Laos
Lao People's Democratic RepublicSathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Communist stateIndependence 19 July 1949 (from France)
Laos as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 89 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
15 fieldsLand useshare of 236,800 sq km
Terrain
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
- lowest point:
- Mekong River 70 m
- highest point:
- Phou Bia 2,817 m
Environment
- current issues:
- deforestation;
- soil erosion;
- a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
- natural hazards:
- floods, droughts, and blight
- international agreements:
- party to - Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 45% (male 1,142,825; female 1,114,628)
- 15-64 years:
- 51% (male 1,237,660; female 1,316,591)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (male 75,748; female 88,320) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.86 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Communist state; President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992) was elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly; Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991) was appointed for a five-year term by the president with the approval of the National Assembly
22 fieldsLegislature, 85 seatsone dot, one seat
Name of country
- conventional long form:
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- conventional short form:
- Laos
- local long form:
- Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
- local short form:
- none
Administrative divisions
- 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural);
- Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
National holiday
National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992) was elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991) was appointed for a five-year term by the president with the approval of the National Assembly; Deputy Prime Minister KHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since NA)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers was appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
National Assembly
- members elected for five-year terms;
- elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997);
- results - percent of vote NA;
- seats - (85 total) LPRP 85
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 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 (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed
Other political or pressure groups
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation
ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH
- chancery:
- 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 332-6416, 6417
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Victor L. TOMSETH
- embassy:
- Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
- mailing address:
- American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
- telephone:
- [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
Flag
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy
The government of Laos - one of the few | remaining official communist states - has been decentralizing | control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986.
21 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1993)
Installed generating capacity, 260,000 kW
Economic overview
The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure.
It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country.
For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.
Agriculture
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Illicit drugs
- world's third largest opium producer (180 metric tons from nearly 20,000 hectares in 1995);
- heroin producer;
- increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma;
- illicit producer of cannabis
Exports
$278 million (f.o.b., 1994)
- commodities:
- electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments
- partners:
- Thailand, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands
Imports
$486 million (c.i.f., 1994)
- commodities:
- food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
- partners:
- Thailand, China, Japan, France, US
Exchange rates
new kips (NK) per US$1 - 920 (1995), 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July 1993), 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 39 in all
Networkskm
Waterways
about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Communications
Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and | militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department
9 fieldsTelephone system
service to general public very poor; radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic service to government users
- domestic:
- radiotelephone communications
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Branches
Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department
Manpower availability
- males age 15-49:
- 1,087,264
- males fit for military service:
- 586,664
- males reach military age (18) annually:
- 53,250 (1996 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Laos.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/laos/1996.