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Laos
Main Page
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Background:
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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. In late 2009,
Thailand returned to Laos about 3,000
Hmong residing in refugee camps.
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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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Map
references:
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Southeast
Asia
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Area:
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total:
236,800
sq km
country
comparison to the world:
83
land:
230,800
sq km
water:
6,000
sq km
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Area
- comparative:
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slightly
larger than Utah
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Land
boundaries:
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total:
5,083
km
border
countries: Burma
235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,
Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
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Coastline:
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0
km (landlocked)
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Maritime
claims:
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none
(landlocked)
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Climate:
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Current
Weather
tropical
monsoon; rainy season (May to
November); dry season (December to
April)
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Terrain:
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mostly
rugged mountains; some plains and
plateaus
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Elevation
extremes:
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lowest
point: Mekong
River 70 m
highest
point: Phu
Bia 2,817 m
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Natural
resources:
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timber,
hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold,
gemstones
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Land
use:
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arable
land: 4.01%
permanent
crops: 0.34%
other:
95.65%
(2005)
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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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Freshwater
withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total:
3
cu km/yr (4%/6%/90%)
per
capita: 507
cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural
hazards:
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floods,
droughts
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Environment
- current issues:
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unexploded
ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion;
most of the population does not have
access to potable water
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Environment
- international agreements:
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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
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Geography
- note:
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landlocked;
most of the country is mountainous and
thickly forested; the Mekong River
forms a large part of the western
boundary with Thailand
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Population:
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6,368,162
(July 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
104 |
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Age
structure:
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0-14
years: 40.8%
(male 1,399,674/female 1,386,526)
15-64
years: 56.2%
(male 1,900,638/female 1,938,165)
65
years and over: 3.1%
(male 90,144/female 119,198) (2010
est.)
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Median
age:
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total:
20.7
years
male:
20.4
years
female:
21
years (2010 est.)
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Population
growth rate:
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1.712%
(2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
72 |
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Birth
rate:
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26.57
births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
55 |
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Death
rate:
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8.28
deaths/1,000 population (July 2010
est.)
country
comparison to the world:
95 |
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Net
migration rate:
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-1.18
migrant(s)/1,000 population
country
comparison to the world:
160 |
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Urbanization:
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urban
population: 31%
of total population (2008)
rate
of urbanization: 5.6%
annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex
ratio:
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at
birth: 1.04
male(s)/female
under
15 years: 1.01
male(s)/female
15-64
years: 0.98
male(s)/female
65
years and over: 0.75
male(s)/female
total
population: 0.98
male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant
mortality rate:
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total:
61.19
deaths/1,000 live births
country
comparison to the world:
35
male:
67.36
deaths/1,000 live births
female:
54.78
deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life
expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 62
years
country
comparison to the world:
181
male:
60.14
years
female:
63.94
years (2010 est.)
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Total
fertility rate:
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3.22
children born/woman (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
56 |
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HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate:
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0.2%
(2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
100 |
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HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS:
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5,500
(2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
122 |
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HIV/AIDS
- deaths:
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fewer
than 100 (2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
140 |
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Major
infectious diseases:
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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
(2008) (2009)
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Nationality:
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noun:
Lao(s)
or Laotian(s)
adjective:
Lao
or Laotian
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Ethnic
groups:
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Lao
55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over
100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005
census)
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Religions:
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Buddhist
67%, Christian 1.5%, other and
unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
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Languages:
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Lao
(official), French, English, and
various ethnic languages
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Literacy:
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definition:
age
15 and over can read and write
total
population: 73%
male:
83%
female:
63%
(2005 Census)
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School
life expectancy (primary to tertiary
education):
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total:
9
years
male:
10
years
female:
9
years (2008)
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Education
expenditures:
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2.3%
of GDP (2008)
country
comparison to the world:
164
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Country
name:
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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)
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Government
type:
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Communist
state
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Capital:
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name:
Vientiane
(Viangchan)
geographic
coordinates: 17
58 N, 102 36 E
time
difference: UTC+7
(12 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
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Administrative
divisions:
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16
provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon
luang, singular and plural); Attapu,
Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak,
Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha,
Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali,
Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan
(Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli,
Xekong, Xiangkhoang
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Independence:
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19
July 1949 (from France)
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National
holiday:
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Republic
Day, 2 December (1975)
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Constitution:
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promulgated
14 August 1991; amended in 2003
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Legal
system:
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based
on traditional customs, French legal
norms and procedures, and socialist
practice; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18
years of age; universal
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Executive
branch:
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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); Deputy Prime
Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since
May 2002), Lt. 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 )
elections:
president
and vice president elected by National
Assembly for five-year terms; election
last held on 8 June 2006 (next to be
held in 2011); 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 - 100%; BOUASONE
Bouphavanh elected prime minister;
percent of National Assembly vote -
97%
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Legislative
branch:
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unicameral
National Assembly (115 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 30 on April 2006 (next to be held
in 2011)
election
results: percent
of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- LPRP 113, independents 2
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Judicial
branch:
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People's
Supreme Court (the president of the
People's Supreme Court is elected by
the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the National
Assembly Standing Committee; the vice
president of the People's Supreme
Court and the judges are appointed by
the National Assembly Standing
Committee)
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Political
parties and leaders:
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Lao
People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI
Saignason]; other parties proscribed
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Political
pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International
organization participation:
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ADB,
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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Diplomatic
representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador
SENG Soukhathivong
chancery:
2222
S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1]
(202) 332-6416
FAX:
[1]
(202) 332-4923
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Diplomatic
representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador
Karen B. STEWART
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
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Flag
description:
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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 Pathet Lao, as
well as the country's bright future
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National
anthem:
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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
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Economy
- overview:
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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.
Despite this high growth rate, Laos
remains a country with an
underdeveloped infrastructure,
particularly in rural areas. It has a
rudimentary, but improving, road
system, and limited external and
internal telecommunications.
Electricity is available in urban
areas and in many rural districts.
Subsistence agriculture, dominated by
rice cultivation in lowland areas,
accounts for about 30% of GDP and
provides 80% of total employment. The
government in FY08/09 received $560
million from international donors.
Economic growth has reduced official
poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26%
in 2009. The economy has benefited
from high foreign investment in
hydropower, mining, and construction.
Laos gained Normal Trade Relations
status with the US in 2004, and is
taking steps required to join the
World Trade Organization, such as
reforming import licensing. Related
trade policy reforms will improve the
business environment. On the fiscal
side, Laos launched an effort to
ensure the collection of taxes in 2009
as the global economic slowdown
reduced revenues from mining projects.
Simplified investment procedures and
expanded bank credits for small
farmers and small entrepreneurs will
improve Lao's economic prospects. The
government appears committed to
raising the country's profile among
investors. The World Bank has declared
that Laos's goal of graduating from
the UN Development Program's list of
least-developed countries by 2020 is
achievable. According Laotian
officials, the 7th Socio-Economic
Development Plan for 2011-15 will
outline efforts to achieve Millennium
Development Goals.
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GDP
(purchasing power parity):
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$15.42
billion (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
135
$14.41
billion (2009 est.)
$13.53
billion (2008 est.)
note:
data
are in 2010 US dollars
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GDP
(official exchange rate):
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$6.341
billion (2010 est.)
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GDP
- real growth rate:
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7%
(2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
24
6.5%
(2009 est.)
7.2%
(2008 est.)
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GDP
- per capita (PPP):
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$2,400
(2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
180
$2,300
(2009 est.)
$2,200
(2008 est.)
note:
data
are in 2010 US dollars
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GDP
- composition by sector:
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agriculture:
29.8%
industry:
31.7%
services:
38.5%
(2010 est.)
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Labor
force:
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3.65
million (2009 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
94 |
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Labor
force - by occupation:
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agriculture:
80%
industry
and services: 20%
(2009 est.)
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Unemployment
rate:
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2.5%
(2009 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
21
2.4%
(2005 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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26%
(2009 est.)
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Household
income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest
10%: 3.4%
highest
10%: 28.5%
(2002)
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Distribution
of family income - Gini index:
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34.6
(2002)
country
comparison to the world:
88
37
(1997)
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Inflation
rate (consumer prices):
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6.2%
(2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
165
0%
(2009 est.)
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Central
bank discount rate:
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4.3%
(31 December 2010)
country
comparison to the world:
108
4%
(31 December 2009)
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Commercial
bank prime lending rate:
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26%
(31 December 2010)
country
comparison to the world:
83
11%
(30 November 2009)
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Stock
of narrow money:
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$630
million (31 December 2010 est)
country
comparison to the world:
150
$691.1
million (31 December 2009)
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Stock
of broad money:
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$1.818
billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
144
$1.549
billion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Stock
of domestic credit:
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$1.562
billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
134
$1.095
billion (31 December 2009 est.)
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Agriculture
- products:
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sweet
potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee,
sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea,
peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs,
cattle, poultry
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Industries:
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copper,
tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber,
electric power, agricultural
processing, construction, garments,
cement, tourism
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Industrial
production growth rate:
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12%
(2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
9 |
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Electricity
- production:
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1.656
billion kWh (2009 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
137 |
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Electricity
- consumption:
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1.798
billion kWh (2009 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
137 |
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Electricity
- exports:
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230
million kWh (2009 est.)
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Electricity
- imports:
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819.5
million kWh (2009 est.)
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Oil
- production:
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0
bbl/day (2009 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
157 |
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Oil
- consumption:
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3,000
bbl/day (2009 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
179 |
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Oil
- exports:
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0
bbl/day (2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
187 |
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Oil
- imports:
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3,080
bbl/day (2007 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
168 |
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Oil
- proved reserves:
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NA
bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
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Natural
gas - production:
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0
cu m (2008 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
168 |
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Natural
gas - consumption:
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0
cu m (2008 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
122 |
|
Natural
gas - exports:
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0
cu m (2008 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
165 |
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Natural
gas - imports:
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0
cu m (2008 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
154 |
|
Natural
gas - proved reserves:
|
0
cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
156 |
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Current
account balance:
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-$23
million (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
64
-$356
million (2009 est.)
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Exports:
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$1.215
billion (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
146
$1.104
billion (2009 est.)
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Exports
- commodities:
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wood
products, coffee, electricity, tin,
copper, gold
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Exports
- partners:
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Thailand
29.18%, China 15.04%, Vietnam 14.96%,
UK 4.29% (2009)
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Imports:
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$1.504
billion (2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
161
$1.308
billion (2009 est.)
|
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Imports
- commodities:
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machinery
and equipment, vehicles, fuel,
consumer goods
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Imports
- partners:
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Thailand
66.2%, China 11.45%, Vietnam 5.3%
(2009)
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Reserves
of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$756
million (31 December 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
114
$712.4
million (31 December 2009 est.)
|
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Debt
- external:
|
$3.085
billion (2009 est.)
country
comparison to the world:
126
$3.179
billion (2006 est.)
|
|
Exchange
rates:
|
kips
(LAK) per US dollar - 8,320.27 (2010),
8,516.04 (2009), 8,760.69 (2008),
9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006)
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Telephones
- main lines in use:
|
132,200
(2009)
country
comparison to the world:
137 |
|
Telephones
- mobile cellular:
|
3.235
million (2009)
country
comparison to the world:
111 |
|
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:
multiple
service providers; 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
(2008)
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Broadcast
media:
|
2
television stations operating out of
Vientiane - 1 government-operated and
the other jointly-owned by the
government and a Thai company; roughly
15 provincial stations operating with
nearly all programming relayed via
satellite from the government-operated
station in Vientiane; relays from
Hanoi provide access to a Vietnamese
television station; 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, 2 SW, and 2 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 (2008)
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|
Internet
country code:
|
.la
|
|
Internet
hosts:
|
1,468
(2010)
country
comparison to the world:
161 |
|
Internet
users:
|
300,000
(2009)
country
comparison to the world:
130
|
|
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Airports:
|
41
(2010)
country
comparison to the world:
102 |
|
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
(2010)
|
|
Airports
- with unpaved runways:
|
total:
32
1,524
to 2,437 m: 2
914
to 1,523 m: 9
under
914 m: 21
(2010)
|
|
Pipelines:
|
refined
products 540 km (2009)
|
|
Roadways:
|
total:
36,831
km
country
comparison to the world:
93
paved:
4,811
km
unpaved:
32,020
km (2007)
|
|
Waterways:
|
4,600
km
country
comparison to the world:
24
note:
primarily
Mekong and tributaries; 2,900
additional km are intermittently
navigable by craft drawing less than
0.5 m (2010)
|
|
Merchant
marine:
|
total:
1
country
comparison to the world:
157
by
type: cargo
1 (2008)
|
|
|
|
Military
branches:
|
Lao
People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao
People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine
Force), Air Force (2010)
|
|
Military
service age and obligation:
|
18
years of age for compulsory military
service; minimum 18-month conscript
service obligation (2010)
|
|
Manpower
available for military service:
|
males
age 16-49: 1,633,725
females
age 16-49: 1,654,235
(2010 est.)
|
|
Manpower
fit for military service:
|
males
age 16-49: 1,056,050
females
age 16-49: 1,121,640
(2010 est.)
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Manpower
reaching militarily significant age
annually:
|
male:
77,910
female:
77,761
(2010 est.)
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Military
expenditures:
|
0.5%
of GDP (2006)
country
comparison to the world:
164 |
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Military
- note:
|
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)
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Transnational
Issues ::Laos |
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
China's construction of dams on the
Mekong River will affect water levels
|
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Illicit
drugs:
|
estimated
opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was
1,900 hectares, about a 73% increase
from 2007; estimated potential opium
production in 2008 more than tripled
to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated
reports of domestic methamphetamine
production; growing domestic
methamphetamine problem (2007)
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