Statistical information Laos 2009
Laos in the World
Laos - Introduction 2009
top of pageBackground: 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 return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
Laos - Geography 2009
top of pageLocation: Southeastern Asia northeast of Thailand west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N 105 00 E
Map reference: Southeast Asia
Area
Total: 236,800 km²
Rank: 83
Land: 230,800 km²
Water: 6,000 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries
Total: 5,083 km
Border countries: (5) Burma 235 km; Cambodia 541 km; China 423 km; Thailand 1754 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
Extremes highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber hydropower gypsum tin gold gemstones
Land use
Land use
Arable land: 4.01%
Permanent crops: 0.34%
Other: 95.65% (2005)
Irrigated land: 1750 km² (2003)
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources: 333.6 km³ (2003)
Natural hazards: floods droughts
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
Laos - People 2009
top of pagePopulation: 6,834,942 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 102
Growth rate: 2.316% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 38
Below poverty line: 30.7% (2005 est.)
Nationality
Noun: Lao or Laotian
Adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups: Lao 55% Khmou 11% Hmong 8% other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
Languages: Lao (official) French English and various ethnic languages
Religions: Buddhist 67% Christian 1.5% other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
0-14 years: 40.8%
15-64 years: 56.1% (male 1,898,995/female 1,936,892)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 92,070/female 120,379) (2009 est.)
Dependency ratios
Median age
Total: 19.3 years
Male: 19 years
Female: 19.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.316% (2009 est.)
Rank: 38
Birth rate: 33.94 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 42
Death rate: 10.78 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 50
Net migration rate: NA (2009 est.)
Population distribution
Urbanization
Urban population: 31% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 5.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Total: 77.82 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 23
Male: 86.94 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 68.25 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 56.68 years
Rank: 190
Male: 54.56 years
Female: 58.9 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 42
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 97
People living with hivaids: 5,500 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 122
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 142
Major infectious diseases
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 wit
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures: 3% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 146
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 68.7%
Male: 77%
Female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 8 years (2006)
Youth unemployment
Laos - Government 2009
top of pageCountry name
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)
Government type: Communist state
Capital
Name: Vientiane
Geographic coordinates: 17 58 N 102 36 E
Time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang singular and plural); Attapu Bokeo Bolikhamxai Champasak Houaphan Khammouan Louangnamtha Louangphrabang Oudomxai Phongsali Salavan Savannakhet Viangchan (Vientiane)* Viangchan Xaignabouli Xekong Xiangkhoang
Dependent areas
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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason ; Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
Head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002) Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006) SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998) and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001)
Cabinet: Ministers appointed by president approved by National Assembly
Elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for five-year term
Election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113 independents 2
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 [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed
International organization participation: ADB APT ARF ASEAN CP EAS FAO G-77 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 WHO WIPO WMO WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone
In the us chancery: 2,222 S Street NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 332-6,416
In the us fax: [1] (202) 332-4,923
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO
From the us embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie That Dam Vientiane
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane APO AP 96,546
From the us telephone: [856] 21-26-7,000
From the us fax: [856] 21-26-7,190
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top) blue (double width) and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
National symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Laos - Economy 2009
top of pageEconomy overview: The government of Laos one of the few remaining one-party Communist states began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results starting from an extremely low base were striking - growth averaged 6% per year from 1988-2008 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Despite this high growth rate Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure particularly in rural areas. It has no railroads a rudimentary road system and limited external and internal telecommunications though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with support from Japan and China. Electricity is available in urban areas and in many rural districts. Subsistence agriculture dominated by rice accounts for about 40% of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The government depends upon aid from international donors for over 80% of its capital investment. The economy has until recently benefited from high foreign investment in hydropower mining and construction. The fiscal crisis of late 2008 and the rapid drop in commodity prices - especially copper - has slowed these investments. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. Laos which gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004 is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization. Related trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side a value-added tax (VAT) regime which began with a few large businesses in early 2009 should slowly help streamline the government's inefficient tax system. Economic prospects will improve gradually as the administration continues to simplify investment procedures and as a more competitive banking sector extends credit to small farmers and small entrepreneurs. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among investors. Foreign donors have praised the Lao government for its efforts to improve the investment regime. The World Bank has declared that Laos' goal of graduating from the UN Development Program's list of least-developed countries by 2020 could be achievable.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$13.04 billion (2007 est.)
$12.13 billion (2006 est.)
$12.13 billion (2006 est.)
Rank: 135
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Real gdp growth rate:
7.5% (2007 est.)
8.3% (2006 est.)
8.3% (2006 est.)
Rank: 26
Real gdp per capita:
$2000 (2007 est.)
$1900 (2006 est.)
$1900 (2006 est.)
Rank: 186
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 39.2%
Industry: 34.3%
Services: 26.5% (2008 est.)
Agriculture products: sweet potatoes vegetables corn coffee sugarcane tobacco cotton tea peanuts rice; water buffalo pigs cattle poultry
Industries: copper tin gold and gypsum mining; timber electric power agricultural processing construction garments cement tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2008 est.)
Rank: 8
Labor force: 2.1 million (2006 est.)
Rank: 117
By occupation agriculture: 80%
By occupation industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Labor force
Unemployment rate: 2.4% (2005 est.)
Rank: 26
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line: 30.7% (2005 est.)
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.4%
Highest 10: 28.5% (2002)
Distribution of family income gini index: 37 (1997)
Rank: 88
Budget
Revenues: $811.6 million
Expenditures: $955.9 million (2008 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year
Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.5% (2007 est.)
Rank: 133
Central bank discount rate: 12.67% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 21
Commercial bank prime lending rate: 28.5% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 6
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$285.8 million (31 December 2007)
$285.8 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance: $107.3 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 71
Exports: $922.7 million (2007 est.)
Rank: 149
Commodities: wood products coffee electricity tin copper gold
Partners: Thailand 35.5% Vietnam 15.5% China 8.5% (2008)
Imports: $1.065 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 163
Commodities: machinery and equipment vehicles fuel consumer goods
Partners: Thailand 68.5% China 10.5% Vietnam 5.8% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $540 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 132
Debt external: $3.179 billion (2006)
Rank: 122
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates: kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,761 (2008 est.) 9,658 (2007) 10,235 (2006) 10,820 (2005) 10,586 (2004)
Laos - Energy 2009
top of pageElectricity
Production: 3.075 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 125
Consumption: 3.068 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 127
Exports: 268 million kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 475.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 170
Consumption: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 166
Exports: 0 m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 78
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 154
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 161
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Laos - Communication 2009
top of pageTelephones
Main lines in use: 97,600 (2008)
Main lines in use rank: 145
Mobile cellular: 1.822 million (2008)
Mobile cellular rank: 123
Telephone system
General assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
Domestic: multiple service providers; mobile cellular usage growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 30 per 100 persons
International: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2008)
Broadcast media
Internet
Country code: .la
Hosts: 1661 (2009)
Hosts rank: 152
Users: 130,000 (2008)
Users rank: 145
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Laos - Military 2009
top of pageMilitary expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 162
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation: 15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month conscript service obligation (2006)
Space program
Terrorist groups
Laos - Transportation 2009
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports: 41 (2009)
Rank: 103
With paved runways total: 9
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (2009)
With unpaved runways total: 32
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 21 (2009)
Heliports
Pipelines: refined products 540 km (2008)
Railways
Roadways
Total: 29,811 km
Rank: 97
Paved: 4,010 km
Unpaved: 25,801 km (2006)
Waterways: 4,600 km
Rank: 24
Note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2008)
Merchant marine
Total: 1 ship 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
Rank: 159
By type: cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals
Laos - Transnational issues 2009
top of pageDisputes international: 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 Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs: estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1900 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 (2007)
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