Laos

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.<br><br>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.

Land

230,800 sq km

Total

236,800 sq km

Water

6,000 sq km

about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah

tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

0 km (landlocked)

Asia

Highest point

Phu Bia 2,817 m

Lowest point

Mekong River 70 m

Mean elevation

710 m

18 00 N, 105 00 E

landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

4,410 sq km (2022)

Border countries

Burma 238 km; Cambodia 555 km; China 475 km; Thailand 1,845 km; Vietnam 2,161 km

number of neighbors

5

Total

5,274 km

Agricultural land

9.9% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)

arable land

5.3%

Forest

56.8% (2023 est.)

Other

33.3% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

1.67%

Yes

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Pacific Ocean drainage

Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/F3asVB7sRKgSnwbE7

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/49903

Southeast Asia

none (landlocked)

floods, droughts

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

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

South-Eastern Asia

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

UTC+07:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

4.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

8.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

19.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

10.8% (2017)

Women married by age 15

7.1% (2017)

Women married by age 18

32.7% (2017)

32.8%

24.3% (2023 est.)

61.6% (2017 est.)

6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

136 per 1,000

adult male

201 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

7.4 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

13.5 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

53.7 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

46.3 (2024 est.)

improved total

35.19%

Improved: rural

rural: 78.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 97.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 21.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 2.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

8.2% national budget (2024 est.)

1 % of GDP

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

<strong>note:</strong> the Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be well over 200

1.07 (2025 est.)

1 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

2.7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

4.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.27%

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

31.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

39.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

20 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

34.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages

Major-language sample(s)

<br>ແຫລ່ງທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນຕົ້ນຕໍ່” (Lao)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Female

70.7 years

Male

67.4 years

Total population

69 years (2024 est.)

Female

66.7% (2023 est.)

Male

85.1% (2023 est.)

Total population

75.6% (2023 est.)

721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)

112 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

25.7 years

Male

25 years

Total

25.8 years (2025 est.)

82 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Lao or Laotian

Noun

Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.3% (2016)

0.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

3,987,236

Male

3,966,320

Total

7,953,556 (2024 est.)

1.22% (2025 est.)

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

improved total

71.38%

Improved: rural

rural: 72% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 82.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 28% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 17.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Female

9 years (2023 est.)

Male

9 years (2023 est.)

Total

9 years (2023 est.)

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

At birth

1.04 male(s)/female

Total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

7.2% (2025 est.)

Male

41% (2025 est.)

Total

24.1% (2025 est.)

2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

38.2% of total population (2023)

measles

69%

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

Etymology

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

Geographic coordinates

17 58 N, 102 36 E

Name

Vientiane (Viangchan)

Time difference

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/la.svg

Amendment process

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

History

previous 1947 (pre-independence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991

Abbreviation

Lao PDR

alternative spellings

LA, Lao, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

Conventional long form

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Conventional short form

Laos

Etymology

name means "Land of the Lao [people];" it derives from the name of the country's founder, Lao

FIFA code

LAO

Local long form

Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

local long form (lao)

ສາທາລະນະ ຊາທິປະໄຕ ຄົນລາວ ຂອງ

Local short form

Mueang Lao (unofficial)

Chief of mission

Ambassador Heather VARIAVA (since 5 February 2024)

Email address and website

<br>CONSLAO@state.gov<br><br>https://la.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9,&nbsp;Hatsayfong District, Vientiane

FAX

[856] 21-48-7040

Mailing address

4350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-4350

Telephone

[856] 21-48-7000

Chancery

2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador PHOUKHONG Sisoulath (since 5 September 2025)

Email address and website

<br>embasslao@gmail.com<br><br>https://laoembassy.com/

FAX

[1] (202) 332-4923

Telephone

[1] (202) 332-6416

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly

Chief of state

President THONGLOUN Sisoulith (since 22 March 2021)

Election results

<em><br>2021: </em>THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected president; National Assembly vote - 161-1; PHANKHAM Viphavanh (LPRP) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 158-3<br><br><em>2016:</em> BOUNNHANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

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

Expected date of next election

March 2026

Head of government

Prime Minister SONEXAY (also spelled SONXAI) Siphandon (since 30 December 2022)

Most recent election date

22 March 2021

Note

<strong>note:</strong> President THONGLOUN Sisoulith is also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party

<strong>description:</strong> three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double-width), and red, with a large white disk centered in the blue band<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and blue for the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk represents the full moon over the Mekong River and the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future

The flag of Laos is composed of three horizontal bands of red, blue and red. The blue band is twice the height of the red bands and bears a white circle at its center.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/la.svg

communist party-led state

19 July 1949 (from France); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

Highest court(s)

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

civil law system similar in form to the French system

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

February 2026

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly (Sapha Heng Xat)

Most recent election date

2/21/2021

Number of seats

164 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) (158); Other (6)

Percentage of women in chamber

22%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

red, white, blue

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Town of Luangphrabang; Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements; Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars

Total World Heritage Sites

3 (all cultural)

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

elephant

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP

note

<strong>note:</strong>  other parties proscribed

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, watermelons (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

50.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$2.259 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$2.288 billion (2022 est.)

code

LAK

name

Lao kip (LAK) [₭]

$531.37 million

Current account balance 2021

$431.636 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$458.754 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$404.523 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$17.84 billion

Debt - external 2023

$9.619 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

lower middle-income, industrial Southeast Asian economy; high inflation due to 2022 currency depreciation brought on by persistently high debt; new Laos-China railway and dry port; rising inequities; ongoing labor shortages

Currency

kips (LAK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

8,679.409 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

9,045.788 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

9,697.916 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

14,035.227 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

17,688.874 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$7.82 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$8.604 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$9.698 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

electricity, fertilizers, gold, garments, paper (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 39%, Thailand 34%, Australia 4%, USA 4%, Cambodia 2% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$988.46 million

Exports of goods and services

33.2% (2016 est.)

Government consumption

14% (2016 est.)

Household consumption

65.7% (2016 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-41.9% (2016 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

29% (2016 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2016 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

16.8% (2024 est.)

Industry

29% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

43.5% (2024 est.)

$16.503 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$2,124

38.8 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

38.8 (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$15.46 billion

$2,000

Highest 10%

31.2% (2018 est.)

Lowest 10%

3% (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$6.527 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$7.983 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$8.596 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, raw sugar, plastic products, trucks (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Thailand 58%, China 36%, Japan 1%, Singapore 1%, Germany 1% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.9% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

23.13%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

23% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

31.2% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

23.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

3.585 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

3.65 million persons

agriculture

68.6%

industry

7.41%

services

23.99%

18.3% (2018 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

58.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

$75.96 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$61.856 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$64.173 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$66.905 billion (2024 est.)

4.13%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.3% (2024 est.)

$9,776

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$8,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$8,400 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$8,600 (2024 est.)

$246.59 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

$1.77 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$1.951 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.576 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$1.77 billion (2023 est.)

14 % of GDP

12 % of GDP

12.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

1.19%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

1.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

1.3% (2024 est.)

Female

2.1% (2024 est.)

Male

2.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

2.2% (2024 est.)

Consumption

15.944 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

1.065 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

16.629 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

62 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

12.803 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

1,264 kWh

Exports

38 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

955.095 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

12.738 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

2.447 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

23.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

75.91%

Hydroelectricity

76.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

63.29%

Solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

815 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

34.463 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

25,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

49.2%

per 100 inhabitants

3 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

Total

183,000 (2022 est.)

6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane, with half state-operated and half commercial; 17 provincial stations, with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the state-operated stations in Vientiane; 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; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible

.la

Percent of population

64% (2023 est.)

#####

+856

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.3 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100

65 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

65 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

4.96 million (2023 est.)

passengers carried

842,280 passengers

registered carrier departures

10,963 departures

20 (2025)

RDPL

Right

By type

general cargo 1

Total

1 (2023)

Standard gauge

422 km (2023) 1.435-m gauge (422 km overhead electrification)

Total

422 km (2023)

LAO

armored vehicles

tanks

the LPAF&rsquo;s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics operations, as well as protecting the regime; its defense partners include Cambodia, China, Russia, and Vietnam (2025)

Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF; aka Lao People's Army): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Lao People's Air Force (LPAF); Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)

active duty personnel

129,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

percent of total labor force

4.08 %

information limited and varied; estimated 30,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 100,000 Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)

the LPAF is armed with Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era equipment and weapons (2025)

Military Expenditures 2015

0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Military Expenditures 2016

0.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Military Expenditures 2017

0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

Military Expenditures 2018

0.2% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

0.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory military service for men 18-35 with a minimum 18-month service obligation (2025)

PowerIndex score

2.8672

USG identification

<br>major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

IDPs

1,274 (2024 est.)

Tier rating

Tier 3 — Laos does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Laos was downgraded to Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/laos/

From coal and metallurgical coke

19.652 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

3.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

23.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution; limited access to potable water

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

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

20.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

19 % of total land area

-10 % of total

333.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

4 % of internal resources

Agricultural

7.05 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

170 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

351,900 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

15.1% (2022 est.)