Laos

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Introduction - Laos:
Country	Laos


Background	Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came 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 and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.


Location - Laos:
Location	Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates	18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references	Southeast Asia

Area	total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area comparative	slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries	total: 5,083 km border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline	0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims	none (landlocked)

Climate	tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Terrain	mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation extremes	lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources	timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use	arable land: 4.01% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 95.65% (2005)

Irrigated land	1,750 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards	floods, droughts

Environment current issues	unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment international agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 - Laos:
Population	6,521,998 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure	0-14 years: 41.2% (male 1,349,352/female 1,338,252) 15-64 years: 55.7% (male 1,795,029/female 1,835,168) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 90,188/female 114,009) (2007 est.)

Median age	total: 19 years male: 18.7 years female: 19.3 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate	2.37% (2007 est.)

Birth rate	34.98 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate	11.28 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio	at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.008 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.978 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.791 male(s)/female total population: 0.984 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate	total: 81.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 90.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 71.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth	total population: 55.89 years male: 53.82 years female: 58.04 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate	4.59 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	0.1% (2003 est.)

Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	1,700 (2003 est.)

Hiv aids deaths	less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality	noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: 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%

Religions	Buddhist 65%, animist 32.9%, Christian 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.8% (1995 census)

Languages	Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 68.7% male: 77% female: 60.9% (2001 est.)

Government - Laos:
Country name	conventional long form: Lao Peoples Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none

Government type	Communist state

Capital	name: Vientiane geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions	15 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Independence	19 July 1949 (from France)

National holiday	Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

Constitution	promulgated 14 August 1991

Legal system	based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage	18 years of age; universal

Executive branch	chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006) head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001) cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by National Assembly for five-year term election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%

Legislative branch	unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2

Judicial branch	Peoples Supreme Court (the president of the Peoples Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the Peoples Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee)

Political parties and leaders	Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders	noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

International organization participation	ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the us	chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation from the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam Road, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] 21-26 7000 FAX: [856] 21-26 7074

Flag description	three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Economy - Laos:
Economy overview	The government of Laos, one of the few remaining official Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year in 1988-2006 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with possible support from Japan. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid by the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in hydropower and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policy changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is taking steps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years; the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the business environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime, slated to begin in 2008, will streamline the governments inefficient tax system.

Gdp purchasing power parity	$13.63 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate	$2.773 billion (2006 est.)

Gdp real growth rate	7.4% (2006 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp	$2,100 (2006 est.)

Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 43.4% industry: 30.6% services: 26% (2006 est.)

Labor force	2.1 million (2006 est.)

Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate	2.4% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line	30.7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)

Distribution of family income gini index	37 (1997)

Inflation rate consumer prices	6.8% (2006 est.)

Budget	revenues: $400 million expenditures: $537.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

Agriculture products	sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Industries	copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement

Industrial production growth rate	15.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity production	3.936 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption	3.26 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity exports	600 million kWh (2004)

Electricity imports	200 million kWh (2004)

Oil production	0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil consumption	3,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exports	NA bbl/day

Oil imports	NA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves	0 bbl

Natural gas production	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption	0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance	-$504.2 million (2006 est.)

Exports	$982.2 million (2006 est.)

Exports commodities	garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin

Exports partners	Thailand 42.4%, Vietnam 10%, China 4.2%, Malaysia 4.2% (2006)

Imports	$1.376 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports commodities	machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports partners	Thailand 69%, China 11.4%, Vietnam 5.6% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$316.9 million (2006 est.)

Debt external	$3.179 billion (2006)

Economic aid recipient	$379 million (2006 est.)

Currency code	kip (LAK)

Exchange rates	kips per US dollar - 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002)

Communications - Laos:
Fiscal year	1 October - 30 September

Telephones main lines in use	90,067 (2006)

Telephones mobile cellular	638,200 (2006)

Telephone system	general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: radiotelephone communications international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations	AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2006)

Television broadcast stations	7 (includes 1 station relaying Vietnam Television from Hanoi) (2006)

Internet country code	.la

Internet hosts	1,108 (2006)

Internet users	25,000 (2005)

Transportation - Laos:
Airports	44 (2006)

Airports with paved runways	total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runways	total: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Pipelines	refined products 540 km (2006)

Roadways	total: 31,210 km paved: 4,494 km unpaved: 26,716 km (2003)

Waterways	4,600 km note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2007)

Merchant marine	total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT by type: cargo 1 (2006)

Military - Laos:
Military branches	Lao Peoples Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force

Military service age and obligation	15 years of age for compulsory military service; minimum 18-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service	males age 15-49: 1,500,625 females age 15-49: 1,521,116 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service	males age 15-49: 954,816 females age 15-49: 1,006,082 (2005 est.)

Military note	Laos is one of the worlds least developed countries; the Lao Peoples Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; there is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces gradual degradation is likely to continue; the massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border (2005)

Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 73,167 females age 15-49: 71,432 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures percent of gdp	0.5% (2006)

Disputes international	Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; concern among Mekong Commission members that Chinas construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels