Laos | ||
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Laos | Introduction | Top of Page |
Background: | In 1975 the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, an easing of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997. |
Laos | Geography | Top of Page |
Location: | Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam |
Geographic coordinates: | 18 00 N, 105 00 E |
Map references: | Southeast Asia |
Area: |
total:
236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km |
Area - comparative: | 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: Phou Bia 2,817 m |
Natural resources: | timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones |
Land use: |
arable land:
3%
permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 40% (1993 est.) |
Irrigated land: |
1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.) |
Natural hazards: | floods, droughts, and blight |
Environment - current issues: | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water |
Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: | landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand |
Laos | People | Top of Page |
Population: | 5,635,967 (July 2001 est.) |
Age structure: |
0-14 years:
42.75% (male 1,212,577; female 1,196,795)
15-64 years: 53.94% (male 1,494,927; female 1,544,851) 65 years and over: 3.31% (male 85,632; female 101,185) (2001 est.) |
Population growth rate: | 2.48% (2001 est.) |
Birth rate: | 37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
Death rate: | 13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
Sex ratio: |
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
Infant mortality rate: | 92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population:
53.48 years
male: 51.58 years female: 55.44 years (2001 est.) |
Total fertility rate: | 5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.05% (1999 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 1,400 (1999 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 130 (1999 est.) |
Nationality: |
noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian |
Ethnic groups: | Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% |
Religions: | Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% |
Languages: | Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages |
Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57% male: 70% female: 44% (1999 est.) |
Laos | Government | Top of Page |
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 |
Government type: | Communist state |
Capital: | Vientiane |
Administrative divisions: | 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 |
Independence: | 19 July 1949 (from France) |
National holiday: | Republic Day, 2 December (1975) |
Constitution: | promulgated 14 August 1991 |
Legal system: | based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice |
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since NA March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since NA March 2001); Deputy Prime Ministers THONGLOUN Sisolit (since NA March 2001), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA% |
Legislative branch: |
unicameral National Assembly (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - by presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99)
elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99 |
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 Assembl |