Laos

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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. Following more than 15 years of civil war, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government in 1975, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a one party--the Lao People's Revolutionary Party--communist state. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in the late 1980s. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.<br><br>In the 2010s, the country benefited from direct foreign investment, particularly in the natural resource and industry sectors. Construction of a number of large hydropower dams and expanding mining activities have also boosted the economy. Laos has retained its official commitment to communism and maintains close ties with its two communist neighbors, Vietnam and China, both of which continue to exert substantial political and economic influence on the country. China, for example, provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in 2021. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from China. At the same time, Laos has expanded its economic reliance on the West and other Asian countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Nevertheless, despite steady economic growth for more than a decade, it remains one of Asia's poorest countries.

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Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

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18 00 N, 105 00 E

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Southeast Asia

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about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah

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0 km (landlocked)

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none (landlocked)

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

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mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

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timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

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4,410 sq km (2022)

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Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia

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floods, droughts

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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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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% (2015 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> the Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be well over 200

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Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1% (2015 est.)

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1.22% (2025 est.)

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19.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia

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721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)

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112 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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1.07 (2025 est.)

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0.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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5.3% (2016)

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24.3% (2023 est.)

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61.6% (2017 est.)

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unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution; limited access to potable water

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

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20.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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333.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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communist party-led state

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17 provinces (<em>khoueng</em>, singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* (<em>kampheng nakhon</em>); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Champasak, Houaphanh, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang (Luang Prabang), Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang

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civil law system similar in form to the French system

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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> President THONGLOUN Sisoulith is also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party

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Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP

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<strong>note:</strong>  other parties proscribed

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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

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19 July 1949 (from France); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)

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Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)

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<strong>description:</strong> three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double-width), and red, with a large white disk centered in the blue band<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and blue for the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk represents the full moon over the Mekong River and the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future

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elephant

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red, white, blue

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lower middle-income, industrial Southeast Asian economy; high inflation due to 2022 currency depreciation brought on by persistently high debt; new Laos-China railway and dry port; rising inequities; ongoing labor shortages

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$16.503 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, watermelons (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism

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3.9% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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3.585 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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18.3% (2018 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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12.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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China 39%, Thailand 34%, Australia 4%, USA 4%, Cambodia 2% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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electricity, fertilizers, gold, garments, paper (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Thailand 58%, China 36%, Japan 1%, Singapore 1%, Germany 1% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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refined petroleum, cars, raw sugar, plastic products, trucks (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<strong>note:</strong> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane, with half state-operated and half commercial; 17 provincial stations, with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the state-operated stations in Vientiane; 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; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible

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.la

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RDPL

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20 (2025)

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Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF; aka Lao People's Army): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Lao People's Air Force (LPAF); Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the Ministry of Public Security maintains internal security and is responsible for law enforcement; it oversees local, traffic, immigration, and security police, village police auxiliaries, and other armed police units

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information limited and varied; estimated 30,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 100,000 Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)

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the LPAF is armed with Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era equipment and weapons (2025)

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18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory military service for men 18-35 with a minimum 18-month service obligation (2025)

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the LPAF&rsquo;s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics operations, as well as protecting the regime; its defense partners include Cambodia, China, Russia, and Vietnam (2025)