Laos

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 183,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane, with half state-operated and half commercial; 17 provincial stations, with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the state-operated stations in Vientiane; 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; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible

Internet country code

.la

Internet users

percent of population: 64% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.3 million (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 4.96 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, watermelons (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 50.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $2.288 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $2.259 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

$404.523 million (2023 est.) -$458.754 million (2022 est.) $431.636 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$9.619 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

lower middle-income, industrial Southeast Asian economy; high inflation due to 2022 currency depreciation brought on by persistently high debt; new Laos-China railway and dry port; rising inequities; ongoing labor shortages

Exchange rates

kips (LAK) per US dollar - 17,688.874 (2023 est.) 14,035.227 (2022 est.) 9,697.916 (2021 est.) 9,045.788 (2020 est.) 8,679.409 (2019 est.)

Exports

$9.698 billion (2023 est.) $8.604 billion (2022 est.) $7.82 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

electricity, fertilizers, gold, garments, paper (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 39%, Thailand 34%, Australia 4%, USA 4%, Cambodia 2% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.503 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 65.7% (2016 est.) government consumption: 14% (2016 est.) investment in fixed capital: 29% (2016 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2016 est.) exports of goods and services: 33.2% (2016 est.) imports of goods and services: -41.9% (2016 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 16.8% (2024 est.) industry: 29% (2024 est.) services: 43.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

38.8 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 31.2% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$8.596 billion (2023 est.) $7.983 billion (2022 est.) $6.527 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, raw sugar, plastic products, trucks (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Thailand 58%, China 36%, Japan 1%, Singapore 1%, Germany 1% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

23.1% (2024 est.) 31.2% (2023 est.) 23% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

3.585 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

18.3% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

58.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$66.905 billion (2024 est.) $64.173 billion (2023 est.) $61.856 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

4.3% (2024 est.) 3.7% (2023 est.) 2.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$8,600 (2024 est.) $8,400 (2023 est.) $8,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.77 billion (2023 est.) $1.576 billion (2022 est.) $1.951 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

12.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

1.3% (2024 est.) 1.2% (2023 est.) 1.3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 2.2% (2024 est.) male: 2.4% (2024 est.) female: 2.1% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

production: 16.629 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 15.944 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.065 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 62 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 12.738 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 12.803 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 38 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 955.095 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.447 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 23.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 76.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

34.463 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 25,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

23.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 19.652 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

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

Environmental issues

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution; limited access to potable water

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land: 9.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.) forest: 56.8% (2023 est.) other: 33.3% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

20.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

333.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 7.05 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 351,900 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.1% (2022 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

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

Geographic coordinates

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Geography - note

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

4,410 sq km (2022)

Land boundaries

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

agricultural land: 9.9% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.) forest: 56.8% (2023 est.) other: 33.3% (2023 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Major rivers (by length in km)

M nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

floods, droughts

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Population distribution

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

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Administrative divisions

17 provinces ( khoueng , singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* ( kampheng nakhon ); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Champasak, Houaphanh, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang (Luang Prabang), Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang

Capital

name: Vientiane (Viangchan) geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name Viangchan means "city of sandalwood" in Laotian; the standard spelling reflects French influence

Citizenship

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

history: previous 1947 (pre-independence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president of the republic

Country name

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) abbreviation: Lao PDR etymology: name means "Land of the Lao [people];" it derives from the name of the country's founder, Lao

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Heather VARIAVA (since 5 February 2024) embassy: Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane mailing address: 4350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC 20521-4350 telephone: [856] 21-48-7000 FAX: [856] 21-48-7040 email address and website: CONSLAO@state.gov https://la.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador PHOUKHONG Sisoulath (since 5 September 2025) chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923 email address and website: embasslao@gmail.com https://laoembassy.com/

Executive branch

chief of state: President THONGLOUN Sisoulith (since 22 March 2021) head of government: Prime Minister SONEXAY (also spelled SONXAI) Siphandon (since 30 December 2022) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term most recent election date: 22 March 2021 election results: 2021: THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected president; National Assembly vote - 161-1; PHANKHAM Viphavanh (LPRP) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 158-3 2016: BOUNNHANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA expected date of next election: March 2026 note: President THONGLOUN Sisoulith is also general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party

Flag

description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double-width), and red, with a large white disk centered in the blue band meaning: red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and blue for the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk represents the full moon over the Mekong River and the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future

Government type

communist party-led state

Independence

19 July 1949 (from France); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

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 the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term; vice presidents of the People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic upon the 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

civil law system similar in form to the French system

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly (Sapha Heng Xat) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 164 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/21/2021 parties elected and seats per party: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) (158); Other (6) percentage of women in chamber: 22% expected date of next election: February 2026

National anthem(s)

title: "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People) lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit history: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed after the communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy in 1975

National color(s)

red, white, blue

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Town of Luangphrabang ; Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements; Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

elephant

Political parties

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP note: other parties proscribed

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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. Following more than 15 years of civil war, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government in 1975, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a one party--the Lao People's Revolutionary Party--communist state. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in the late 1980s. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013. In the 2010s, the country benefited from direct foreign investment, particularly in the natural resource and industry sectors. Construction of a number of large hydropower dams and expanding mining activities have also boosted the economy. Laos has retained its official commitment to communism and maintains close ties with its two communist neighbors, Vietnam and China, both of which continue to exert substantial political and economic influence on the country. China, for example, provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in 2021. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from China. At the same time, Laos has expanded its economic reliance on the West and other Asian countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Nevertheless, despite steady economic growth for more than a decade, it remains one of Asia's poorest countries.

Military - note

the LPAF s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics operations, as well as protecting the regime; its defense partners include Cambodia, China, Russia, and Vietnam (2025)

Military and security forces

Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF; aka Lao People's Army): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Lao People's Air Force (LPAF); Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025) note: the Ministry of Public Security maintains internal security and is responsible for law enforcement; it oversees local, traffic, immigration, and security police, village police auxiliaries, and other armed police units

Military and security service personnel strengths

information limited and varied; estimated 30,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 100,000 Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LPAF is armed with Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era equipment and weapons (2025)

Military expenditures

0.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2016 est.) 0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory military service for men 18-35 with a minimum 18-month service obligation (2025)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.1% (male 1,214,429/female 1,181,845) 15-64 years: 65% (male 2,573,668/female 2,599,957) 65 years and over: 4.8% (2024 est.) (male 178,223/female 205,434)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 8.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

19.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 7.1% (2017) women married by age 18: 32.7% (2017) men married by age 18: 10.8% (2017)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

24.3% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

61.6% (2017 est.)

Death rate

6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.7 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 46.3 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 13.5 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 97.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 78.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 85.5% of population (2022 est.) urban: 2.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 21.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 8.2% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1.07 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

2.7% of GDP (2021) 4.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 34.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 31.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages major-language sample(s): ແຫລ່ງທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນຕົ້ນຕໍ່ (Lao) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69 years (2024 est.) male: 67.4 years female: 70.7 years

Literacy

total population: 75.6% (2023 est.) male: 85.1% (2023 est.) female: 66.7% (2023 est.)

Major urban areas - population

721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

112 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 25.8 years (2025 est.) male: 25 years female: 25.7 years

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2016)

Physician density

0.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

total: 7,953,556 (2024 est.) male: 3,966,320 female: 3,987,236

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.22% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 72% of population (2022 est.) total: 82.5% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 28% of population (2022 est.) total: 17.5% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years (2023 est.) male: 9 years (2023 est.) female: 9 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 24.1% (2025 est.) male: 41% (2025 est.) female: 7.2% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 1,274 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating: Tier 3 Laos does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Laos was downgraded to Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/laos/

Airports

20 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

RDPL

Merchant marine

total: 1 (2023) by type: general cargo 1

Railways

total: 422 km (2023) standard gauge: 422 km (2023) 1.435-m gauge (422 km overhead electrification)