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| Geography |
| Landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand |
| Location: |
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam |
| Geographic coordinates: |
18 00 N, 105 00 E |
| Area: |
total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq kmSize comparison: slightly larger than Utah |
| 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 |
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked) |
| Climate: |
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) |
| Terrain: |
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m |
| Natural resources: |
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones |
| Land use: |
arable land: 4.01% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 95.65% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
3,000 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: |
floods, droughts |
| Current Environment Issues: |
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People |
| Population: |
6,477,211 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,197,579/female 1,181,523) 15-64 years: 59.6% (male 1,908,176/female 1,950,544) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 107,876/female 131,513) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 21 years male: 20.7 years female: 21.3 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: |
1.684% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: |
26.13 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: |
8.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: |
-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 59.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 65.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 62.39 years male: 60.5 years female: 64.36 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: |
3.14 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: |
8,500 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS – deaths: |
fewer than 200 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian |
| Ethnic groups: |
Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census) |
| Religions: |
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census) |
| Languages: |
Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 73% male: 83% female: 63% (2005 Census) |
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| Government |
| Country name: |
conventional long form: Lao People’s Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: Pathet Lao (unofficial) |
| Government type: |
Communist state |
| Capital: |
name: Vientiane (Viangchan) geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| 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 |
| Independence: |
19 July 1949 (from France) |
| National holiday: |
Republic Day, 2 December (1975) |
| Constitution: |
promulgated 14 August 1991; amended in 2003 |
| Legal system: |
civil law system similar in form to the French system |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| 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 THONGSING Thammavong (since 24 December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Prime Ministers 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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held on 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and elected by the 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: |
unicameral National Assembly (132 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 on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016) election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – LPRP 128, independents 4 |
| Judicial branch: |
People’s Supreme Court, People’s Provincial and Municipal Courts, People’s District Courts, and Military Courts note: 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: |
Lao People’s Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International organization participation: |
ADB, 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) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador SENG Soukhathivong chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Karen B. STEWART embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] 21-26-7000 FAX: [856] 21-26-7190 |
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| Economy |
| 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 from 1988-2008 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a rudimentary, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. China has signed a deal with the Lao to build a high speed rail system in the country. Construction on the $7 billion project is slated to begin in April 2011 and will take five years. Electricity is available in urban areas and in many rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 30% of GDP and 75% of total employment. The government in FY09/10 received $586 million from international donors. Economic growth has reduced official poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2010. The economy has benefited from high foreign investment in hydropower, mining, and construction. Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004, and is taking steps required to join the World Trade Organization, such as reforming import licensing. Related trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, Laos initiated a VAT tax system in 2010. Simplified investment procedures and expanded bank credits for small farmers and small entrepreneurs will improve Lao’s economic prospects. The government appears committed to raising the country’s profile among investors. The World Bank has declared that Laos’s goal of graduating from the UN Development Program’s list of least-developed countries by 2020 is achievable. According Laotian officials, the 7th Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2011-15 will outline efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): |
GDP (purchasing power parity): $15.69 billion (2010 est.) $14.56 billion (2009 est.) $13.54 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): |
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.341 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP – real growth rate: |
7.7% (2010 est.) 7.6% (2009 est.) 7.8% (2008 est.) |
| GDP – per capita (PPP): |
GDP – per capita (PPP): $2,500 (2010 est.) $2,300 (2009 est.) $2,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP – composition by sector: |
agriculture: 29.2% industry: 32.4% services: 38.3% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: |
3.69 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force – by occupation: |
agriculture: 75.1% industry and services: NA (2010 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: |
2.5% (2009 est.) 2.4% (2005 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: |
26% (2010 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 30.3% (2008) |
| Distribution of family income – Gini index: |
36.7 (2008) 34.6 (2002) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.7% (2010 est.) 0% (2009 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $1.136 billion expenditures: $1.338 billion (2010 est.) |
| Agriculture – products: |
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry |
| Industries: |
copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, cement, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: |
17.7% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity – production: |
1.553 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity – consumption: |
2.23 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity – exports: |
341 million kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity – imports: |
999 million kWh (2010 est.) |
| Oil – production: |
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil – consumption: |
3,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil – exports: |
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil – imports: |
1,918 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil – proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas – production: |
0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas – consumption: |
NA cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas – exports: |
0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas – imports: |
NA cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas – proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: |
-$195 million (2010 est.) -$395 million (2009 est.) |
| Exports: |
$1.95 billion (2010 est.) $1.147 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports – commodities: |
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold |
| Exports – partners: |
Thailand 31.1%, China 23%, Vietnam 12.9% (2010) |
| Imports: |
$1.753 billion (2010 est.) $1.461 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports – commodities: |
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods |
| Imports – partners: |
Thailand 65.6%, China 14.6%, Vietnam 6.6% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$806.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) $712.8 million (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt – external: |
$4.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.722 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Exchange rates: |
kips (LAK) per US dollar – 8,320.27 (2010) 8,516.04 (2009) 8,760.69 (2008) 9,658 (2007) 10,235 (2006) |
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: |
132,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 138 |
| Cellular Phones in use: |
3.235 million (2009) |
| 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 very rapidly international: country code – 856; satellite earth station – 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China (2008) |
| Radio broadcast stations: |
|
| Television broadcast stations: |
|
| Internet country code: |
.la |
| Internet hosts: |
1,468 (2010) |
| Internet users: |
300,000 (2009) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: |
41 (2010) country comparison to the world: 104 |
| Airports (paved runways): |
total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): |
total: 32 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 21 (2010) |
| Pipelines: |
refined products 540 km (2010) |
| Roadways: |
total: 39,568 km paved: 530 km unpaved: 39,038 km (2009) |
| Waterways: |
4,600 km (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m) (2010) |
| Merchant marine: |
total: 1 by type: cargo 1 (2008) |
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| Military |
| 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 branches: |
Lao People’s Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People’s Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: |
18 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month service obligation (2010) |
| Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 1,574,362 females age 16-49: 1,607,856 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 1,111,629 females age 16-49: 1,190,035 (2010 est.) |
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