Map of Laos | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


Background: 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.


top of page


Location: Southeastern Asia northeast of Thailand west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N 105 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 84
Land: 230,800 km²
Water: 6,000 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries
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 highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources: timber hydropower gypsum tin gold gemstones

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.42%
Other: 93.67% (2011)

Irrigated land: 3,100 km² (2005)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 333.5 km³ (2011)

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


top of page


Population: 6,803,699 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 104
Growth rate: 1.59% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 78
Below poverty line: 22% (2013 est.)

Nationality
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 various ethnic languages

Religions: Buddhist 67% Christian 1.5% other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 21.3% (male 719,205/female 728,729)
25-54 years: 35% (male 1,176,018/female 1,208,452)
55-64 years: 5.1% (male 169,291/female 175,815)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 116,299/female 141,006) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 56.4 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 %
Potential support ratio: 16.1 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 21.7 years
Female: 22.3 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.59% (2014 est.)
Rank: 78

Birth rate: 24.76 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 58

Death rate: 7.74 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 109

Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 150

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: VIENTIANE (capital) 810,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 33
Male: 60.19 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 48.64 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 182
Male: 61.54 years
Female: 65.56 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 60

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 38.4% (2005)

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.19 physicians/1000 population (2009)

Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 96
People living with hivaids: 11,500 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 99
Deaths: 400 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 98

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 2.6% (2008)
Rank: 179

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 31.6% (2006)
Rank: 13

Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 147

Literacy
Total population: 72.7%
Male: 82.5%
Female: 63.2% (2005 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 11 years
Female: 10 years (2012)

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional short form: Laos
Local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Local short form: Pathet Lao (unofficial)

Government type: Communist state

Capital
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 Louangphabang Oudomxai Phongsali Salavan Savannakhet Viangchan (Vientiane)* Viangchan Xaignabouli Xekong Xiangkhouang

Dependent areas

Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)

National holiday: Republic Day 2 December (1975)

Constitution: previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991; amended 2003 (2003)

Legal system: civil law system similar in form to the French system

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: Prime Minister THONGSING Thammavong (since 24 December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002) Deputy Prime Ministers SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998) THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001) and [vacant]; note - Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit was killed in a 17 May 2014 plane crash and no replacement has yet been named
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 on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for five-year term
Election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGSING Thammavong elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (132 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 on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 128 independents 4

Judicial branch
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; term of office NA
Subordinate courts: provincial municipal district and military courts

Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed

International organization participation: 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

Diplomatic representation
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 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; 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

National symbols: elephant

National anthem
Lyrics and music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit

National heritage


top of page


Economy 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. Laos' growth exceeded 7% per year during 2008-13. Despite this high growth rate 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 in 83 % of the country. Laos' economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The labor force however still relies on agriculture dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas which accounts for about 25% of GDP and 73% of total employment. Economic growth has reduced official poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2010. The economy also has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower copper and gold mining logging and construction though 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 is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. Simplified investment procedures and expanded bank credits for small farmers and small entrepreneurs will improve Laos' economic prospects. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among investors but suffered through a fiscal crisis in 2013 brought about by public sector wage increases fiscal mismanagement and revenue shortfalls. The World Bank has declared that Laos' goal of graduating from the UN Development Program's list of least-developed countries by 2020 is achievable and the country is preparing to enter the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 132

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 9

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 176

Gross national saving:
Rank: 38

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 9.8%
Investment in fixed capital: 31.7%
Investment in inventories: -1.3%
Exports of goods and services: 40%
Imports of goods and services: -48.4%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 32%
Services: 37.5% (2013 est.)

Agriculture products: sweet potatoes vegetables corn coffee sugarcane tobacco cotton tea peanuts rice; cassava (manioc tapioca) water buffalo pigs cattle poultry

Industries: mining (copper tin gold gypsum); timber electric power agricultural processing rubber construction garments cement tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2013 est.)
Rank: 12

Labor force: 3.373 million (2013 est.)
Rank: 100
By occupation industry: 6.1%
By occupation services: 20.6% (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2.5% (2009 est.)
Rank: 11

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 22% (2013 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 30.3% (2008)

Distribution of family income gini index: 34.6 (2002)
Rank: 83

Budget
Expenditures: $2.642 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 77

Taxes and other revenues: 24.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 135

Public debt: 49.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 77

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.3% (2012 est.)
Rank: 183

Central bank discount rate: 4% (31 December 2009)
Rank: 94

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 22.3% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 14

Stock of narrow money: $1.154 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 141

Stock of broad money: $3.673 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 136

Stock of domestic credit: $4.034 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 114

Market value of publicly traded shares:

Current account balance: -$315.5 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 98

Exports: $1.984 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 141
Commodities: wood products coffee electricity tin copper gold cassava
Partners: Thailand 34% China 21.5% Vietnam 12.2% (2012)

Imports: $2.744 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 145
Commodities: machinery and equipment vehicles fuel consumer goods
Partners: Thailand 62.1% China 16.2% Vietnam 7.3% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $796.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 141

Debt external: $6.288 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 110

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $12.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 81

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Production: 3.629 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 127
Consumption: 2.4 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 136
Exports: 2.537 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 41
Imports: 1 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Imports rank: 65
Installed generating capacity: 3.217 million kW (2013 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 87
Generation sources fossil fuels: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 201
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 122
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 97.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 9
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 191

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 186
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 140
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 206
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 152

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 161
Products consumption: 3,391 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 177
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 191
Products imports: 3,160 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 170

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 151
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 163
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 132
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 86
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 156

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.404 million Mt (2011 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Main lines in use: 112,000 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 143
Mobile cellular: 6.492 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 99

Telephone system
Domestic: 4 service providers with mobile cellular usage growing very rapidly
International: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China (2012)

Broadcast media: 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)

Internet
Country code: .la
Hosts: 1532 (2012)
Hosts rank: 166
Users: 300,000 (2009)
Users rank: 130

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures:

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18-months (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 41 (2013)
Rank: 103
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9
With unpaved runways: 22 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines: refined products 540 km (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Rank: 89
Paved: 530 km
Unpaved: 39,038 km (2007)

Waterways: 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)
Rank: 24

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes 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 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

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)