Laos
Lao People's Democratic RepublicSathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
communist party-led state
Laos as the 2024 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 153 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. Following more than 15 years of civil war, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government in 1975, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a one party--the Lao People's Revolutionary Party--communist state. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in the late 1980s. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.
In the 2010s, the country benefited from direct foreign investment, particularly in the natural resource and industry sectors. Construction of a number of large hydropower dams and expanding mining activities have also boosted the economy. Laos has retained its official commitment to communism and maintains close ties with its two communist neighbors, Vietnam and China, both of which continue to exert substantial political and economic influence on the country.
China, for example, provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in 2021. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from China. At the same time, Laos has expanded its economic reliance on the West and other Asian countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Nevertheless, despite steady economic growth for more than a decade, it remains one of Asia's poorest countries.
Geography
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
19 fieldsLand useshare of 236,800 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Population distribution
- 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
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
37 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2024 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2024 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2015 est.)
Religions(2015 est.)
Languages
Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages; major-language sample(s): ແຫລ່ງທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນຕົ້ນຕໍ່” (Lao); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Demographic profile
Laos is a predominantly rural country with a youthful population – almost 55% of the population is under the age of 25. Its progress on health and development issues has been uneven geographically, among ethnic groups, and socioeconomically. Laos has made headway in poverty reduction, with the poverty rate almost halving from 46% in 1992/93 to 22% in 2012/13.
Nevertheless, pronounced rural-urban disparities persist, and income inequality is rising. Poverty most affects populations in rural and highland areas, particularly ethnic minority groups.
The total fertility rate (TFR) has decreased markedly from around 6 births per woman on average in 1990 to approximately 2.8 in 2016, but it is still one of the highest in Southeast Asia. TFR is higher in rural and remote areas, among ethnic minority groups, the less-educated, and the poor;
it is lower in urban areas and among the more educated and those with higher incomes. Although Laos’ mortality rates have improved substantially over the last few decades, the maternal mortality rate and childhood malnutrition remain at high levels. As fertility and mortality rates continue to decline, the proportion of Laos’ working-age population will increase, and its share of dependents will shrink.
The age structure shift will provide Laos with the potential to realize a demographic dividend during the next few decades, if it can improve educational access and quality and gainfully employ its growing working-age population in productive sectors. Currently, Laos primary school enrollment is nearly universal, but the drop-out rate remains problematic. Secondary school enrollment has also increased but remains low, especially for girls.
Laos has historically been a country of emigration and internal displacement due to conflict and a weak economy. The Laos civil war (1953 – 1975) mainly caused internal displacement (numbering in the hundreds of thousands). Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, indigenous people in remote, war-struck areas were resettled and more than 300,000 people fled to Thailand to escape the communist regime that took power.
The majority of those who sought refuge in Thailand ultimately were resettled in the US (mainly Hmong who fought with US forces), and lesser numbers went to France, Canada, and Australia.
The Laos Government carried out resettlement programs between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s to relocate ethnic minority groups from the rural northern highlands to development areas in the lowlands ostensibly to alleviate poverty, make basic services more accessible, eliminate slash-and-burn agriculture and opium production, integrate ethnic minorities, and control rebel groups (including Hmong insurgents). For many, however, resettlement has exacerbated poverty, led to the loss of livelihoods, and increased food insecurity and mortality rates.
As the resettlement programs started to wane in the second half of the 1990s, migration from the northern highlands to urban centers – chiefly the capital Vientiane – to pursue better jobs in the growing manufacturing and service sectors became the main type of relocation. Migration of villagers from the south seeking work in neighboring Thailand also increased.
Thailand is the main international migration destination for Laotians because of the greater availability of jobs and higher pay than at home; nearly a million Laotian migrants were estimated to live in Thailand as of 2015.
Population distribution
- 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
Sex ratio
- 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.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 35.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
- male:
- 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 31.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Alcohol consumption per capita
- 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.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 7.1%
- women married by age 18:
- 32.7%
- men married by age 18:
- 10.8% (2017 est.)
Environment
12 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Environment - current issues
- unexploded ordnance;
- deforestation;
- soil erosion;
- loss of biodiversity;
- water pollution, most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements
- 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
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 38.2% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 21.15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 17.76 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 9 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 351,900 tons (2015 est.)
- municipal solid waste recycled annually:
- 35,190 tons (2015 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 10% (2015 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
- industrial:
- 170 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
- agricultural:
- 7.05 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Communist party-led state; President THONGLOUN Sisoulith (since 22 March 2021); Prime Minister SONEXAY (also spelled SONXAI) Siphandon (since 30 December 2022)
22 fieldsNational Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat, 164 seats, elected 21 February 2021one dot, one seat
Composition: men 128, women 36, percentage women 22%
Country name
- 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]"
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)
- etymology:
- the meaning in Pali, a Buddhist liturgical language, is "city of sandalwood"
Administrative divisions
- 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
Independence
19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991
- amendments:
- 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;
- amended 2003, 2015
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
- 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
Executive branch
- 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
- elections/appointments:
- president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits);
- election last held on 22 March 2021 (next to be held in March 2026);
- prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term
- 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
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (164 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 21 February 2021 (next to be held in 2026)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - LPRP 158, independent 6;
- composition - men 128, women 36, percentage women 22%
Judicial branch
- 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
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 (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Sisavath INPHACHANH (since 7 June 2022)
- 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/
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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/
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 Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future
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
National heritage
- 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
Economy
32 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2016 est.)
Budget(2022 est.)
Economic overview
- 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
Credit ratings
- Fitch rating:
- CCC (2020)
- Moody's rating:
- Caa2 (2020)
note: the year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture:
- 16.1% (2023 est.)
- industry:
- 30.5% (2023 est.)
- services:
- 44% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Agricultural products
cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, watermelons (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Labor force
3.174 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate
1.18% (2023 est.) · 1.21% (2022 est.) · 2% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total:
- 2.2% (2023 est.)
- male:
- 2.3% (2023 est.)
- female:
- 2.1% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Population below poverty line
18.3% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
38.8 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Average household expenditures
- on food:
- 50.5% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
- on alcohol and tobacco:
- 10.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Remittances
1.42% of GDP (2023 est.) · 1.55% of GDP (2022 est.) · 1.17% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Current account balance
-$10.954 million (2022 est.) · $446.505 million (2021 est.) · -$230.973 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports
$8.604 billion (2022 est.) · $7.82 billion (2021 est.) · $6.461 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
electricity, gold, rubber, fertilizers, paper (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$7.772 billion (2022 est.) · $6.527 billion (2021 est.) · $5.816 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, gold, electrical machinery, raw sugar, plastic products (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.77 billion (2023 est.) · $1.576 billion (2022 est.) · $1.951 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Exchange rates
kips (LAK) per US dollar - 17,688.874 (2023 est.) · 14,035.227 (2022 est.) · 9,697.916 (2021 est.) · 9,045.788 (2020 est.) · 8,679.409 (2019 est.)
Energy
7 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 12.222 million kW(2022 est.)
Coal
- production:
- 14.845 million metric tons (2022 est.)
- consumption:
- 13.691 million metric tons (2022 est.)
- exports:
- 845,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
- imports:
- 6,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 62 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
20.151 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 16.499 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 3.652 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2020–21 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- Laos joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013;
- one of the conditions of admittance was to establish an independent regulator for its telecom sector within two years;
- the government had committed to do so by February 2015 as part of the accession agreement;
- there still has been no sign of any firm plans being made to create an independent regulatory body;
- the Ministry of Technology and Communications retains the primary role in regulating the country’s telecom market;
- with the government also having a financial stake (in part or in whole) in every one of the major fixed-line and mobile operators, the MPT’s position and decision-making is far from what could be considered independent;
- sufficient returns on investment cannot be guaranteed with such strict pricing controls as well as the potential for political interference;
- fixed-line and mobile penetration levels have, as a result, remained much lower than what’s seen in neighboring South East Asian markets;
- there are signs of growth in the mobile broadband segment as LTE network coverage slowly widens and, more recently, the country’s first 5G services start to come on stream;
- residents in the capital will at least be able to enjoy high-speed services in the near future, while the rest of the country waits patiently to catch up with the rest of the world. (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line nearly 18 per 100 and 65 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)
- international:
- country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China
Broadcast media
- 6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane - 3 government-operated and the others commercial;
- 17 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated stations in Vientiane;
- Chinese and Vietnamese programming relayed via satellite from Lao National TV;
- broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas;
- 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 - 1 AM, 1 SW, and 3 FM;
- LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations;
- Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible
Transportation
8 fieldsNetworkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 1 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 12
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 1,251,961 (2018)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 1.53 million (2018) mt-km
Railways
- total:
- 422 km (2023)
- standard gauge:
- 422 km (2023) 1.435-m gauge (422 km overhead electrification)
Waterways
4,600 km (2012) (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m)
Military and Security
6 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2023)
Military and security forces
- Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF):
- Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Lao People's Air Force (LPAF), Self-Defense Militia Forces (2024)
note: the Ministry of Public Security maintains internal security and is responsible for law enforcement; it oversees local, traffic, immigration, and security police,
village police auxiliaries, and other armed police units
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the LPAF is armed with Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era equipment and weapons (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; minimum 18-month service obligation (2023)
Military - note
- the LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism;
- China, Russia, and Vietnam are the country's closest security partners (2023)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsTrafficking in persons
- tier rating:
- Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Laos was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List;
- for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report/laos/
Illicit drugs
- Laos remains a key transit route for drug trafficking and the movement of precursor chemicals;
- opium produced is typically smuggled out of the country and refined elsewhere and not trafficked in significant quantities to the United States
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Laos.” The World Factbook 2024. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/laos/2024.