2008 Edition

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. 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.

Area

total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Utah

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 3 cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%) per capita: 507 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

1,750 sq km (2003)

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

Land use

arable land: 4.01% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 95.65% (2005)

Location

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

floods, droughts

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Total renewable water resources

333.6 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 41% (male 1,374,966/female 1,362,945) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 1,846,375/female 1,885,029) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 91,028/female 117,191) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

34.46 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

11.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

3% of GDP (2006)

Ethnic groups

Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,700 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 79.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 88.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 69.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 56.29 years male: 54.19 years female: 58.47 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.7% male: 77% female: 60.9% (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)

Median age

total: 19.2 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

6,677,534 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.344% (2008 est.)

Religions

Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Capital

name: Vientiane geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] 21-26-7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416

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 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%

FAX

[1] (202) 332-4923

[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

Government type

Communist state

Independence

19 July 1949 (from France)

International organization participation

ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

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)

Legal system

based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (115 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 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2

National holiday

Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $473.1 million expenditures: $647.2 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

12.67% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

28.5% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

kip (LAK)

Currency code

LAK

Current account balance

-$285 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$3.179 billion (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.6 (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

$379 million (2006 est.)

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 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 underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. 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 support from Japan and China. Electricity is available in urban areas and in most rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about 40% of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from international donors and from 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, should help streamline the government's inefficient tax system.

Electricity - consumption

1.344 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

547 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - imports

367 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production

1.639 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 1.4% hydro: 98.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

kips (LAK) per US dollar - 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003)

Exports

$970 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold

Exports - partners

Thailand 32.7%, Vietnam 14.3%, China 5.9%, South Korea 4.8% (2007)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 40.9% industry: 33.2% services: 25.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.5% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.028 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.8 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)

Imports

$1.378 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports - partners

Thailand 68.5%, China 9.3%, Vietnam 5.5% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

12% (2007 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force

2.1 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,996 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

3,036 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

30.7% (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$540 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$285.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$327.9 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$717.9 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

2.4% (2005 est.)

Internet country code

.la

Internet hosts

1,015 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

100,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)

Radios

730,000 (1997)

Telephone system

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; mobile cellular usage growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

94,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.478 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)

Televisions

52,000 (1997)

Airports

42 (2007)

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 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 23 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Pipelines

refined products 540 km (2007)

Roadways

total: 29,811 km paved: 4,010 km unpaved: 25,801 km (2006)

Waterways

4,600 km note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)

Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF)

Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,549,774 females age 16-49: 1,570,702 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 993,162 females age 16-49: 1,052,053 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 73,973 female: 72,758 (2008 est.)

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)

Military expenditures

0.5% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month conscript service obligation (2006)

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

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) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008