THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
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
Land boundaries: total: 5,274 km
border countries: Burma 238 km; Cambodia 555 km; China 475 km; Thailand 1,845 km; Vietnam 2,161 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation: highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
mean elevation: 710 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use: agricultural land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
forest: 56.8% (2023 est.)
other: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,410 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 kmnote: [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)
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
Natural hazards: floods, droughts
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

Population: total: 7,953,556 (2024 est.)
male: 3,966,320
female: 3,987,236
Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian
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.)
Languages: Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
major-language sample(s): ແຫລ່ງທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນຕົ້ນຕໍ່” (Lao)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1% (2015 est.)
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)
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.)
Median age: total: 25.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 25 years
female: 25.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
Urbanization: urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)
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.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 112 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69 years (2024 est.)
male: 67.4 years
female: 70.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.07 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 97.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 78.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 2.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 21.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 72% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 82.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 28% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 17.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016)
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.)
Tobacco use: total: 24.1% (2025 est.)
male: 41% (2025 est.)
female: 7.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 24.3% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 61.6% (2017 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)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy: total population: 75.6% (2023 est.)
male: 85.1% (2023 est.)
female: 66.7% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years (2023 est.)
male: 9 years (2023 est.)
female: 9 years (2023 est.)

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
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Land use: agricultural land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
forest: 56.8% (2023 est.)
other: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 20.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 351,900 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.1% (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.)
Total renewable water resources: 333.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Government type: communist party-led state
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
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
Legal system: civil law system similar in form to the French system
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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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 - 158-32016: 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
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
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
Political parties: Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP
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.comhttps://laoembassy.com/
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.govhttps://la.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)
National holiday: Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double-width), and red, with a large white disk centered in the blue bandmeaning: 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
National symbol(s): elephant
National color(s): red, white, blue
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 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

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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $66.905 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $64.173 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $61.856 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $8,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $8,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $8,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $16.503 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 23.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 31.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 23% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 16.8% (2024 est.)
industry: 29% (2024 est.)
services: 43.5% (2024 est.)
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.)
Agricultural products: cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, watermelons (2023)
Industries: mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.585 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 1.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 1.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 2.2% (2024 est.)
male: 2.4% (2024 est.)
female: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 18.3% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 38.8 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 50.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 31.2% (2018 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.288 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $2.259 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 58.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: $404.523 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$458.754 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $431.636 million (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $9.698 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $8.604 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $7.82 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 39%, Thailand 34%, Australia 4%, USA 4%, Cambodia 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: electricity, fertilizers, gold, garments, paper (2023)
Imports: Imports 2023: $8.596 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $7.983 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $6.527 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Thailand 58%, China 36%, Japan 1%, Singapore 1%, Germany 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, raw sugar, plastic products, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.77 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.576 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.951 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $9.619 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: kips (LAK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2023: 17,688.874 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 14,035.227 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 9,697.916 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 9,045.788 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2019: 8,679.409 (2019 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 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 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.)
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.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 25,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 34.463 million Btu/person (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.)
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.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 183,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RDPL
Airports: 20 (2025)
Railways: total: 422 km (2023)
standard gauge: 422 km (2023) 1.435-m gauge (422 km overhead electrification)
Merchant marine: total: 1 (2023)
by type: general cargo 1

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)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019: 0.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military Expenditures 2018: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military Expenditures 2017: 0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military Expenditures 2016: 0.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military Expenditures 2015: 0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
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 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)
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)

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

Laos