Map of Laos | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: 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
Land: 230,800 km²
Water: 6,000 km²
Comparative: about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries
Total: 5,274 km
Border countries: (5) Burma 238 km; Cambodia 555 km; China 475 km; Thailand 1,845 km; Vietnam 2,161 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
Highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
Lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
Mean elevation: 710 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use
Agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 6.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)
Forest: 67.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 21.5% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 4,409 km² (2020)

Major rivers
By length in km: Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note - [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds area km²: Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 7.05 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 333.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

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


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Population
Distribution: most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia: 7,852,377 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 18.3% (2018 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
Adjective: Lao or Laotian

Ethnic groups: Lao 53.2%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 9.2%, Phouthay 3.4%, Tai 3.1%, Makong 2.5%, Katong 2.2%, Lue 2%, Akha 1.8%, other 11.6% (2015 est.)
Note: the Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be well over 200

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Major-language samples:

Religions: Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1% (2015 est.)

Demographic profile: Laos is a predominantly rural country with a youthful population - almost 55% of the population is under the age of 25. Its progress on health and development issues has been uneven geographically, among ethnic groups, and socioeconomically. Laos has made headway in poverty reduction, with the poverty rate almost halving from 46% in 1992/93 to 22% in 2012/13. Nevertheless, pronounced rural-urban disparities persist, and income inequality is rising. Poverty most affects populations in rural and highland areas, particularly ethnic minority groups. 

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.63% (male 1,218,731/female 1,186,156)
15-64 years: 64.73% (male 2,527,643/female 2,555,029)
65 years and over: 4.65% (2023 est.) (male 169,142/female 195,676)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 54.7
Youth dependency ratio: 48
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.7
Potential support ratio: 14.8 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 25 years (2023 est.)
Male: 24.6 years
Female: 25.3 years

Population growth rate: 1.3% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 20.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia

Urbanization
Urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to potable water
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 21.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 17.76 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 9 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 126 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 36.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 40.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 32.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 68.6 years (2023 est.)
Male: 67 years
Female: 70.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.1% (2017)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 97.1% of population
Improved rural: 84.1% of population
Improved total: 88.8% of population
Unimproved urban: 2.9% of population
Unimproved rural: 15.9% of population
Unimproved total: 11.2% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: 2.7% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 0.35 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density: 1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 8.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 4.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 31.8% (2020 est.)
Male: 53.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 10.3% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.1% (2017)

Education expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 87.1%
Male: 91.4%
Female: 81.4% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 10 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 10 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 3.3% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 3.4%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 3.2%


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Country name
Conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Conventional short form: Laos 
Local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Local short form: Mueang Lao (unofficial)
Abbreviation: Lao PDR
Etymology: name means "Land of the Lao [people]"

Government type: communist state

Capital
Name: Vientiane (Viangchan)
Geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
Time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the meaning in Pali, a Buddhist liturgical language, is "city of sandalwood"

Administrative divisions: 17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* (kampheng nakhon); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang (Luang Prabang), Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang

Dependent areas

Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)

National holiday: Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)

Constitution
History: previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991
Amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended 2003, 2015

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
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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President THONGLOUN Sisoulith (since 22 March 2021); Vice Presidents PANI Yathotou and BOUNTHONG Chitmani (since 22 March 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister SONXAI Siphandon (since 30 December 2022)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and 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 22 March 2021 (next to be held in March 2,026); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for 5-year term
Election results:

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (164 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 21 February 2021 (next to be held in 2,026)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 158, independent 6; composition - men 128, women 36, percent of women 21.9%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: People's Supreme Court (consists of the court president and organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers, each with a vice president and several judges)
Judge selection and term of office: president of People's Supreme Court appointed by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term; vice presidents of the People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the National Assembly; appointment of chamber judges NA; tenure of court vice presidents and chamber judges NA
Subordinate courts: appellate courts; provincial, municipal, district, and military courts

Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [THONGLOUN Sisoulit]
Note: 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Sisavath INPHACHANH (since 7 June 2022)
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
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargée d’Affaires Michelle OUTLAW (since August 2023)
From the us embassy: Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane
From the us mailing address: 4,350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC 20,521-4,350
From the us telephone: [856] 21-48-7,000
From the us FAX: [856] 21-48-7,040
From the us email address and website:

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 colors: red, white, blue

National anthem
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

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview: lower middle-income, socialist Southeast Asian economy; one of the fastest growing economies; declining but still high poverty; natural resource rich; new anticorruption efforts; already high and growing public debt; service sector hit hard by COVID-19

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 63.7% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 14.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 30.9% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 3.1% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 34.6% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 20.9% (2017 est.)
Industry: 33.2% (2017 est.)
Services: 45.9% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: rice, roots/tubers nes, cassava, sugar cane, vegetables, bananas, maize, watermelons, coffee, taro

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

Industrial production growth rate: 7.61% (2021 est.)

Labor force: 3.915 million (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 3.3% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 3.4%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 3.2%

Population below poverty line: 18.3% (2018 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 38.8 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: 3.3%
Highest 10%: 30.3% (2008)

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $2.896 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $3.839 billion (2019 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: -5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 18.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 1.48% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance:

Exports:
Partners: Thailand 33%, China 27%, Vietnam 13%, Australia 8%, Switzerland 3% (2021)
Commodities: electricity, gold, paper, copper, rubber, flavored water (2021)

Imports:
Partners: Thailand 53%, China 26%, Vietnam 10% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, cattle, iron structures, steel products (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 9.346 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 5,108,640,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 24.114 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 1.345 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.262 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 35.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 64.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 16.04 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 15.823 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 235,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 18,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 503 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 19,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 17,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 40.726 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 37.871 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.855 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 73.187 million Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1,300,195 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4,822,973 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

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

Internet
Country code: .la
Users total: 4.588 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 62% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 128,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures:

Military and security forces: Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces (2023)
Note: the Ministry of Public Security maintains internal security and is responsible for law enforcement; it oversees local, traffic, immigration, and security police, village police auxiliaries, and other armed police units

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; minimum 18-month service obligation (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,251,961 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.53 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RDPL

Airports: 41 (2021)
With paved runways: 8
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 33
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports

Pipelines: 540 km refined products (2013)

Railways
Total: 422 km (2023)
Standard gauge: 422 km (2023) 1.435-m gauge (422 km overhead electrification)

Roadways
Total: 39,586 km (2009)
Paved: 5,415 km (2009)
Unpaved: 34,171 km (2009)

Waterways: 4,600 km (2012) (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m)

Merchant marine
Total: 1 (2022)
By type: general cargo 1

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: Laos-Burma: none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: Laos remains a key transit route for drug trafficking and the movement of precursor chemicals; opium produced is typically smuggled out of the country and refined elsewhere and not trafficked in significant quantities to the United States