Country Guide

Laos Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam


Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E


Map references:
Southeast Asia


Area:
total:236,800 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 84
land:230,800 sq km
water:6,000 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Utah


Land boundaries:
total:5,083 km
border countries:Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km


Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)


Maritime claims:
lowest point:Mekong River 70 m
highest point:Phu Bia 2,817 m


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


Land use:
arable land:5.91%
permanent crops:0.42%
other:93.67% (2011)


Irrigated land:
3,100 sq km (2005)


Total renewable water resources:
333.5 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
333.5 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
floods, droughts


Environment - current issues:
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


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

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
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)


Population:
6,803,699 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 104


Age structure:
0-14 years:34.8% (male 1,195,364/female 1,173,520)
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:
total dependency ratio:62.6 %
youth dependency ratio:56.4 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.2 %
potential support ratio:16.1 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:22 years
male:21.7 years
female:22.3 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.59% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 78


Birth rate:
24.76 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 58


Death rate:
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 109


Net migration rate:
-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 150


Urbanization:
urban population:34.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:4.41% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


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


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:0.97 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.)


Maternal mortality rate:
470 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:54.53 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 33
male:60.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female:48.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:63.51 yearscountry comparison to the world: 182
male:61.54 years
female:65.56 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
2.9 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 60


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
38.4% (2005)


Health expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 83.7% of population
rural: 64.9% of population
total: 71.5% of population
unimproved:
urban: 16.3% of population
rural: 35.1% of population
total: 28.5% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 90.4% of population
rural: 50.5% of population
total: 64.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 9.6% of population
rural: 49.5% of population
total: 35.4% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 96


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,500 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 99


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
400 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 98


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
2.6% (2008)country comparison to the world: 179


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
31.6% (2006)country comparison to the world: 13


Education expenditures:
2.8% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 147

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:72.7%
male:82.5%
female:63.2% (2005 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:10 years
male:11 years
female:10 years (2012)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:

Government

Country 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 (Viangchan)
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


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


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
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:
highest court(s):People's Supreme Court (consists of NA judges)
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

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA


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 SENG Soukhathivong (since 4 June 2010)
chancery:2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 332-6416
FAX:[1] (202) 332-4923


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador David A. CLUNE (since 16 September 2013)
embassy:19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing address:American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone:[856] 21-26-7000
FAX:[856] 21-26-7190


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 symbol(s):
elephant


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

Economy

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.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.78 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$19.18 billion (2012 est.)
$17.78 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.1 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
8.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
7.9% (2012 est.)
8% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$2,900 (2012 est.)
$2,700 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
27.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
26.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
25.2% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:66.9%
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:
agriculture:24.8%
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.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Labor force:
3.373 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:73.1%
industry:6.1%
services:20.6% (2012 est.)


Unemployment rate:
1.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
2.5% (2009 est.)


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


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.3%
highest 10%:30.3% (2008)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 83
34.6 (2002)


Budget:
revenues:$2.481 billion
expenditures:$2.642 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
24.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-1.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77


Public debt:
46.3% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
49.1% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
4.3% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
4.3% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 94
4% (31 December 2009)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
23.2% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
22.3% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$1.389 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.154 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$4.071 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$3.673 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$4.716 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$4.034 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.012 billion (2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$484.3 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
-$315.5 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$2.313 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$1.984 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold, cassava


Exports - partners:
Thailand 34%, China 21.5%, Vietnam 12.2% (2012)


Imports:
$3.238 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$2.744 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods


Imports - partners:
Thailand 62.1%, China 16.2%, Vietnam 7.3% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$845.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$796.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$6.69 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$6.288 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$12.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Exchange rates:
kips (LAK) per US dollar -
7,875.9 (2013 est.)
8,007.3 (2012 est.)
8,258.8 (2010 est.)
8,516.04 (2009)
8,760.69 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
3.629 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127


Electricity - consumption:
2.4 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136


Electricity - exports:
2.537 billion kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41


Electricity - imports:
1 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
3.217 million kW (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
97.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
3,391 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


Refined petroleum products - imports:
3,160 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156


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

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
112,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 143


Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.492 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 99


Telephone system:
general assessment:service to general public is improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
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


Internet hosts:
1,532 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 166


Internet users:
300,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 130

Transportation

Airports
41 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 103


Airports - with paved runways
total:8
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:33
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:9
under 914 m:
22 (2013)


    Pipelines
refined products 540 km (2013)


Roadways
total:39,568 kmcountry comparison to the world: 89
paved:530 km
unpaved:39,038 km (2007)


Waterways

Military

Military branches
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2011)


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


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:1,574,362
females age 16-49:1,607,856 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,111,629
females age 16-49:1,190,035 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:71,400
female:73,038 (2010 est.)


    Military expenditures
NA% (2012)
0.23% of GDP (2011)
NA% (2010)


Military - note
serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)

Transnational Issues

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


    Illicit drugs
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 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)
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook