Statistical information Laos 1996

Laos in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 an easing of foreign investment laws.
top of pageLocation: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 236,800 km²
Land: 230,800 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries: Total 5,083 km, Myanmar 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
Extremes highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources:
Timber
Hydropower
Gypsum
Tin
Gold
Gemstones
Land useArable land: 4%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 3%
Forests and woodland: 58%
Other: 35%
Irrigated land: 1,554 km² (1992 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
4,975,772 (July 1996 est.)
4,837,237 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:2.81% (1996 est.)
2.84% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: 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 ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%
Ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Religions:
Buddhist 60%
Animist and other 40%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years:45% (male 1,142,825; female 1,114,628) (July 1996 est.)
45% (male 1,111,928; female 1,084,615) (July 1995 est.)
15-64 years:51% (male 1,237,660; female 1,316,591) (July 1996 est.)
51% (male 1,199,149; female 1,280,142) (July 1995 est.)
65 years and over:4% (male 75,748; female 88,320) (July 1996 est.)
4% (male 75,013; female 86,390) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate:
2.81% (1996 est.)
2.84% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
41.94 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
42.64 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
13.83 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
14.28 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Current issues Natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
International agreements: party to_Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified_Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
International agreements note: Landlocked
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
All ages:0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:96.8 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
99.2 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 52.69 years (1996 est.); 52.2 years (1995 est.)
Male: 51.14 years (1996 est.); 50.66 years (1995 est.)
Female: 54.31 years (1996 est.); 53.81 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.87 children born/woman (1996 est.)
5.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)
Total population: 56.6%
Male: 69.4%
Female: 44.4%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Conventional short form: Laos
Local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Local short form: none
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Vientiane
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural; Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Dependent areasIndependence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: Promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: Based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992)
Head of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991) was appointed for a five-year term by the president with the approval of the National Assembly; Deputy Prime Minister KHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since NA)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president, approved by the Assembly
Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly:Members elected for five-year terms; elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997; results_percent of vote NA; seats_(85 total) LPRP 85
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 leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representationFlag description
: Three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The government of Laos_one of the few remaining official communist states_has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking_growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked 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 predominant crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate:
8% (1995 est.)
8.4% (1994 est.)
Real gdp per capita:
purchasing power parity_ $1,100 (1995 est.)
$850 (1994 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: Principal crops_rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock_buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry
Industries:
Tin and gypsum mining
Timber
Electric power
Agricultural processing
Construction
Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate 7.5% (1992 est.), accounts for 17% of GDP
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million
By occupation: Agriculture 80% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (1992 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $198 million
Expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 October_30 September
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value. $278 million (f.o.b., 1994)
Commodities:Electricity
Wood products
Coffee
Tin
Garments
Partners:Thailand
Germany
France
Japan
Netherlands
Imports: total value:$486 million (c.i.f., 1994)
Commodities:Food
Fuel oil
Consumer goods
Manufactures
Partners:Thailand
Japan
China
France
U.S.
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $2 billion (1995 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: New kips (NK) per US$1_920 (1995), 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July 1993), 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 260,000 kW
Production: 870 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaLaos - Communication 1996
top of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 6,000 telephones (1991 est.); service to general public very poor; radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users
Domestic: radio communications
International: satellite earth station_1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $105 million, 8.1% of GDP (FY92/93)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsLaos - Transportation 1996
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 39
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 13 (1995 est.)
With paved runways under 914 m: 16
HeliportsPipelines: Petroleum products 136 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: About 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Merchant marine: total:1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
Ports and terminalsLaos - Transnational issues 1996
top of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: Illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade, fourth largest opium producer (85 metric tons in 1994; heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma