Laos

• tropical monsoon;
• rainy season (May to November);
• dry season (December to April)

• most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane;
• large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border;
• overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia

• landlocked;
• most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested;
• the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

noun:

Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

adjective:

Lao or Laotian

total:

25.8 years (2025 est.)

male:

25 years

female:

25.7 years

• most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane;
• large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border;
• overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia

at birth:

1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.87 male(s)/female

total population:

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

34.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

39.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

31.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

69 years (2024 est.)

male:

67.4 years

female:

70.7 years

total:

8.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

4.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

24.1% (2025 est.)

male:

41% (2025 est.)

female:

7.2% (2025 est.)

women married by age 15:

7.1% (2017)

women married by age 18:

32.7% (2017)

men married by age 18:

10.8% (2017)

• unexploded ordnance;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• loss of biodiversity;
• water pollution;
• limited access to potable water

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

• tropical monsoon;
• rainy season (May to November);
• dry season (December to April)

urban population:

38.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

351,900 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

15.1% (2022 est.)

municipal:

130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

170 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

7.05 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

conventional long form:

Lao People's Democratic Republic

conventional short form:

Laos

local long form:

Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

local short form:

Mueang Lao (unofficial)

abbreviation:

Lao PDR

etymology:

name means "Land of the Lao [people];" it derives from the name of the country's founder, Lao

name:

Vientiane (Viangchan)

geographic coordinates:

17 58 N, 102 36 E

time difference:

UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

the name Viangchan means "city of sandalwood" in Laotian; the standard spelling reflects French influence

• 17 provinces ( khoueng , singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* ( kampheng nakhon );
• Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Champasak, Houaphanh, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang (Luang Prabang), Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang

history:

previous 1947 (pre-independence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991

amendment process:

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president of the republic

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Laos

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

10 years

chief of state:

President THONGLOUN Sisoulith (since 22 March 2021)

head of government:

Prime Minister SONEXAY (also spelled SONXAI) Siphandon (since 30 December 2022)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly

election/appointment process:

• president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits);
• prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term

most recent election date:

22 March 2021

election results:

• 2021: THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected president;
• National Assembly vote - 161-1;
• PHANKHAM Viphavanh (LPRP) elected prime minister;
• National Assembly vote - 158-3

;

• 2016: BOUNNHANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president;
• percent of National Assembly vote - NA;
• THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected prime minister;
• percent of National Assembly vote - NA

expected date of next election:

March 2026

note: President THONGLOUN Sisoulith is also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party

highest court(s):

People's Supreme Court (consists of the court president and organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers, each with a vice president and several judges)

judge selection and term of office:

• president of People's Supreme Court appointed by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term;
• vice presidents of the People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the National Assembly;
• appointment of chamber judges NA;
• tenure of court vice presidents and chamber judges NA

subordinate courts:

appellate courts; provincial, municipal, district, and military courts

chief of mission:

Ambassador PHOUKHONG Sisoulath (since 5 September 2025)

chancery:

2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 332-6416

FAX:

[1] (202) 332-4923

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://laoembassy.com/

chief of mission:

Ambassador Heather VARIAVA (since 5 February 2024)

embassy:

Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane

mailing address:

4350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC 20521-4350

telephone:

[856] 21-48-7000

FAX:

[856] 21-48-7040

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://la.usembassy.gov/

description:

three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double-width), and red, with a large white disk centered in the blue band

meaning:

• red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and blue for the Mekong River and prosperity;
• the white disk represents the full moon over the Mekong River and the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future

title:

"Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)

lyrics/music:

SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit

history:

music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed after the communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy in 1975

total World Heritage Sites:

3 (all cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Town of Luangphrabang ;
• Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements;
• Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars

• lower middle-income, industrial Southeast Asian economy;
• high inflation due to 2022 currency depreciation brought on by persistently high debt;
• new Laos-China railway and dry port;
• rising inequities;
• ongoing labor shortages

agriculture:

16.8% (2024 est.)

industry:

29% (2024 est.)

services:

43.5% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

2.2% (2024 est.)

male:

2.4% (2024 est.)

female:

2.1% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

50.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

lowest 10%:

3% (2018 est.)

highest 10%:

31.2% (2018 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

production:

16.629 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

15.944 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

1.065 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

62 million metric tons (2023 est.)

• 6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane, with half state-operated and half commercial;
• 17 provincial stations, with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the state-operated stations in Vientiane;
• multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of foreign stations;
• state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies;
• transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible

total:

422 km (2023)

standard gauge:

422 km (2023) 1.435-m gauge (422 km overhead electrification)

total:

1 (2023)

by type:

general cargo 1

• information limited and varied;
• estimated 30,000 active Armed Forces;
• estimated 100,000 Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)

• the LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics operations, as well as protecting the regime;
• its defense partners include
  • Cambodia,
  • China,
  • Russia,
  • and Vietnam (2025)

tier rating:

• Tier 3 — Laos does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Laos was downgraded to Tier 3;
• for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/laos/