Laos

Laos

Introduction

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.

Geography

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
country comparison to the world: 84 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: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)

Total renewable water resources

333.6 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 3cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%)
per capita:507cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

floods, droughts

Environment – current issues

unexploded ordnance

deforestation

soil erosion

most of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment – international 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

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

People and Society

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)

Languages

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

Religions

Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)

Population

6,477,211 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

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.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Birth rate

26.13 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Death rate

8.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Net migration rate

-1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Urbanization

urban population: 33% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:4.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

VIENTIANE (capital) 799,000 (2009)

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.)

Maternal mortality rate

580 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 20

Infant mortality rate

total: 59.46 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 36 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
country comparison to the world: 179 male:60.5 years
female:64.36 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.14 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Health expenditures

6.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92

Physicians density

0.272 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 144

Hospital bed density

1.2 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 137

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 72% of population
rural: 51% of population
total: 57% of population
unimproved:
urban: 28% of population
rural: 49% of population
total: 43% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 86% of population
rural: 38% of population
total: 53% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14% of population
rural: 62% of population
total: 47% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

8,500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:dengue fever and malaria
note:highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country

it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008) (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2000)
country comparison to the world: 69

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

31.6% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 16

Education expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 150

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:73%
male:83%
female:63% (2005 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years
male:10 years
female:9 years (2008)

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

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, 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, 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

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 Pathet Lao, as well as the country’s bright future

National symbol(s)

elephant

National anthem

name: “Pheng Xat Lao” (Hymn of the Lao People)
lyrics/music:SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
note:music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975

the anthem’s lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy

Economy

Economy – overview

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)

$15.69 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135 $14.56 billion (2009 est.)
$13.54 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$6.341 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

7.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23 7.6% (2009 est.)
7.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$2,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175 $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.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 75.1%
industry and services:NA (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21 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)
country comparison to the world: 84 34.6 (2002)

Budget

revenues: $1.136 billion
expenditures:$1.338 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159 0% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.3% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 92 4% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

22.613% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 12 24.775% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$787.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148 $564.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.643 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138 $1.805 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 $1.22 billion (31 December 2009 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.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity – production

1.553 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Electricity – consumption

2.23 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity – exports

341 million kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity – imports

999 million kWh (2010 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Oil – consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

Oil – imports

1,918 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Current account balance

-$195 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 $9.3 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$1.474 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143 $1.053 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold

Exports – partners

Thailand 31.1%, China 23%, Vietnam 12.9% (2010)

Imports

$2.06 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153 $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

$713.4 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144 $618.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$4.635 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115 $4.721 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)

Transportation

Airports

41 (2010)
country comparison to the world:103

Airports – with 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 – with 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
country comparison to the world: 91 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)
country comparison to the world: 24

Merchant marine

total: 1
country comparison to the world: 157 by type:cargo 1 (2008)

Military

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.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 71,400
female:73,038 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 160

Military – note

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)

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu

talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River

concern among Mekong Commission members that China’s construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels

Cambodia is concerned about Laos’ extensive upstream dam construction

Illicit drugs

estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares, about a 73% increase from 2007

estimated potential opium production in 2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons

unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production

growing domestic methamphetamine problem (2007)