Laos
Lao People's Democratic RepublicSathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Communist stateIndependence 19 July 1949 (from France)
Laos as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of | Vietnam
18 fieldsLand useshare of 236,800 sq km
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
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1999 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 45% (male 1,235,797; female 1,203,520)
- 15-64 years:
- 52% (male 1,360,991; female 1,434,378)
- 65 years and over:
- 3% (male 78,195; female 94,572) (1999 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.95 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.83 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Government
Communist state; President KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998); Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since 26 February 1998)
19 fieldsNational Assembly, 99 seats, elected 21 December 1997one dot, one seat
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
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
National holiday
National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998); Vice President OUDOM Khattiya (since 26 February 1998)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since 26 February 1998);
- Senior Deputy Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 20 April 1996);
- Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI Keoboualapha (since 15 August 1991), CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 26 February 1998), SOMSAVAT Lengsavad (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 Assembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee
Political pressure groups and leaders
noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation
ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador VANG Rattanavong
- chancery:
- 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN
- embassy:
- Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
- mailing address:
- American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
Flag description
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.
31 fieldsGDP--composition by sector(1998 est.)
Electricity
Economy--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 averaged 7% in 1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it fell victim to the financial crisis in the region beginning in 1997.
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 glutinous 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;
Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.
Industries
tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments
Agriculture--products
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exchange rates
new kips (NK) per US$1--4,217 (January 1999), 3,299.21 (1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995), 717.67 (1994) note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was adopted
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- service to general public is poor but improving, with over 28,000 telephones currently in service and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001;
- the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
- domestic:
- radiotelephone communications
- international:
- satellite earth station--1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Transportation
9 fieldsNetworkskm
Waterways
about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Military
Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia | element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air | Force, National Police Department
7 fieldsMilitary branches
Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsIllicit drugs
- world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1998--26,100 hectares, a 7% decrease over 1997; estimated potential production in 1998--140 metric tons, a 33% decrease over 1997);
- potential heroin producer;
- transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamines produced in Burma;
- illicit producer of cannabis
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Laos.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/laos/1999.