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

1 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.la

Internet users [time series]

10,000 (2002)

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]

$2.53 billion (1999)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37 (1997)

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% in 1988-2001 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a 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 economy will continue to benefit from aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food-processing and mining.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

690.6 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

400 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

142 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.02 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 2% hydro: 98% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

kips per US dollar - 9,467.00 (December 2001), 8,954.58 (2001), 7,887.64 (2000), 7,102.03 (1999), 3,298.33 (1998), 1,259.98 (1997)

Exports [time series]

$325 million (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin

Exports - partners [time series]

Thailand 20%, France 7.5%, Germany 5.9%, UK 4.1%, Belgium 4% (2000)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

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

purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (2001 est.)

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

agriculture: 53% industry: 22% services: 25% (2000 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $1,630 (2001 est.)

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

5% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 31% (1997)

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel

Imports - partners [time series]

Thailand 52%, Singapore 3.9%, Japan 1.6%, Hong Kong 1.5%, China 0.8% (2000)

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]

10% (2001 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.4 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

40% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.7% (1997 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 236,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km land: 230,800 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; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

Irrigated land [time series]

1,640 sq km 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: 3.47% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 96.3% (1998 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

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 short form: none local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas A. HARTWICK embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: [856] (21) 212584

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27 March 2001) head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27 March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since NA May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March 2001), and Deputy Prime Minister 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 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); 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%

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, 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 (109 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election) elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109

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; including Riverine Force), 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: 1,365,027 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 734,945 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 64,437 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.5% (male 1,233,659; female 1,219,872) 15-64 years: 54.2% (male 1,543,246; female 1,591,419) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 86,375; female 102,609) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2002 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]

90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.88 years female: 55.87 years (2002 est.) male: 51.95 years

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 (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

5,777,180 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.47% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)

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: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

demarcation of boundaries with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam is nearing completion, but with Thailand, several areas including Mekong River islets, remain in dispute; ongoing disputes with Thailand and Vietnam over squatters

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 2002 - 23,200 hectares, a 5% increase over 2001; estimated potential production in 2002 - 180 metric tons, a 10% decrease from 2001); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamine produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis; growing methamphetamine abuse problem

Airports [time series]

51 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 26 (2002)

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/3,110 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 136 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

0 km (2001)

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