World Facts Index
 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.
Geography of Laos
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia,
northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam |
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Coordinates:
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18 00 N, 105 00 E |
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Area:
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total: 236,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly larger than Utah |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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tropical monsoon; rainy
season (May to November); dry season (December to April) |
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Terrain:
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mostly rugged mountains;
some plains and plateaus |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mekong
River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, hydropower, gypsum,
tin, gold, gemstones |
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Natural hazards:
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floods, droughts |
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Environment current issues:
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unexploded ordnance;
deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have
access to potable water |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; most of the
country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large
part of the western boundary with Thailand
|
Population of Laos
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Population:
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6,677,534 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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18.9 years |
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Growth rate:
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2.39% |
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Infant mortality:
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83.31 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 55.49 years
male: 53.45 years
female: 57.61 years |
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Fertility rate:
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4.68 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland)
22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% |
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Religions:
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Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
(including various Christian denominations 1.5%) |
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Languages:
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Lao (official), French, English, and
various ethnic languages |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 52.8%
male: 67.5%
female: 38.1%
|
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Lao People's
Democratic Republic
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao |
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Government type:
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Communist state |
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Capital:
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Vientiane |
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Administrative divisions:
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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, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet,
Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang |
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Independence:
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19 July 1949 (from France) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day, 2 December (1975) |
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Constitution:
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promulgated 14 August 1991 |
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Legal system:
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based on traditional customs, French legal
norms and procedures, and socialist practice |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALY
Sayasone]; other parties proscribed |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition
leaders fled the country in 1975 |
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 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.
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GDP:
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$12.8 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
7.2% |
|
GDP per capita:
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$1,900 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 45.5%
industry: 28.7%
services: 25.8% |
|
Inflation rate:
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7% |
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Labor force:
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2.8 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 80% |
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Unemployment:
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2.4% |
|
Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 1.4%
hydro: 98.6%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement |
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Agriculture:
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sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane,
tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry |
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Exports:
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garments, wood products, coffee,
electricity, tin |
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Export partners:
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Thailand 29.5%, Vietnam 12.5%, France 6%, Germany 4.6% |
|
Imports:
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machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel,
consumer goods |
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Import partners:
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Thailand 66%, China 9%, Vietnam 7% |
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Currency:
|
kip (LAK) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |