| Global Cost of Living Rank |
| CIA Background Information |
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 return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
| U.S. State Department Description |
Country Description:
The Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) is a poor, developing country ruled by an authoritarian, Communist, one-party government. Political power is centralized in the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Services and facilities for tourists are adequate in the capital, Vientiane, and the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, but are extremely limited in other parts of the country. Read the Department of State Background Notes
on Laos for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are required. The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that visas can be issued upon arrival in Laos ... Read this Article
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lao (sing. and pl.).
Population (2008 est.): 6.7 million.
Annual growth rate (2008 est.): 2.3%.
Ethnic groups: Tai-Kadai language family (6 ethnic groups)--66.2%; Austro-Asiatic (Mon-Khmer and Viet-Muong) language family (30 ethnic groups)--22.8%; Hmong-Yao (2 ethnic groups)--7.4%; Tibeto-Burman (8 ethnic groups)--2.7%; other ethnic groups (including Vietnamese and Chinese)--0.9%.
Religions: Buddhism--65%; ... Read this Article
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Location: Laos is Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam See Map
Capital: name: Vientiane
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Currency (Code): kip (LAK) ...More
Area: total: 236,800 sq km , land: 230,800 sq km , water: 6,000 sq km ( 1 sq km is approximately 0.4 sq miles or 250 acres)
Area Comparison: slightly larger than Utah
Elevation Extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m , highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m (1 meter = 3.28 feet)
Population: 6,677,534 (July 2008 est.)
Unemployment: 2.4% (2005 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
Religion: Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
More Statistics
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| History
Laos traces its first recorded History and its origins as a unified state to the emergence of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (literally, "million elephants") in 1353. Under the rule of King Fa Ngum, this powerful and wealthy kingdom covered much of what today is Thailand and Laos. ... Read this Article
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| Geographic Info for Laos : |
Geography
Area: 236,800 sq. km. (91,430 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Utah. Capital--Vientiane (2006 pop. est. 711,919). Other principal towns--Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Thakhek.
Terrain: Rugged mountains, plateaus, alluvial plains.
Climate: Tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (November to April).
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lao (sing. and pl.).
Population (2008 est.): 6.7 million.
... Read this Article
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