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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $105 million, 8.1% of GDP (FY92/93)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,087,264 males fit for military service: 586,664 males reach military age (18) annually: 53,250 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

560,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

service to general public very poor; radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic service to government users domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

6,600 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

32,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $198 million expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 new kip (NK) = 100 at

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 260,000 kW production: 870 million kWh consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

new kips (NK) per US$1 - 920 (1995), 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July 1993), 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)

Exports [time series]

$278 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments partners: Thailand, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$2 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $5.2 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 50% industry: 17% services: 33% (1993)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$1,100 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

8% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's third largest opium producer (180 metric tons from nearly 20,000 hectares in 1995); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis

Imports [time series]

$486 million (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures partners: Thailand, China, Japan, France, US

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.5% (1992 est.)

Industries [time series]

tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

20% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1 million-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

21% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 236,800 sq km land area: 230,800 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Utah

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

landlocked

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

boundary dispute with Thailand

Irrigated land [time series]

1,554 sq km (1992 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 58% other: 35%

Location [time series]

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural resources [time series]

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Terrain [time series]

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Vientiane

Constitution [time series]

promulgated 14 August 1991

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416, 6417

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992) was elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly head of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991) was appointed for a five-year term by the president with the approval of the National Assembly; Deputy Prime Minister KHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since NA) cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[856] (21) 212584

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

19 July 1949 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none

Legislative branch (National Assembly) [time series]

members elected for five-year terms; elections last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (85 total) LPRP 85

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

Communist state

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Victor L. TOMSETH embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 1,142,825; female 1,114,628) 15-64 years: 51% (male 1,237,660; female 1,316,591) 65 years and over: 4% (male 75,748; female 88,320) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.83 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

96.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 52.69 years male: 51.14 years female: 54.31 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 56.6% male: 69.4% female: 44.4%

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

4,975,772 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.81% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.87 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 39 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 16 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 14,130 km paved: 2,261 km unpaved: 11,869 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 136 km

Ports [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m