Laos
Country Guide

Explore Laos

Laos with its capital Jamkhaneh is located in Asia (Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand). It covers some 236,801 square kilometers (about twice the size of Pennsylvania) with a population of 7,126,710. Lao, French and English are the languages spoken by people in Laos (consider regional differences). Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are bordering countries.

Laos officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is one of the poorest nations in South-East Asia. A mountainous and landlocked country, Laos shares borders with Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar and China to the north. Trekking in mountainous Northern Laos is popular, and this often includes homestays in minority tribe villages. Kayaking can be arranged in a wide number of locations. The ambitious traveler could kayak the Mekong between Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

Popular Destinations in Laos

Administrative regions of Laos

• Attapu
• Bolikhamxai
• Champasak
• Houaphan
• Khammouan
• Khoueng Bokeo
• Khoueng Oudomxai
• Khoueng Phongsali
• Khoueng Savannakhet
• Khoueng Xekong
• Louangnamtha
• Luang Prabang Province
• Salavan
• Vientiane Prefecture
• Vientiane Province
• Xaignabouli
• Xaisomboun Province
• Xiangkhouang

About the country

The topography is mostly rugged mountains with some plains and plateaus. The average density of population is about 30 per km². The climate in Laos can be described as tropical monsoonrainy season (May to November), dry season (December to April). Potential natural disasters are floods, droughts.

To reach someone Laos dial +856 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".la". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: A, B, C, E, F). The sign for the locally used currency Kip is LAK.

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.

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, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 85)	236,800	sq km
Land (World Rank: 80)	230,800	sq km
Water (World Rank: 64)	6,000	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 169)	3.70	%
Comparative	about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah
Landborder
5274
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 31)	70	m
Highest point (World Rank: 82)	2,817	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 193)	10.60	%
Arable (World Rank: 142)	6.20	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 137)	0.70	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 169)	3.70	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 67)	3,100	sq km
Map reference
Southeast Asia
Environment
Issues	- deforestation - most of the population does not have access to potable water - soil erosion - unexploded ordnance
Agreement party	- Biodiversity - Climate Change - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol - Desertification - Endangered Species - Environmental Modification - Law of the Sea - Ozone Layer Protection
Hazzards	floods, droughts
Location
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Climate
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Terrain
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 101)	7,126,710
Deathrate (World Rank: 116)	0.74	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 62)	2.36	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 76)	1.51	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 106)	-0.11	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 66)	2.70	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 170)	22.70
Female (World Rank: 168)	23.30
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 91)	1,180,230
0 14 female (World Rank: 90)	1,154,550
15 24 male (World Rank: 89)	749,312
15 24 female (World Rank: 88)	759,677
25 54 male (World Rank: 110)	1,290,770
25 54 female (World Rank: 106)	1,324,390
55 64 male (World Rank: 120)	190,627
55 64 female (World Rank: 122)	199,673
65 x male (World Rank: 123)	125,682
65 x female (World Rank: 128)	151,800
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 30)	4.99	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 179)	65	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 181)	67	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 180)	63	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 151)	0.18
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 125)	1.50
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 141)	70.90	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 180)	5.30	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 171)	75.70	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 94)	11,460,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 125)	4,239,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 25)	8,469,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 54)	2,050,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 209)	1.10	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 5)	98.20	%
Source renew (World Rank: 141)	0.70	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 182)	3,500	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 174)	3,480	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 124)	27	m³
Carbon footprint
500000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 127)	3	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 150)	0	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 191)	2	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 175)	-7	% of GDP
National symbol
elephant
National colours
white
Adjective
Lao or Laotian
Noun
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
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, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 109)	45,250,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 12)	7.00	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 153)	6,900	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 43)	21.60	%
Source industry (World Rank: 60)	32.80	%
Source service (World Rank: 213)	38.90	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 100)	3,521,000
In poverty (World Rank: 96)	22.00	%
Products
Industries	- agricultural processing - cement - construction - copper - electric power - garments - gold - gypsum - mining - rubber - timber - tin - tourism
Agriculture	- cassava - cattle - coffee - corn - cotton - manioc - peanuts - pigs - poultry - rice - sugarcane - sweet potatoes - tapioca - tea - tobacco - vegetables - water buffalo
Exports	- cassava - coffee - copper - electricity - gold - tin - wood products
Imports	- consumer goods - equipment - fuel - machinery - vehicles

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 69)	1,266,600
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 98)	18.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 198)	54.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 127)	1,258,000
Population (World Rank: 190)	18.20	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 127)	8.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 80)	33.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 89)	39,586
Paved length (World Rank: 98)	5,415
Unpaved length (World Rank: 45)	34,171
Water
Total length (World Rank: 24)	4,600

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