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.
In the 2010s, the country benefited from direct foreign investment, particularly in the natural resource and industry sectors. Construction of a number of large hydropower dams and expanding mining activities have also boosted the economy. Laos has retained its official commitment to communism and maintains close ties with its two communist neighbors, Vietnam and China, both of which continue to exert substantial political and economic influence on the country. China, for example, provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in December 2021. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from China. At the same time, Laos has expanded its economic reliance on the West and other Asian countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

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 1845 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: 3,100 km² (2012)

Major rivers
By length in km: Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km

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

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Agricultural: 7.02 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 333.5 billion cubic meters (2017 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

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: 7,574,356 (July 2021 est.)
Growth rate: 1.46% (2021 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: 31.25% (male 1,177,297/female 1,149,727)
15-24 years: 20.6% (male 763,757/female 770,497)
25-54 years: 38.29% (male 1,407,823/female 1,443,774)
55-64 years: 5.73% (male 206,977/female 219,833)
65 years and over: 4.13% (male 139,665/female 168,046) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 56.8
Youth dependency ratio: 50.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.7
Potential support ratio: 15 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 24 years
Male: 23.7 years
Female: 24.4 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.46% (2021 est.)

Birth rate: 22.74 births/1000 population (2021 est.)

Death rate: 7.12 deaths/1000 population (2021 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.99 migrant(s)/1000 population (2021 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: 36.9% of total population (2021)
Rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 694,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2021)

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: 24.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 185 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 49.48 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 55.75 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 42.95 deaths/1000 live births (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66 years
Male: 63.83 years
Female: 68.26 years (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.1% (2017)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 94.4% of population
Improved rural: 76.8% of population
Improved total: 82.1% of population
Unimproved urban: 5.6% of population
Unimproved rural: 23.2% of population
Unimproved total: 17.9% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 2.3% (2018)

Physicians density: 0.37 physicians/1000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density: 1.5 beds/1000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 98% of population
Improved rural: 66.3% of population
Improved total: 77.2% of population
Unimproved urban: 2% of population
Unimproved rural: 33.7% of population
Unimproved total: 22.8% of population (2017 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2020 est.)
People living with hivaids: 15,000 (2020 est.)
Deaths: <500 (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2020)
Food or water borne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vector borne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016)

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

Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2014)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 84.7%
Male: 90%
Female: 79.4% (2015)

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

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 18.2%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 20.8%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 15.5% (2017 est.)

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)
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, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang

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 descentonly: 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 Sisoulit (since 22 March 2021); Vice President PANI Yathotou; Vice President BOUNTHONG Chitmani (since 22 March 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister PHANKHAM Viphavan (since 22 March 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers CHANSAMON Chan-gnalat, SONXAI Siphandon, KIKEO Khaikhamphithoun (since 22 March 2021)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
Elections and 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; 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 2026)
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 KHAMPHAN Anlavan (since 21 July 2019)
In the us chancery: 2,222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 328-9,148; [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 Peter HAYMOND (since 7 February 2020)
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 and 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

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

Real gdp growth rate: 6.9% (2017 est.)

7% (2016 est.)

7.3% (2015 est.)

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

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: 8% (2017 est.)

Labor force: 3.582 million (2017 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 73.1%
By occupation industry: 6.1%
By occupation services: 20.6% (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate: 0.7% (2017 est.)

0.7% (2016 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 18.2%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 20.8%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 15.5% (2017 est.)

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

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 36.4 (2012 est.)

34.6 (2002)

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

Budget
Revenues: $3.099 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $4.038 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

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

Public debt: 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

58.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

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

Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.8% (2017 est.)

1.6% (2016 est.)

Current account balance: -$2.057 billion (2017 est.)

-$2.07 billion (2016 est.)

Exports: $6.99 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$6.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Partners: Thailand 36%, China 28%, Vietnam 16% (2019)
Commodities: electricity, copper, rubber, gold, flavored water (2019)

Imports: $7.52 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$7.56 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Partners: Thailand 53%, China 26%, Vietnam 10% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, cattle, iron structures, steel products (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$940.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt external: $14.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$12.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 95% (2019)
Access electrification urban areas: 98% (2019)
Access electrification rural areas: 93% (2019)
Production: 29.74 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption: 5.471 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Exports: $8.469 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Imports: 2.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 6.94 million kW (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 28% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 72% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 17,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1,490,831 (2019)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20.79 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4,362,183 (2019)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60.84 (2019 est.)

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: 3.55 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 25.51% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 76,280 (2019)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.06 (2019 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

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 (2021)

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 mt-km (2018)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RDPL

Airports
Total: 41 (2013)
With paved runways total: 8
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 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 33
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 22 (2013)

Pipelines: 540 km refined products (2013)

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

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)

Merchant marine
Total: 1
By type: general cargo 1 (2021)

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; Cambodia and Laos have a longstanding border demarcation dispute; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of eight dams on the Upper Mekong River and construction of more dams on its tributaries will affect water levels, sediment flows, and fisheries; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction for the same reasons

Illicit drugs: Bokeo Province part of the “Golden Triangle,” a notorious drug production and transit area; remains a poppy cultivator and source of illicit opium and a transit hub for other illicit drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and chemical precursors; estimate of 4,925 ha of opium poppy cultivated in Laos in 2018