Court and judges appointed by National Assembly Standing Committee; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: provincial, municipal, district, and military courts
Lao People’s Revolutionary Party or LPRP [BOUNNYANG Vorachit]
note: other parties proscribed
NA
ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador MAI Xaignavong (since 3 August 2015)
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
consulate(s): New York
chief of mission: Ambassador David A. CLUNE (since 16 September 2013)
embassy: Thadeua Road, Kilometer 9, Ban Somvang Tai, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, Unit 8165, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-48-7000
FAX: [856] 21-48-7190
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, as well as the country’s bright future
elephant; national colors: red, white, blue
name: “Pheng Xat Lao” (Hymn of the Lao People)
lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
note: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem’s lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy.
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. Economic growth averaged 6% per year from 1988-2008 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Laos’ growth has more recently been amongst the fastest in Asia and averaged nearly 8% per year for the last decade.
Nevertheless, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a basic, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal land-line telecommunications. Electricity is available to 83% of the population. Agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 25% of GDP and 73% of total employment.
Laos’ economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The economy has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower dams along the Mekong river, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction, although some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts.
Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004 and applied for Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in 2013 after being admitted to the World Trade Organization earlier in the year. Laos began a one-year chairmanship of ASEAN in January 2016. Laos is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. The government appears committed to raising the country’s profile among foreign investors and has developed special economic zones replete with generous tax incentives, but a small labor pool remains an impediment to investment. Laos also has ongoing problems with the business environment, including onerous registration requirements, a gap between legislation and implementation, and unclear or conflicting regulations.
$37.32 billion (2015 est.)
$34.88 billion (2014 est.)
$32.47 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 116
$12.5 billion (2015 est.)
7% (2015 est.)
7.4% (2014 est.)
8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$5,300 (2015 est.)
$5,100 (2014 est.)
$4,800 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 165
26.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
25.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
25.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
household consumption: 58.2%
government consumption: 14.4%
investment in fixed capital: 36.6%
investment in inventories: 1.6%
exports of goods and services: 42.9%
imports of goods and services: -53.7% (2015 est.)
agriculture: 23.1%
industry: 33.4%
services: 43.5% (2015 est.)
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; cassava (manioc, tapioca), water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism
10% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
3.532 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
agriculture: 73.1%
industry: 6.1%
services: 20.6% (2012 est.)
1.3% (2012 est.)
1.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
22% (2013 est.)
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2008)
36.7 (2008)
34.6 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 82
revenues: $3.095 billion
expenditures: $3.723 billion (2015 est.)
24.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
-5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
48.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
47.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
1 October – 30 September
5.3% (2015 est.)
5.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
4.3% (31 December 2010)
4% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
19% (31 December 2015 est.)
19.2% (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$1.166 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.154 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$6.509 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$6.461 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$6.529 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$6.241 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$1.012 billion (2012 est.)
$576.8 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 106
-$2.905 billion (2015 est.)
-$2.71 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
$3.115 billion (2015 est.)
$2.662 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold, cassava
Thailand 30.4%, China 27%, Vietnam 17.6% (2015)
$4.912 billion (2015 est.)
$4.271 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Thailand 60.9%, China 18.6%, Vietnam 7.3% (2015)
$976.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$889.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$9.552 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$8.615 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$15.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$12.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
kips (LAK) per US dollar –
8,151.6 (2015 est.)
8,049 (2014 est.)
8,049 (2013 est.)
8,007.3 (2012 est.)
8,035.1 (2011 est.)
12.1 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
2.874 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
2.537 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
1.127 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
3.217 million kW (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
1.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
98.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
3,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
3,160 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
1.623 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
total subscriptions: 962,497
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
total: 3.727 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
general assessment: service to public is generally improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: mobile cellular usage has slowed as the regulator imposed a strict policy on pricing and competition is effectively discouraged; network performance has suffered because of insufficient maintenance and upgrades
international: country code – 856; satellite earth station – 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China (2015)
6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane – 3 government-operated and the others commercial; 17 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated stations in Vientiane; Chinese and Vietnamese programming relayed via satellite from Lao National TV; broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of foreign stations; state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies – 1 AM, 1 SW, and 3 FM; LNR’s AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible (2012)
AM 3, FM 34, shortwave 3 (2010)
28 (2010)
.la
1,532 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 166
total: 1.258 million
percent of population: 18.2% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
41 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 103
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 22 (2013)
refined products 540 km (2013)
total: 39,586 km
paved: 5,415 km
unpaved: 34,171 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
4,600 km (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 23
Lao People’s Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People’s Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2011)
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation – minimum 18-months (2012)
NA% (2012)
0.23% of GDP (2011)
serving one of the world’s least developed countries, the Lao People’s Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People’s Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2012)
southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China’s construction of dams on the Mekong River and its tributaries will affect water levels; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos’ extensive upstream dam construction
current situation: Laos is a source and, to a lesser extent, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Lao economic migrants may encounter conditions of forced labor or sexual exploitation in destination countries, most often Thailand; Lao women and girls are exploited in Thailand’s commercial sex trade, domestic service, factories, and agriculture; a small, possibly growing, number of Lao women and girls are sold as brides in China and South Korea and subsequently sex trafficked; Lao men and boys are victims of forced labor in the Thai fishing, construction, and agriculture industries; some Lao children, as well as Vietnamese and Chinese women and girls are subjected to sex trafficking in Laos; other Vietnamese and Chinese, and possibly Burmese, adults and girls transit Laos for sexual and labor exploitation in neighboring countries, particularly Thailand
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Laos does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; authorities sustained moderate efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict trafficking offenders; the government failed to make progress in proactively identifying victims exploited within the country or among those deported from abroad; the government continues to rely almost entirely on local and international organizations to provide and fund services to trafficking victims; although Lao men and boys are trafficked, most protective services are only available to women and girls, and long-term support is lacking; modest prevention efforts include the promotion of anti-trafficking awareness on state-controlled media (2015)
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares, about a 73% increase from 2007; estimated potential opium production in 2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem (2009)
Source: CIA World Factbook
