2024 Edition Primary

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. 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.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.

Area

land

230,800 sq km

total

236,800 sq km

water

6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point

Phu Bia 2,817 m

lowest point

Mekong River 70 m

mean elevation

710 m

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

4,409 sq km (2020)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

5,274 km

Land use

agricultural land

10.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)

forest

67.9% (2018 est.)

other

21.5% (2018 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Major rivers (by length in km)

Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

floods, droughts

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Population distribution

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

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

19.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

10.8% (2017 est.)

women married by age 15

7.1%

women married by age 18

32.7%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

21.1% (2017)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

54.1% (2017)

Current health expenditure

2.7% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

60.1% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Laos is a predominantly rural country with a youthful population – almost 55% of the population is under the age of 25.  Its progress on health and development issues has been uneven geographically, among ethnic groups, and socioeconomically.  Laos has made headway in poverty reduction, with the poverty rate almost halving from 46% in 1992/93 to 22% in 2012/13.  Nevertheless, pronounced rural-urban disparities persist, and income inequality is rising.  Poverty most affects populations in rural and highland areas, particularly ethnic minority groups.  The total fertility rate (TFR) has decreased markedly from around 6 births per woman on average in 1990 to approximately 2.8 in 2016, but it is still one of the highest in Southeast Asia.  TFR is higher in rural and remote areas, among ethnic minority groups, the less-educated, and the poor; it is lower in urban areas and among the more educated and those with higher incomes.  Although Laos’ mortality rates have improved substantially over the last few decades, the maternal mortality rate and childhood malnutrition remain at high levels.  As fertility and mortality rates continue to decline, the proportion of Laos’ working-age population will increase, and its share of dependents will shrink.  The age structure shift will provide Laos with the potential to realize a demographic dividend during the next few decades, if it can improve educational access and quality and gainfully employ its growing working-age population in productive sectors.  Currently, Laos primary school enrollment is nearly universal, but the drop-out rate remains problematic.  Secondary school enrollment has also increased but remains low, especially for girls.  Laos has historically been a country of emigration and internal displacement due to conflict and a weak economy. The Laos civil war (1953 – 1975) mainly caused internal displacement (numbering in the hundreds of thousands).  Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, indigenous people in remote, war-struck areas were resettled and more than 300,000 people fled to Thailand to escape the communist regime that took power.  The majority of those who sought refuge in Thailand ultimately were resettled in the US (mainly Hmong who fought with US forces), and lesser numbers went to France, Canada, and Australia.  The Laos Government carried out resettlement programs between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s to relocate ethnic minority groups from the rural northern highlands to development areas in the lowlands ostensibly to alleviate poverty, make basic services more accessible, eliminate slash-and-burn agriculture and opium production, integrate ethnic minorities, and control rebel groups (including Hmong insurgents).  For many, however, resettlement has exacerbated poverty, led to the loss of livelihoods, and increased food insecurity and mortality rates.  As the resettlement programs started to wane in the second half of the 1990s, migration from the northern highlands to urban centers – chiefly the capital Vientiane – to pursue better jobs in the growing manufacturing and service sectors became the main type of relocation.  Migration of villagers from the south seeking work in neighboring Thailand also increased.  Thailand is the main international migration destination for Laotians because of the greater availability of jobs and higher pay than at home; nearly a million Laotian migrants were estimated to live in Thailand as of 2015.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.7

potential support ratio

14.8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

54.7

youth dependency ratio

48

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 84.1% of population

improved: total

total: 88.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.1% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 15.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 11.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.9% of population

Education expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.1 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

31.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

39.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

35.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.7 years

male

67.4 years

total population

69 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

81.4% (2021)

male

91.4%

total population

87.1%

Major urban areas - population

721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

126 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

25.7 years

male

25 years

total

25.4 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Lao or Laotian

noun

Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

Net migration rate

-1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.35 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

3,987,236 (2024 est.)

male

3,966,320

total

7,953,556

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.26% (2024 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 72% of population

improved: total

total: 82.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 28% of population

unimproved: total

total: 17.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2020)

male

10 years

total

10 years

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

10.3% (2020 est.)

male

53.3% (2020 est.)

total

31.8% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.24 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

38.2% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the meaning in Pali, a Buddhist liturgical language, is "city of sandalwood"

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

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

Constitution

amendments

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; amended 2003, 2015

history

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

Country name

abbreviation

Lao PDR

conventional long form

Lao People's Democratic Republic

conventional short form

Laos 

etymology

name means "Land of the Lao [people]"

local long form

Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

local short form

Mueang Lao (unofficial)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Heather VARIAVA (since 5 February 2024)

email address and website

CONSLAO@state.govhttps://la.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane

FAX

[856] 21-48-7040

mailing address

4350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC  20521-4350

telephone

[856] 21-48-7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Sisavath INPHACHANH (since 7 June 2022)

email address and website

embasslao@gmail.comhttps://laoembassy.com/

FAX

[1] (202) 332-4923

telephone

[1] (202) 332-6416

Executive branch

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

2021: THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected president; National Assembly vote - 161-1; PHANKHAM Viphavanh (LPRP) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 158-32016: BOUNNHANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 March 2021 (next to be held in March 2026); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term

head of government

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

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

Government type

communist party-led state

Independence

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

International law organization participation

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

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system similar in form to the French system

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (164 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 158, independent 6; composition - men 128, women 36, percentage women 22%

elections

last held on 21 February 2021 (next to be held in 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit

name

"Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)

note

note: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy

National heritage

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)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

elephant; national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP

note

note:  other parties proscribed

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, watermelons (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

10.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

50.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.596 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: 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.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

CCC (2020)

Moody's rating

Caa2 (2020)

note

note: the year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

-$230.973 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$446.505 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$10.954 million (2022 est.)

note

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

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

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

Exports 2020

$6.461 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$7.82 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$8.604 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

electricity, gold, rubber, fertilizers, paper (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Thailand 35%, China 29%, Vietnam 10%, Australia 4%, US 3% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

note

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

16.1% (2023 est.)

industry

30.5% (2023 est.)

note

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

services

44% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.843 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

38.8 (2018 est.)

note

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

31.2% (2018 est.)

lowest 10%

3% (2018 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2020

$5.816 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$6.527 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$7.772 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, gold, electrical machinery, raw sugar, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Thailand 56%, China 26%, Vietnam 8%, Malaysia 3%, Singapore 1% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

2.61% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.76% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

22.96% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

31.23% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

3.174 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

18.3% (2018 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Public debt 2017

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$60.225 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$61.856 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$64.173 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

2.53% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.71% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.75% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$8,100 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$8,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$8,400 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

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

Remittances 2021

1.17% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.55% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.42% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: 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.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.11% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

2% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

1.21% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.18% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

2.1% (2023 est.)

male

2.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

2.2% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

16.499 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

3.652 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

20.151 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

13.691 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

845,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

6,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

14.845 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves

62 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

8.829 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

35.113 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

1.365 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

12.222 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

3.376 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

27% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

72.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

29.176 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2020 est.)

total

128,000 (2020 est.)

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

Internet country code

.la

Internet users

percent of population

62% (2021 est.)

total

4.588 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line nearly 18 per 100 and 65 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

Laos joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013; one of the conditions of admittance was to establish an independent regulator for its telecom sector within two years; the government had committed to do so by February 2015 as part of the accession agreement; there still has been no sign of any firm plans being made to create an independent regulatory body; the Ministry of Technology and Communications retains the primary role in regulating the country’s telecom market; with the government also having a financial stake (in part or in whole) in every one of the major fixed-line and mobile operators, the MPT’s position and decision-making is far from what could be considered independent; sufficient returns on investment cannot be guaranteed with such strict pricing controls as well as the potential for political interference; fixed-line and mobile penetration levels have, as a result, remained much lower than what’s seen in neighboring South East Asian markets; there are signs of growth in the mobile broadband segment as LTE network coverage slowly widens and, more recently, the country’s first 5G services start to come on stream; residents in the capital will at least be able to enjoy high-speed services in the near future, while the rest of the country waits patiently to catch up with the rest of the world. (2022)

international

country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

1.3 million (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

65 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

4.823 million (2021 est.)

Airports

18 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

RDPL

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1

total

1 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1.53 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,251,961 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

12

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Pipelines

540 km refined products (2013)

Railways

standard gauge

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

total

422 km (2023)

Roadways

paved

13,718 km

total

59,647 km

unpaved

45,929 km (2024)

Waterways

4,600 km (2012) (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m)

Military - note

the LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism; China, Russia, and Vietnam are the country's closest security partners  (2023)

Military and security forces

Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Lao People's Air Force (LPAF), Self-Defense Militia Forces (2024)

note

note: 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

Military and security service personnel strengths

limited and varied information; estimated 30,000 active-duty troops (26,000 Army; 4,000 Air Force) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LPAF is armed with Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era equipment and weapons (2024)

Military expenditures

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.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; minimum 18-month service obligation (2023)

Illicit drugs

Laos remains a key transit route for drug trafficking and the movement of precursor chemicals; opium produced is typically smuggled out of the country and refined elsewhere and not trafficked in significant quantities to the United States

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Laos was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to:  https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/laos/

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

17.76 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

9 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

21.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment - international agreements

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

Land use

agricultural land

10.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)

forest

67.9% (2018 est.)

other

21.5% (2018 est.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Revenue from forest resources

1.48% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

333.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

7.05 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

38.2% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

351,900 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

35,190 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

10% (2015 est.)