National Identity
- Official name
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Official name (in Lao)
- ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ
- Official name (in Lao, Romanized)
- Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
- Name etymology
name means "Land of the Lao [people];" it derives from the name of the country's founder, Lao
Sources:- Constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (amended version of 2015) ↗ - The National Assembly of the LAO PDR
- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- National emblem
- National flag
Translated from the Ministry of Justice of the Lao PDR The national flag of the Lao People's Democratic Republic is a flag with an indigo field, red edges and a white moon disc in the centre of the national flag; the width of the flag is equal to two thirds of the length
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSource:- laoofficialgazette.gov.la ↗ - the Ministry of Justice of the Lao PDR
- National anthem
- Pheng Xat Lao (ເພງຊາດລາວ)0:50
- Title (in Lao)
- ເພງຊາດລາວ
- Title (in Lao, Romanized)
- Pheng Xat Lao
- Title (in English, translated)
- Hymn of the Lao People
- Lyrics
ຊາດລາວຕັ້ງແຕ່ໃດມາ ລາວທຸກຖ້ວນຫນ້າເຊີດຊູສຸດໃຈ ຮ່ວມແຮງຮ່ວມຈິດຮ່ວມໃຈ ສາມັກຄີກັນເປັນກຳລັງດຽວ ເດັດດ່ຽວພ້ອມກັນກ້າວຫນ້າ ບູຊາຊູກຽດຂອງລາວ ສົ່ງເສີມໃຊ້ສິດເປັນເຈົ້າ ລາວທຸກຊົນເຜົ່າສະເໝີພາບກັນ ບໍ່ໃຫ້ຝູງຈັກກະພັດ ແລະພວກຂາຍຊາດ ເຂົ້າມາລົບກວນ ລາວທັງມວນຊູເອກະລາດ ອິດສະລະພາບ ຂອງຊາດລາວໄວ້ ຕັດສິນໃຈສູ້ຊິງເອົາໄຊ ພາຊາດກ້າວໄປສູ່ຄວາມວັດທະນາ
Source: - Citizens
- "Laos" or "Laotians"
- Official name:Constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (amended version of 2015) ↗ - The National Assembly of the LAO PDR
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- National flag:laoofficialgazette.gov.la ↗ - the Ministry of Justice of the Lao PDR
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Total area
- 236,800 km²
- Land area
- 230,800 km²
- Water area
- 6,000 km²
- Land borders
- 5,274 km(5 countries)
- Coastline
- 0 km(Landlocked)
- Terrain
Mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus - Mean elevation
- 710 m
- Highest point
- 2,817 mPhu Bia
- Lowest point
- 70 mMekong River
- Climate
Tropical monsoon rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) - Avg. temperature
- 23.1 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 19.2 to 28.2 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,953 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 25.3 18.9 13.7 22 February 27.5 20.7 15 20 March 29.8 23.3 17.9 56 April 30.8 25 20.6 111 May 30.2 25.4 22.1 235 June 29.5 25.5 22.8 282 July 28.6 24.9 22.5 372 August 28.4 24.7 22.3 383 September 28.6 24.5 21.7 275 October 28 23.4 20 129 November 26.8 21.4 17.2 45 December 24.7 18.9 14.2 23 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable5.3%Perm. crops1.7%Pasture2.9%Forest56.8%Other33.3%
- Arable land
- 1,224,000 hectares (5.3%)
- Permanent crops
- 386,200 hectares (1.7%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 677,000 hectares (2.9%)
- Forest
- 13,106,708 hectares (56.8%)
- Other land
- 7,686,092 hectares (33.3%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- River floods8.2Very high#19/191Epidemics6.4High#39/191Earthquakes2.8Low#104/191Tropical cyclones1.4Very low#56/191Drought1.1Very low#150/191Tsunamis0.0Very lowCoastal floods0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major rivers:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +1.28% per year+100,972 people/yearWorld Rank80thof 237
- Birth rate
- 20.1 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 6.2 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- −1.4 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 25.3 yearsWorld Rank167thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years29.5%15-64 years65.6%65 years +5.0%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 5.0%
- Share aged under 18
- 35.1%
- Total dependency ratio
- 53
- Youth dependency ratio
- 45
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 8
- Sex ratio
- 1.01 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.2% 0.3% 70-79 1.0% 1.2% 60-69 2.4% 2.7% 50-59 3.9% 4.0% 40-49 5.9% 5.8% 30-39 8.0% 7.9% 20-29 9.0% 8.8% 10-19 9.7% 9.4% 0-9 10.1% 9.7% - 2026
- 0.23 above the replacement level for Laos ()2.33 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank86thof 237
- 1.08 daughters per woman0.08 above replacement, long-run each generation larger than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +13.9 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 13.9 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- −1.4 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 41.1% live in 3,275,762 urban residents
- Largest cities2015latest available
- Vientiane, Savannakhet, Pakse, LuangprabangRankCity or Urban LocalityPopulation (2015 census)1Vientiane620,1572Savannakhet91,6843Pakse68,0934Luangprabang66,7815Phonsavan48,6436Thakhek38,3887Muang Xay35,2898Phiang34,4429Sainyabuli31,48210Phonhong30,805Source:
- Lao Statistics Bureau (2015 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- 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.
- Ethnic groups2015
- Lao53.2%Khmou11.0%Hmong9.2%Phouthay3.4%Tai3.1%Makong2.5%Katong2.2%Lue2.0%Akha1.8%Other11.6%
The Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total is estimated at well over 200.
Source:- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Religions2015
- Buddhist64.7%Christian1.7%None31.4%Other/not stated2.1%
- Languages
- Lao (ລາວ)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Lao Statistics Bureau (2015 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President of State is elected by the National Assembly by more than two thirds of members attending, for the Assembly's term and no more than two consecutive terms (Art. 67).
- System of government
- One-partyThe Lao People's Revolutionary Party is the "leading nucleus" of the political system; the National Assembly elects and removes the Prime Minister, and the Government is responsible to the Assembly and to the President of State (Arts. 3, 54, 70).
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Vientiane620,157 people(2023)
- National holidays
- 8 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- SunMar 8International Women's Rights Day
- MonMar 9International Women's Rights Day (in lieu)
- TueApr 14Lao New Year's Day
- WedApr 15Lao New Year's Day
- ThuApr 16Lao New Year's Day
- FriMay 1International Labor Day
- WedDec 2Lao National Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- ICTIndochina TimeUTC+7
- Currency
- Laotian Kip (LAK)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +856
- Internet TLD
- .la
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- LA, LAO
- Infrastructure
- Railways422 km
- Passengers carried
- 461,727 by the country's airlines(2022)
- Aircraft departures
- 6,475 by the country's airlines(2022)
- Air freight
- 11.7 million tonne-km(2022)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- RDPL
Sources:- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Lao AirlinesState-owned
- 2025
- 34 / 100World Rank109thof 182
Significant improverUp 13 points since 2012, when it scored 21.
Confidence intervalCorruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 21 19 23 2013 26 18 34 2014 25 19 31 2015 25 16 34 2016 30 20 40 2017 29 19 39 2018 29 20 38 2019 29 20.8 37.2 2020 29 22.5 35.5 2021 30 24.7 35.3 2022 31 24.9 37.1 2023 28 24 32 2024 33 24.7 41.3 2025 34 25.6 42.4 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:ລັດຖະທຳມະນູນ ແຫ່ງ ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ (ສະບັບປັບປຸງ ປີ 2025), No. 77/ສພຊ, 20 March 2025, promulgated by Presidential Decree No. 037/ປປທ of 22 March 2025 ↗ - National Assembly of the Lao PDR
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- Lower middle income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +4.5% per yearWorld Rank42ndof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $2,331 (158th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services43.6% of GDPIndustry29.2% of GDPAgriculture16.6% of GDPManufacturing9.1%part of industry
- Households
- +65.7%
- Government
- +14%
- Investment
- +29%
- Exports
- +33.2%
- Imports
- −41.9%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 9.2%up 1.5 percentage points1.5pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 3.6 million (46% of population)World Rank98thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 66.0% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 1.2%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 2.2% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $8.6 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 1.3% of GDP surplus
- Current account
- 5.1% of GDP, $945 million surplus
Source: - Debt2024
- Central government debt96.4% of GDP
- Trade2024
- Goods$9.4 billion84.4%
- Services$1.7 billion15.6%
- Total exports
- $11.1 billion
- Change from 2023
- up 14.7 percent on the previous year14.7%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- 2024
- −0.77World Rank108thof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +4.9% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Natural rubber in primary forms, Cassava (fresh), Bananas, and 3 more
- 1Natural rubber in primary forms12.1×
- 2Cassava (fresh)11.1×
- 3Bananas2.8×
- 4Rice2.3×
- 5Sugar cane0.4×
- 6Maize (corn)0.2×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum)
- timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2022
- LAK 2,503,996 per month$178 (USD), $675 (PPP)
- Median
- LAK 2,000,000 per month($142)
- Men
- LAK 2,727,133 per month($194)
- Women
- LAK 2,115,601 per month($151)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2024
- LAK 1,600,000 per month, gross$79 (USD), $286 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.617MediumWorld Rank147thof 193LaosWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Laos World 1990 0.409 0.608 1991 0.415 0.611 1992 0.420 0.614 1993 0.426 0.617 1994 0.434 0.620 1995 0.436 0.625 1996 0.449 0.631 1997 0.455 0.636 1998 0.462 0.641 1999 0.469 0.646 2000 0.473 0.651 2001 0.479 0.657 2002 0.488 0.662 2003 0.496 0.669 2004 0.505 0.675 2005 0.514 0.681 2006 0.515 0.688 2007 0.529 0.694 2008 0.537 0.698 2009 0.548 0.701 2010 0.556 0.707 2011 0.567 0.713 2012 0.577 0.717 2013 0.587 0.721 2014 0.597 0.726 2015 0.604 0.731 2016 0.609 0.735 2017 0.612 0.739 2018 0.613 0.741 2019 0.615 0.745 2020 0.616 0.742 2021 0.613 0.742 2022 0.614 0.752 2023 0.617 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2024
- 34.7
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 6.1 years
- Expected for a child today
- 9.6 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2023
- 75.6% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 1.2% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 9.8%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2023
- 64.4% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 68.9%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2023
- 5 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 1,233,787
- Fixed broadband
- 2.7 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2024
- 1% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 28%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 38%
- Mobile-money account
- 12%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 27%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Inbound tourists2020latest available
- 811,600 arrivalsdown 81% against 201981% below 2019
- Per resident
- 1.1 arrivals per 10 residents
- Same-day visitors
- 74,800 arrivals
- $1 billion(2023)
- $554.4 million(2023)
- Hotel beds
- 77,398(2021, latest available)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2020A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 3 sites3 cultural
Site Town of Luangphrabang Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars Source:- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Prison population2018
- 166.7 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 11,885
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 69.7 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 1.3% of GDP$27 per person
- Physicians2022
- 0.33 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2023
- 1.7 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 27.8 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 112 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 11.2 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2023
- 26.1% of adults
- Men
- 43.5%
- Women
- 8.7%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 7.8% of household spendingWorld Rank2ndof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 17.9 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 26.1 Mt per yearup 1.2 percent on the previous year1.2% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 3.5 t per personWorld Rank91stof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.07%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 12.3 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 3.17 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 41.5 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 26.7 µg/m³ of PM2.52.1 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted32ndof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- unexploded ordnance
- deforestation
- soil erosion
- loss of biodiversity
- water pollution
- limited access to potable water
Source:- The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- International agreements
- 18 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 53 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1995 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1998 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1998 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1996 CITES in force 2004 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2004 Nagoya Protocol in force 2014 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 2010 World Heritage Convention in force 1987 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1996 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 2010 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2010 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2006 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1998 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 not a party Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 24.3% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 334 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 44,120 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 43% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 7.4 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 96%
- Water stress
- 5% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 5.9% of the population400,000 people
- Obesity2024
- 9.2% of adults
- Men
- 6.6%
- Women
- 11.7%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2023
- 24.3% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 39.2 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.05%
- Supply
- Surplusproduces 1.3× what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- Net exporter, net 37 TWh in 2024, 296% of consumption52 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 52 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 12 TWh per year
- Imports
- 1.3 TWh per year
- Exports
- 38 TWh per year
- Net
- +37 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 23,517 b/d in 2024Consumption202423,517 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Military personnel2025
- estimated 30,000active Armed Forces; estimated 100,000 Self-Defense Militia ForcesLimited information, estimates vary.
- Military service2025
- Conscriptionmen 18–35, minimum 18 months; voluntary 18+
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military personnel, Military service:The World Factbook: Laos - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
