Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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. 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, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southeast Asia
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 236,800 sq km
country comparison to the world: 84
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 5.91%
permanent crops: 0.42%
other: 93.67% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,100 sq km (2005)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
333.5 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3.49 cu km/yr (4%/5%/91%)
per capita: 588.9 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
floods, droughts
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6,695,166 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 35.5% (male 1,198,288/female 1,178,180)
15-24 years: 21.3% (male 706,679/female 716,368)
25-54 years: 34.6% (male 1,143,265/female 1,174,102)
55-64 years: 4.9% (male 160,650/female 166,605)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 113,301/female 137,728) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 63.8 %
youth dependency ratio: 57.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 %
potential support ratio: 16.1 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 21.6 years
male: 21.4 years
female: 21.9 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.63% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.23 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-1.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 34.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
VIENTIANE (capital) 799,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
470 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 21
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 56.13 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 34
male: 61.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 63.14 years
country comparison to the world: 182
male: 61.2 years
female: 65.17 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.98 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
38.4% (2005)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 180
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 179
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.6% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 13
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.3% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 135
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 72.7%
male: 82.5%
female: 63.2% (2005 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 175,138
percentage: 11 % (2006 est.)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form: Laos
local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form: Pathet Lao (unofficial)
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Communist state
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Vientiane (Viangchan)
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhouang
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Republic Day, 2 December (1975)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991; amended 2003 (2003)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law system similar in form to the French system
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 THONGSING Thammavong (since 24 December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Deputy Prime Ministers 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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for five-year term
election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGSING Thammavong elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral National Assembly (132 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 April 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 128, independents 4
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): People's Supreme Court (consists of NA judges)
judge selection and term of office: president of People's Supreme Court elected by National Assembly on recommendation of National Assembly Standing Committee; vice president of People's Supreme Court and judges appointed by National Assembly Standing Committee; term of office NA
subordinate courts: provincial, municipal, district, and military courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador SENG Soukhathivong (since 4 June 2010)
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador David A. CLUNE (since 16 September 2013)
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26-7000
FAX: [856] 21-26-7190
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elephant
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party 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 from 1988-2008 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Laos' growth exceeded 7% per year during 2008-12. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a basic, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal land-line telecommunications. Electricity is available 75% of the country. Laos' economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The labor force, however, still relies on agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, which accounts for about 30% of GDP and 75% of total employment. Economic growth has reduced official poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2010. The economy also has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction though some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts. Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004. On the fiscal side, Laos initiated a VAT tax system in 2010. Simplified investment procedures and expanded bank credits for small farmers and small entrepreneurs will improve Laos'' economic prospects. The government appears committed to raising the country''s profile among investors, opening the country''s first stock exchange in 2011 and participating in regional economic cooperation initiatives. Laos was admitted to the WTO in 2012. The World Bank has declared that Laos'' goal of graduating from the UN Development Program''s list of least-developed countries by 2020 is achievable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$18.92 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.047 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 69%
government consumption: 9.9%
investment in fixed capital: 29.6%
investment in inventories: -1.3%
exports of goods and services: 39.6%
imports of goods and services: -46.8%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 26%
industry: 34%
services: 40% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; cassava (manioc), water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mining (copper, tin, gold, and gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.308 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 75.1%
industry and services: NA (2010 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
36.7 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 81
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $2.122 billion
expenditures: $2.25 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-1.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
49.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 October - 30 September
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.3% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 92
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22.3% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.154 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.556 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.034 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-315.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.984 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold, cassava
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Thailand 34%, China 21.5%, Vietnam 12.2% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.744 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Thailand 62.1%, China 16.2%, Vietnam 7.3% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$796.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.288 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
kips (LAK) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.629 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.355 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.02 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.895 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
97.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 150
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,391 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,160 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 156
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.404 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
112,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.492 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 99
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: service to general public is improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: 4 service providers with mobile cellular usage growing very rapidly
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China (2012)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 (2012)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.la
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,532 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 166
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
300,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 130
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
41 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 103
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m:
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
refined products 540 km (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 39,568 km
country comparison to the world: 89
paved: 530 km
unpaved: 39,038 km (2007)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4,600 km (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 24
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18-months (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,574,362
females age 16-49: 1,607,856 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,111,629
females age 16-49: 1,190,035 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 71,400
female: 73,038 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 393
Military - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 River Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River and its tributaries will affect water levels; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive upstream dam construction