Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.la

Internet users [time series]

2,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios [time series]

730,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving, with over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

25,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4,915 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (1999)

Televisions [time series]

52,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $211 million expenditures: $462 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY98/99 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

kip (LAK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

LAK

Debt - external [time series]

$2.46 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$345 million (1999 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% during 1988-97. Reform efforts subsequently slowed, and GDP growth dropped an average of 3 percentage points. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it was damaged by the regional financial crisis beginning in 1997. Government mismanagement deepened the crisis, and from June 1997 to June 1999 the Lao kip lost 87% of its value. Laos' foreign exchange problems peaked in September 1999 when the kip fell from 3,500 kip to the dollar to 9,000 kip to the dollar in a matter of weeks. Now that the currency has stabilized, however, the government seems content to let the current situation persist, despite limited government revenue and foreign exchange reserves. A landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, Laos 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. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

173.6 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

705 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

142 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

792 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 2.78% hydro: 97.22% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

kips per US dollar - 7,578.00 (December 2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997), 921.02 (1996)

Exports [time series]

$323 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin

Exports - partners [time series]

Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France, Belgium

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

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

purchasing power parity - $9 billion (2000 est.)

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

agriculture: 51% industry: 22% services: 27% (1999 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2000 est.)

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

4% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$540 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel

Imports - partners [time series]

Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Hong Kong

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.5% (1999 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

33% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1 million - 1.5 million

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

46.1% (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.7% (1997 est.)

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]

unexploded ordnance; 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, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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.) note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 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, west of Vietnam

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

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

Capital [time series]

Vientiane

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Karen Brevard STEWART embassy: 19 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 VANG Rattanavong chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since NA March 2001) head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since NA March 2001); Deputy Prime Ministers THONGLOUN Sisolit (since NA March 2001), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998) 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 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon 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, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, 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 (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - by presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99) elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

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

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or 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

Background [time series]

In 1975 the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, an easing of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.

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

Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$55 million (FY98)

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

4.2% (FY96/97)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,319,537 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 710,627 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 64,437 (2001 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.75% (male 1,212,577; female 1,196,795) 15-64 years: 53.94% (male 1,494,927; female 1,544,851) 65 years and over: 3.31% (male 85,632; female 101,185) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.84 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.02 deaths/1,000 population (2001 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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.05% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

130 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1,400 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

92.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.48 years male: 51.58 years female: 55.44 years (2001 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57% male: 70% female: 44% (1999 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 (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

5,635,967 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.48% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.12 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1999 - 21,800 hectares, a 16% decrease over 1998; estimated potential production in 1999 - 140 metric tons, about the same as in 1998); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis

Airports [time series]

51 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 25 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 14,000 km paved: 3,360 km unpaved: 10,640 km (1991)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 136 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

4,587 km approximately note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m