| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Southeast Asia |
| Geographical Location |
18° 00' North Latitude
105° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
236,800 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) |
| Natural Resources |
Timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Lao People's Democratic Republic |
| Capital City |
Vientiane |
| Government Type |
Communist state |
| 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, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*,
Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang |
| Independence Day |
19 July 1949 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
6,217,141 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Lao or Laotian |
| Ethnic Groups |
Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% |
| Religion |
Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) |
| Languages |
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.42% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Kip (LAK) |
| Industries |
Tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism |
| Labor Force |
2.6 million (2001 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 80% (1997 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry |
| Export Commodities |
Garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin |
| Export Partners |
Thailand 19%, Vietnam 16.4%, France 7.9%, Germany 5.6%, UK 4.9% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods |
| Import Partners |
Thailand 60.5%, China 9.2%, Vietnam 8.7% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
21,716 km |
| Pipelines |
Refined products 540 km (2004) |
| Airports |
44 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
- |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+856 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.la |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
Laos was under the control 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. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise,
a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997. |
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