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  Laos  
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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Laos
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Laos Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the control 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 return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
   Geography    Laos Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 4.01%
permanent crops: 0.34%
other: 95.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
1,750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
333.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 3 cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%)
Per capita: 507 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
floods, droughts
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand
   People    Laos Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,521,998 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 1,349,352/female 1,338,252)
15-64 years: 55.7% (male 1,795,029/female 1,835,168)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 90,188/female 114,009) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 19 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19.3 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.37% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
34.98 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.28 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.008 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.978 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.791 male(s)/female
total population: 0.984 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 81.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 90.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 55.89 years
male: 53.82 years
female: 58.04 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.59 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,700 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Buddhist 65%, animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.8% (1995 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.7%
male: 77%
female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
   Government    Laos Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: none
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
Communist state
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Vientiane
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001)
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 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for five-year term
election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam Road, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26-7000
FAX: [856] 21-26-7190
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
   Economy    Laos Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining official 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 in 1988-2007 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with possible support from Japan. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid by the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in hydropower and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years; the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime, slated to begin in 2008, would streamline the government's inefficient tax system.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$12.61 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$3.061 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1,900 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 41.2%
industry: 32.5%
services: 26.3% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.1 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
30.7% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
34.6 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $470.4 million
expenditures: $643.5 million (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.715 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.193 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
728 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
326 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,950 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,898 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-$355 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$720.9 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Thailand 41%, Vietnam 9.7%, China 4.1%, Malaysia 4% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.199 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Thailand 68.8%, China 11.3%, Vietnam 5.5% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$379 million (2006 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$513.5 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.179 billion (2006)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
kip (LAK)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
kips per US dollar - 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 October - 30 September
   Communications    Laos Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
90,067 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
638,200 (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: multiple service providers; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership about 10 per 100 persons
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.la
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
935 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25,000 (2005)
   Transportation    Laos Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
42 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 23 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
refined products 540 km (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 31,210 km
paved: 4,494 km
unpaved: 26,716 km (2003)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,600 km
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2007)
   Military    Laos Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month conscript service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 1,500,625
females age 15-49: 1,521,116 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 954,816
females age 15-49: 1,006,082 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 73,167
females age 15-49: 71,432 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.5% (2006)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
Laos is one of the world's least developed countries; the Lao People's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; there is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likely to continue; the massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border (2005)
   Transnational Issues    Laos Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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 Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2005 was 5,600 hectares, about a 45% decrease from 2004; estimated potential opium production in 2005 was 28 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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