›››
Lao PDR
Lao PDR
Population
7.8M
Rank #102Source: World Bank
Capital
Vientiane
Source: REST Countries
Region
Asia
East Asia & Pacific
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$16.50B
Rank #135Source: World Bank
Land Area
236.8K km²
Rank #83Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
68.964 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 236,800 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation: mean elevation: 710 m lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
Natural Hazards: floods, droughts
Environmental Issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to potable water
Land Use: agricultural land: 10.6% (2011 est.) forest: 67.9% (2011 est.) other: 21.5% (2011 est.)
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
Natural Resources
timberhydropowergypsumtingoldgemstones
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.42
Population
7.8M
Ethnic Groups
Lao (53.2%)Khmou (11%)Hmong (9.2%)Phouthay (3.4%)Tai (3.1%)Makong (2.5%)Katong (2.2%)Lue (2%)Akha (1.8%)other (11.6%)
Religions
Buddhist (64.7%)Christian (1.7%)none (31.4%)other/not stated (2.1%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$2,123.979
GDP per Capita PPP
9,775.828
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
2,000
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
38.8
(2018)
(2018)
Unemployment
1.174%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
23.131%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
96.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
49.2%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
26.063 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
4.51 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
63.291%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
71.456% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
63.626%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
64.759%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
2.72%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
11.722 M ton-km
(2022)
(2022)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
10,963
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
60,340.91 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces
Personnel Strength
information is limited and estimates for the size of the Lao People’s Armed Forces (LPAF) vary; approximately 29,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 3500 Air Force); approximately 100,000...
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.02B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.19%
Military Expenditure History
0.2% of GDP (2013) 0.2% of GDP (2012) 0.2% of GDP (2011)
Equipment & Inventories
the LPAF is armed largely with weapons from the former Soviet Union with a smaller mix of more modern weapons from China, Russia, and Ukraine; since 2010, China and Russia are the top suppliers of...
Service Age & Obligation
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
49.323%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
93.851%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
51.852%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
14.884%
(2023)
(2023)
Education Spending
1.234% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
75.64%
(2023)
(2023)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
22.337:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.331
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
95.864%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
35.188%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
39 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
17.185 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
70.51
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
64
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
67%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
15.7%
(2018)
(2018)
Food Insecurity
Not Available
Youth NEET Rate
2.258%
(2022)
(2022)
Governance
Women in Government
21.951%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-1.63
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.81
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.64
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.93
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.83
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.97
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
communist state
Legal System
civil law system similar in form to the French system
Executive Branch
chief of state: President BOUNNYANG Vorachit (since 20 April 2016); Vice President PHANKHAM Viphavan (since 20 April 2016) head of government: Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 20 April 2016);...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (149 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: 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...
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
elephant; national colors: red, white, blue
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...
Travel Information
Language(s): Lao
Currency: LAK (₭)
Timezone(s): UTC+07:00
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +856
Car Sign: LAO
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics. Located around the corner from the US Embassy in Vientiane, That Dam ("the black stupa") is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in Vientiane. Legend holds that a seven-headed dragon lives underneath the stupa and protects the city.
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics. Located around the corner from the US Embassy in Vientiane, That Dam ("the black stupa") is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in Vientiane. Legend holds that a seven-headed dragon lives underneath the stupa and protects the city. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
CIA World Factbook • 2020
CIA World Factbook • 2020
Nagas (serpent deities) adorn the staircase on the west side of Phou Si in the center of Louangphrabang, the former royal capital of Laos.
Nagas (serpent deities) adorn the staircase on the west side of Phou Si in the center of Louangphrabang, the former royal capital of Laos. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
population pyramid
population pyramid • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
10 photos available
View All Photos→Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data