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Communications

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.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues : $218 million expenditures: $379 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 new kip (NK) = 100 at

Debt - external [time series]

$2 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - 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 - capacity [time series]

261,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

48 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

890 million kWh (1994)

Exchange rates [time series]

new kips (NK) per US$1 - 961.00 (January 1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995), 717.67 (1994), 716.25 (1993), 716.08 (1992) note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was adopted

Exports [time series]

total value: $240 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments partners : Thailand, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

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

purchasing power parity - $5.7 billion (1996 est.)

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

agriculture: 56% industry: 19% services: 25% (1995 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,150 (1996 est.)

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

7.5% (1996 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $570 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) 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) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

15% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.6% in urban areas (1994 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 236,800 sq km land : 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

landlocked

Irrigated land [time series]

1,250 sq km (1993 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 : 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other : 40% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

floods, droughts, and blight

Natural resources [time series]

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Terrain [time series]

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

promulgated 14 August 1991

Country name [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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (appointed 25 November 1992 by the Supreme People's Assembly to succeed KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN who died in office; elected by the new National Assembly 22 February 1993); Vice President SISAVAT KEOBOUNPHAN (since 20 April 1996 when the position of vice president was first created) head of government : Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991); Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since 15 August 1991) and BOUNGNANG VOLACHIT (since 20 April 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly elections : president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 22 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term election results: NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA

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

[1] (202) 332-4923

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

[856] (21) 212584

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

Communist state

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 National Assembly (85 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 85; note - the distribution of seats as of January 1997 is as follows - LPRP 78, independents 5, vacant 2

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Vientiane

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$105 million (FY92/93)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

8.1% (FY92/93)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,123,934 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males: 606,542 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males : 54,712 (1997 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 1,174,029; female 1,144,634) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,277,175; female 1,354,220) 65 years and over: 3% (male 76,544; female 90,357) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.25 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.4 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [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]

94.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population : 53.19 years male: 51.63 years female: 54.83 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

5,116,959 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.78% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

boundary dispute with Thailand

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's third largest opium producer (200 metric tons from some 25,250 hectares in 1996); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis LATVIA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

39 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 25 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m : 3 under 914 m: 16 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 18,153 km paved: 2,505 km unpaved: 15,648 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT (1996 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 136 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [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