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Description Laos
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Modern-day Laos has its roots in the archaic Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, conceived in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang have in hand boon reaching into present-day Cambodia to boot Thailand, through well being over aggregate of what is now Laos. After interval of evanescent decline, Laos develop into under the grasp of Siam (Thailand) inland the late 18th life until the late 19th centenary when it befit part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 on the nose the commonplace Lao communicate with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took supremacy of the superintendence negate a six-century-old monarchy as a consequence roast a strict socialist regime nicely follow to Vietnam. A mellow return to private endeavor increased the liberalization of unlikely investment laws kick off in 1988. Laos turn up a member of ASEAN in 1997.
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Location
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Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
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Geographic Coordinates
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18 00 N, 105 00 E
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Area - comparative
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slightly larger than Utah
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Coast line
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0 km (landlocked)
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Climate
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tropical monsoon; watery season (May to November); ironical season (December to April)
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Terrain Laos
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mostly rugged mountains; some plains besides plateaus
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Natural Resources Laos
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timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
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Irrigated land
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1,750 sq km (2003)
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Total Renewable Water Resources
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333.6 cu km (2003)
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Natural Hazards
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floods, droughts
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Environment Currentissues
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unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population go in for not have hustle to potable water
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Geography Note
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landlocked; most of the forests is mountainous as well as thickly forested; the Mekong River style a large part of the western outskirt with Thailand
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Population Laos
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6,993,767 (July 2010 est.)
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Population growth rate
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2.292% (2010 est.)
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Birth Rate
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33.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
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Death Rate
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10.52 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
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Netmigration Rate
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NA
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Total Fertility Rate
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4.33 dynasty born/woman (2010 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate
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0.2% (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids
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5,500 (2007 est.)
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Hiv/Aids Deaths
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seldom than 100 (2007 est.)
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Religions
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Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other besides unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
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Languages
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Lao (official), French, English, as well as various ethnic languages
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Education Expenditures
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3% of GDP (2006)
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Government Type
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16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) conjointly 1 kitty city* (nakhon luang, singular in like manner plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
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Administrative Divisions
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Communist state
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Independence
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Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
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National Holiday
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promulgated 14 August 1991; vary in 2003
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Constitution
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based on traditional customs, French legal norms besides procedures, massed socialist practice; has not countenance unconscious ICJ jurisdiction
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Legal System
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18 years of age; universal
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Suffrage
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unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members espouse by reason popular vote negative a list of nominee selected in consequence of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
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Legislative Branch
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People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court is exact at the hand of the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the People's Supreme Court moreover the judges get along prescribe in reach the National Assembly Standing Committee)
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Political Partie Sand Leaders
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NA
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Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders
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ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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International Organization Participation
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three clamp of red (top), improper (double width), conjointly red with a large white ring wrapped in the lecherous band
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Flag Description
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The domination of Laos, one of the not too many remaining one-party Communist states, don decentralizing run the show exceeding present private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting regional an powerful low base, were striking - prong stroke 6% per year diminished 1988-2008 evict just as the short-lived abjure weaken toward the Asian cash moment of truth that embark on in 1997. Despite this huge amassment rate, Laos remains a woods with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a rudimentary, only improving, road system, limited unusual in conjunction with deepest telecommunications. Electricity is close in urban frame additionally in many rural districts. Subsistence agriculture, detract from as a result rice advocacy in lowland areas, chronicle be short generally 30% of GDP furthermore provides 80% of total employment. The prerogative in FY08/09 received $560 million from well-traveled donors. Economic detour has reduced official poverty estimate now 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2009. The administration has puff hence arch of no importance investment in hydropower, mining, aggrandized construction. Laos get Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004, new is taking steps required to join the World Trade Organization, such in place of reforming import licensing. Related trade policy reforms will improve the handicraft environment. On the market side, Laos launched an transaction to see the notebook of taxes in 2009 in the name of the cosmogonal shrewd slowdown reduced revenues belonging mining projects. Simplified investment procedures another boost hall appreciation exact small cob more small sponsor will improve Lao's apt prospects. The containment enter send to provoke the country's profile surrounded by investors. The World Bank has advance that Laos's faith of regulate against the UN Development Program's list of least-developed state by 2020 is achievable. According Laotian officials, the 7th Socio-Economic Development Plan require 2011-15 will outline perseverance to succeed Millennium Development Goals.
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Economy Overview
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GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
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GDP (Official Exchange Rate)
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6.4% (2009 est.)
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GDP Real Growth Rate
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3.65 million (2009 est.)
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GDP Per Capita (PPP)
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2.5% (2009 est.)
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Labor Force
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26% (2009 est.)
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Unemployment Rate
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34.6 (2002)
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Population Below Poverty Line
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Distribution Of Family Income
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Unvestment Gross Fixed
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Inflation Rrate
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11% (30 November 2009)
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Central Bank Discount Rate
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$691.1 million (31 December 2009)
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Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
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$1.08 gobs (31 December 2009)
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Stock Of Money
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$832.2 million (31 December 2009)
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Stock Of Quasi Money
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Stock Of Domestic Credit
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sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
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Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
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copper, tin, gold, added adhesive mining; timber, bullish power, provincial processing, construction, garments, cement, tourism
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Agriculture - Products
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2.3% (2009 est.)
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Industries
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1.656 tons kWh (2009 est.)
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Industrial Production Growth Rate
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1.798 piles kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity Production
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230 million kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity Consumption
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819.5 million kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity Exports
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Electricity Imports
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3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil Production
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil Consumption
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3,080 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil Exports
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NA bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Oil Imports
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Oil Proved Reserves
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Production
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Consumption
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural Gas Exports
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0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Imports
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-$356 million (2009 est.)
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Natural Gas Proved Reserves
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$1.104 abundance (2009 est.)
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Current Account Balance
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wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold
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Exports
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Thailand 35.4%, Vietnam 15.5%, China 8.5% (2008)
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Exports Commodities
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$2.034 scads (2009 est.)
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Exports Partners
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machinery moreover equipment, vehicles, fuel, front goods
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Imports
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Thailand 68.3%, China 10.4%, Vietnam 5.8% (2008)
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Imports Commodities
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$712.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)
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Imports Partners
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$3.085 millions (2009 est.)
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Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold
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Debt - External
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Radio Broadcast Stations
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AM 3, FM 34, shortwave 3 (2010)
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Television Broadcast Stations
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28 (2010)
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Internet Country Code
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.la
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Airports
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41 (2009)
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Military Service Age and Obligation
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15 years of period feel the necessity for crucial military service; minimum 18-month oblige service obligation (2006)
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