2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,324,207/female 1,313,454) 15-64 years: 55.4% (male 1,744,206/female 1,786,139) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 89,451/female 111,024) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Airports

44 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13

under 914 m

21 (2006)

Area

land

230,800 sq km

total

236,800 sq km

water

6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Utah

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 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

Birth rate

35.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$537.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$400 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

17 58 N, 102 36 E

name

Vientiane

time difference

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Constitution

promulgated 14 August 1991

Country name

conventional long form

Lao People's Democratic Republic

conventional short form

Laos

local long form

Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

local short form

none

Currency (code)

kip (LAK)

Currency code

LAK

Current account balance

$-381.7 million (2006 est.)

Death rate

11.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$2.49 billion (2001)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH

embassy

19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam Road, Vientiane

mailing address

American Embassy Vientiane, Box V, APO AP 96546

telephone

[856] 21-26 7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador PHIANE Philakone

telephone

[1] (202) 332-6416

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 Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$243 million (2001 est.)

Economy - overview

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 1988-2006 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, will streamline the government's inefficient tax system.

Electricity - consumption

3.26 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

600 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

3.936 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

1.4%

hydro

98.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Phou Bia 2,817 m

lowest point

Mekong River 70 m

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

Ethnic groups

Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Exchange rates

kips per US dollar - 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly

chief of state

President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006) and Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)

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%

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

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)

Exports

$593.6 million (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin

Exports - partners

Thailand 29.4%, Vietnam 12.5%, France 6%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 332-4923

[856] 21-26 7074

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September Communications Laos

Flag description

three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band Economy Laos

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

43.4%

industry

30.6%

services

26% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.768 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$13.43 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

18 00 N, 105 00 E

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 Laos

Government type

Communist state

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,700 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.6% (1997)

lowest 10%

3.2%

Illicit drugs

estimated cultivation in 2004 - 10,000 hectares, a 45% decrease from 2003; estimated potential production in 2004 - 49 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003 (2005) This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$1.092 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports - partners

Thailand 66.8%, China 9.1%, Vietnam 5.8% (2005)

Independence

19 July 1949 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

13% (2005 est.)

Industries

copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement

Infant mortality rate

female

73.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

92.95 deaths/1,000 live births

total

83.31 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.9% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

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)

Internet country code

.la

Internet hosts

1,108 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

25,000 (2005) Transportation Laos

Irrigated land

1,750 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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)

Labor force

2.8 million (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

80%

industry and services

20% (2005 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

total

5,083 km

Land use

arable land

4.01%

other

95.65% (2005)

permanent crops

0.34%

Languages

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

Legal system

based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2

elections

last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

Life expectancy at birth

female

57.61 years (2006 est.)

male

53.45 years

total population

55.49 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

55.5% (2002) Government Laos

male

77.4%

total population

66.4%

Location

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Manpower available for military service

females age 15-49

1,521,116 (2005 est.)

males age 15-49

1,500,625

Manpower fit for military service

females age 15-49

1,006,082 (2005 est.)

males age 15-49

954,816

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 15-49

71,432 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

73,167

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

19.2 years (2006 est.)

male

18.6 years

total

18.9 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1 (2006) Military Laos

total

1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT

Military - note

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

Military branches

Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$11.04 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.4% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)

National holiday

Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Lao or Laotian

noun

Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

floods, droughts

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

refined products 540 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders

noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

Population

6,368,481 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

34% (2005 est.)

Population growth rate

2.39% (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2007)

Radios

730,000 (1997)

Religions

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$316.9 million (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

4,494 km

total

31,210 km

unpaved

26,716 km (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

radiotelephone communications

general assessment

service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas

international

country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Telephones - main lines in use

90,067 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

520,546 (2006)

Television broadcast stations

7; note - including one station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi (2006)

Televisions

52,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Total fertility rate

4.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Laos is a source country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; a significant number are economic migrants who are subjected to commercial sexual exploitation or conditions of forced or bonded labor in Thailand; to a lesser extent, Laos is a transit and destination country for women who are trafficked for sexual exploitation including a small number of victims from China and Vietnam trafficked to work as street vendors and for sexual exploitation in prostitution

tier rating

Tier 3 - Laos does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so

Unemployment rate

2.4% (2005 est.)

Waterways

4,600 km

note

primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2005)