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. Following more than 15 years of civil war, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government in 1975, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a one party--the Lao People's Revolutionary Party--communist state. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in the late 1980s. 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 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. Nevertheless, despite steady economic growth for more than a decade, it remains one of Asia's poorest countries.

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): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Other: 33.3% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 4,410 km² (2022)

Major rivers: 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

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
Total: 7,953,556 (2024 est.)
Male: 3,966,320
Female: 3,987,236
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
Growth rate: 1.26% (2024 est.)

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Major-language sample(s): ; ແຫລ່ງທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນຕົ້ນຕໍ່” (Lao); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 1,214,429/female 1,181,845)
15-64 years: 65% (male 2,573,668/female 2,599,957)
65 years and over: 4.8% (2024 est.) (male 178,223/female 205,434)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 53.7 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 46.3 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 13.5 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 25 years
Female: 25.7 years

Population growth rate: 1.26% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 19.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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)

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: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 112 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 35.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 31.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 69 years (2024 est.)
Male: 67.4 years
Female: 70.7 years

Total fertility rate: 2.24 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 2.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 21.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 28% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 17.5% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 24.3% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1.3% (2024 est.); 1.2% (2023 est.); 1.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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 name Viangchan means 'city of sandalwood' in Laotian; the standard spelling reflects French influence

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

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President THONGLOUN Sisoulith (since 22 March 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister SONEXAY (also spelled SONXAI) Siphandon (since 30 December 2022)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
Election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term
Most recent election date: 22 March 2021
2021: THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected president; National Assembly vote - 161-1; PHANKHAM Viphavanh (LPRP) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 158-3
2016: BOUNNHANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Expected date of next election: March 2026

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Sapha Heng Xat)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 164 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 2/21/2021
Parties elected and seats per party: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) (158); Other (6)
Percentage of women in chamber: 22%
Expected date of next election: February 2026

Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double-width), and red, with a large white disk centered in the blue band

National anthem
Title: 'Pheng Xat Lao' (Hymn of the Lao People)
Lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
History: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed after the communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy in 1975

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

Real gdp growth rate: 4.3% (2024 est.); 3.7% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 4.3% (2024 est.); 3.7% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 65.7% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 14% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 29% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2016 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 33.2% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -41.9% (2016 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 16.8% (2024 est.)
Industry: 29% (2024 est.)
Services: 43.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 3.585 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 1.3% (2024 est.); 1.2% (2023 est.); 1.3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 1.3% (2024 est.); 1.2% (2023 est.); 1.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $2.288 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $2.259 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 12.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $9.698 billion (2023 est.); $8.604 billion (2022 est.); $7.82 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: electricity, fertilizers, gold, garments, paper (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $8.596 billion (2023 est.); $7.983 billion (2022 est.); $6.527 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, raw sugar, plastic products, trucks (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 12.738 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 12.803 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 38 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 955.095 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.447 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 23.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 76.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 16.629 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 15.944 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.065 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 62 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 25,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 23.412 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 19.652 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.76 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 34.463 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.3 million (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4.82 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 64% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 183,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.2% of GDP (2019 est.); 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.); 0.2% of GDP (2017 est.); 0.2% of GDP (2016 est.); 0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Airports: 20 (2025)

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

Merchant marine
Total: 1 (2023)
By type: general cargo 1