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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane - 3 government-operated and the others commercial; 17 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated stations in Vientiane; Chinese and Vietnamese programming relayed via satellite from Lao National TV; broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; 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 - 1 AM, 1 SW, and 3 FM; LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible (2012)

Internet country code [time series]

.la

Internet users [time series]

total: 1.258 million | percent of population: 18.2% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: service to public is generally improving; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas | domestic: mobile cellular network coverage including 3G is relatively widespread, although usage has slowed as the regulator imposed a strict policy on pricing and competition is effectively discouraged; network performance has suffered because of insufficient maintenance and upgrades | international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 1,266,605 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 3.727 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; cassava (manioc, tapioca), water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.921 billion | expenditures: $3.824 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-6.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.3% (31 December 2010) | 4% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 84

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

18% (31 December 2016 est.) | 18.2% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.678 billion (2016 est.) | $-2.265 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Debt - external [time series]

$12.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $11.65 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

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

36.7 (2008) | 34.6 (2002) | country comparison to the world: 84

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. Economic growth averaged more than 6% per year in the period 1988-2008, and Laos' growth has more recently been amongst the fastest in Asia, averaging nearly 8% per year for most of the last decade. However, growth has declined over the past year and is expected to be about 6.8% in 2017, according to the IMF. | Nevertheless, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a basic, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal land-line telecommunications. Electricity is available to 83% of the population. Agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 25% of GDP and 73% of total employment. Recently, the country has faced a persistent current account deficit, falling foreign currency reserves, and growing public debt, as slow recovery of the global economy, especially that of China, has driven down the prices of its mineral exports. | Laos' economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The economy has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower dams along the Mekong River, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction, although some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts. | Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004 and applied for Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in 2013 after being admitted to the World Trade Organization earlier in the year. Laos held the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2016. Laos is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among foreign investors and has developed special economic zones replete with generous tax incentives, but a limited labor pool, a small domestic market, and corruption remain impediments to investment. Laos also has ongoing problems with the business environment, including onerous registration requirements, a gap between legislation and implementation, and unclear or conflicting regulations.

Exchange rates [time series]

kips (LAK) per US dollar - | 8,129.1 (2016 est.) | 8,129.1 (2015 est.) | 8,147.9 (2014 est.) | 8,049 (2013 est.) | 8,007.3 (2012 est.)

Exports [time series]

$2.705 billion (2016 est.) | $2.769 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Exports - commodities [time series]

wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold, cassava

Exports - partners [time series]

Thailand 40.1%, China 28.5%, Vietnam 13.7% (2016)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 October - 30 September

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$15.77 billion (2016 est.)

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

$45.25 billion (2016 est.) | $41.75 billion (2015 est.) | $38.5 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 114

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 21.6% | industry: 32.8% | services: 38.9% (2016 est.)

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

$6,900 (2016 est.) | $6,500 (2015 est.) | $6,200 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 165

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

7% (2016 est.) | 7.3% (2015 est.) | 7.6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Gross national saving [time series]

14.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 14.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | 19.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.3% | highest 10%: 30.3% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$5.547 billion (2016 est.) | $5.233 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports - partners [time series]

Thailand 64.6%, China 16.5%, Vietnam 9.4% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2% (2016 est.) | 1.3% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Labor force [time series]

3.521 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 73.1% | industry: 6.1% | services: 20.6% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$1.012 billion (2012 est.) | $576.8 million (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Population below poverty line [time series]

22% (2013 est.)

Public debt [time series]

67.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 65.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$940.1 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.058 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Stock of broad money [time series]

$8.197 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $7.341 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$15.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $12.44 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$8.381 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $7.288 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$1.243 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.192 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

21.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.5% (2016 est.) | 1.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

500,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - consumption [time series]

4.239 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Electricity - exports [time series]

8.469 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

1.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 210

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

98.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - imports [time series]

2.05 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

4.541 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - production [time series]

11.46 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 900,000 | electrification - total population: 87% | electrification - urban areas: 97% | electrification - rural areas: 82% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 158

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

3,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

3,480 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 236,800 sq km | land: 230,800 sq km | water: 6,000 sq km | country comparison to the world: 85

Area - comparative [time series]

about twice the size of Pennsylvania; 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 [time series]

mean elevation: 710 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m | highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, 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 River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

Irrigated land [time series]

3,100 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 5,274 km | border countries (5): Burma 238 km, Cambodia 555 km, China 475 km, Thailand 1,845 km, Vietnam 2,161 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 10.6% | arable land 6.2%; permanent crops 0.7%; permanent pasture 3.7% | forest: 67.9% | other: 21.5% (2011 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

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang

Capital [time series]

name: Vientiane (Viangchan) | geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E | time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Laos | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Constitution [time series]

previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991; amended 2003, 2015 (2016)

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: Mueang Lao (unofficial) | etymology: name means "Land of the Lao [people]"

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Rena BITTER (since 2 November 2016) | embassy: Thadeua Road, Kilometer 9, Ban Somvang Tai, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane | mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, Unit 46222, APO AP 96546-6222 | telephone: [856] 21-48-7000 | FAX: [856] 21-48-7190

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador MAI Xaignavong (since 3 August 2015) | chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 | FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923 | consulate(s): New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President BOUNNYANG Vorachit (since 20 April 2016); Vice President PHANKHAM Viphavan (since 20 April 2016) | head of government: Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 20 April 2016); Deputy Prime Ministers BOUNTHONG Chitmani, SONXAI Siphandon, SOMDI Douangdi (since 20 April 2016) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly | elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 20 April 2016 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for 5-year term | election results: BOUNNYANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; PHANKHAM Viphavan (LPRP) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulit (LPRP) elected prime minister; 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; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future

Government type [time series]

communist state

Independence [time series]

19 July 1949 (from France)

International law organization participation [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): People's Supreme Court (consists of the court president and organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers, each with a vice president and several judges) | judge selection and term of office: president of People's Supreme Court appointed by National Assembly on recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term; vice presidents of People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic on recommendation of the National Assembly; appointment of chamber judges NA; tenure of court vice presidents and chamber judges NA | subordinate courts: appellate courts; provincial, municipal, district, and military courts

Legal system [time series]

civil law system similar in form to the French system

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (149 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 144, independent 5

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People) | lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit | note: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy

National holiday [time series]

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

National symbol(s) [time series]

elephant; national colors: red, white, blue

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

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [BOUNNYANG Vorachit] | note: other parties proscribed

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

International Labor Organization

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.

Military and Security

Military - note [time series]

serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2012)

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

Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force (2011)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.2% of GDP (2013) | 0.22% of GDP (2012) | 0.23% of GDP (2011)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18-months (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 32.76% (male 1,180,227/female 1,154,550) | 15-24 years: 21.17% (male 749,312/female 759,677) | 25-54 years: 36.7% (male 1,290,768/female 1,324,390) | 55-64 years: 5.48% (male 190,627/female 199,673) | 65 years and over: 3.89% (male 125,682/female 151,800) (2017 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

26.5% (2011) | country comparison to the world: 22

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

49.8% (2011/12)

Death rate [time series]

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 60.2 | youth dependency ratio: 54 | elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 | potential support ratio: 16.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.3% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 147

Ethnic groups [time series]

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% | note: the Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be well over 200 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.3% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

<500 (2016 est.)

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

11,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

1.9% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 191

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 49.9 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 55.2 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 44.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.6 years | male: 62.6 years | female: 66.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 79.9% | male: 87.1% | female: 72.8% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2016)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

VIENTIANE (capital) 997,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

197 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Median age [time series]

total: 23 years | male: 22.7 years | female: 23.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

5.3% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 180

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population [time series]

7,126,706 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

1.51% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 11 years | male: 11 years | female: 11 years (2015)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.7 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 40.7% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 4.13% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; Cambodia and Laos have a longstanding border demarcation dispute; concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of eight dams on the Upper Mekong River and construction of more dams on its tributaries will affect water levels, sediment flows, and fisheries; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction for the same reasons

Illicit drugs [time series]

estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2015 was estimated to be 5,700 hectares, compared with 6,200 hectares in 2014; estimated potential production of between 84 and 176 mt of raw opium; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Laos is a source and, to a lesser extent, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Lao economic migrants may encounter conditions of forced labor or sexual exploitation in destination countries, most often Thailand; Lao women and girls are exploited in Thailand’s commercial sex trade, domestic service, factories, and agriculture; a small, possibly growing, number of Lao women and girls are sold as brides in China and South Korea and subsequently sex trafficked; Lao men and boys are victims of forced labor in the Thai fishing, construction, and agriculture industries; some Lao children, as well as Vietnamese and Chinese women and girls, are subjected to sex trafficking in Laos; other Vietnamese and Chinese, and possibly Burmese, adults and girls transit Laos for sexual and labor exploitation in neighboring countries, particularly Thailand | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Laos does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; authorities sustained moderate efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict trafficking offenders; the government failed to make progress in proactively identifying victims exploited within the country or among those deported from abroad; the government continues to rely almost entirely on local and international organizations to provide and fund services to trafficking victims; although Lao men and boys are trafficked, most protective services are only available to women and girls, and long-term support is lacking; modest prevention efforts include the promotion of anti-trafficking awareness on state-controlled media (2015)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

41 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 103

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 33 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 9 | under 914 m: 22 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

RDPL (2016)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 11 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,181,187 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,356,497 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

refined products 540 km (2013)

Roadways [time series]

total: 39,586 km | paved: 5,415 km | unpaved: 34,171 km (2009) | country comparison to the world: 89

Waterways [time series]

4,600 km (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 23