Country	Laos
Capital	Vientiane
Continent	Asia
Currency	Kip(LAK)
Languages	Lao

Locaion

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic Co ordinates

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Land Boundries

Total:5,083 km
Border countries:Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

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

6,993,767 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:100

Nationality

Noun:Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
Adjective:Lao or Laotian

Ethnic groups

Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)

Religions

Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)

Languages

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

Country Name

Conventional long form:Lao People's Democratic Republic
Conventional short form:Laos
Local long form:Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Local short form:Pathet Lao (unofficial)

Government Type

Communist 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)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

19 July 1949 (from France)

National Holiday

Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

Constitution

promulgated 14 August 1991; amended in 2003

Legal system

based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state:President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
Head of government:Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Lt. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27 March 2001)
Cabinet:Ministers appointed by president, approved by National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:president and vice president elected by National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held on 8 June 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for five-year term
Election results:CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 97%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year terms)
Elections:last held 30 on April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
Election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 113, independents 2

Judicial branch

People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee)

Political Parties and Leaders

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [CHOUMMALI Saignason]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

International organization participation

ADB, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, 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, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador PHIANE Philakone
Chancery:2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone:[1] (202) 332-6416
FAX:[1] (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Ravic R. HUSO
Embassy:19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam, Vientiane
Mailing address:American Embassy Vientiane, APO AP 96546
Telephone:[856] 21-26-7000
FAX:[856] 21-26-7190

Flag description

three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Video

View Larger Map

Government - The National Portal of Laos Ministry Of Education
Newspapers -  Vientiane Times Le Renovateur Vientiane Mai Pasaxon KPL
Tourism -         Tourism - Laos

Google News

This RSS feed URL is deprecatedThis RSS feed URL is deprecated, please update. New URLs can be found in the footers at https://news.google.com/news 1089 cases of dengue fever reported so far this year in Laos, 2 killed - Global Times Inquirer.net 1089 cases of dengue fever reported so far this year in Laos, 2 killed Global Times A total of 1,089 cases of dengue fever have been reported so far this year in Laos, with two deaths, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Monday. Over 100 local people and officials gathered in Lao capital Vientiane on Saturday for activities to ... Dengue-prone Asean to tighten defensesInquirer.net all 3 news articles » Dan Khou Ha Rock Park in Laos – a wonderful weekend getaway - Borneo Bulletin Online Borneo Bulletin Online Dan Khou Ha Rock Park in Laos – a wonderful weekend getaway Borneo Bulletin Online This is currently the longest zipline in Laos, he said. The site has 111 huts that can accommodate 10 people each and 40 guesthouses, 10 of which are currently open. There is a meeting room that can accommodate 300 people, a restaurant and 11 elephants ... Vivo X21 smartphone launched in Vientiane, Laos - Xinhua Xinhua Vivo X21 smartphone launched in Vientiane, Laos Xinhua Models present Vivo X21 smartphones during the launching event in Vientiane, Laos, June 17, 2018. Chinese smartphone maker Vivo introduced its X21 smartphone into the market of Laos in Vientiane on Sunday. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun) ... Investment in Laos keeps rising, says PM - Xinhua Investment in Laos keeps rising, says PM Xinhua VIENTIANE, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith recently told the ongoing National Assembly (NA) meeting that there has been good progress in investments in Laos, with 4,118 enterprises being registered and approved for ... Lao dam under review - Khmer Times Khmer Times Lao dam under review Khmer Times Laos has begun formal consultation on the Pak Lay hydropower dam project in its northern province of Xayaburi amid environmental concerns that it will impact the Cambodian stretch of the Mekong River. Under a 1995 Mekong River agreement, member ... Lao Morning News For June 18AEC News Today all 2 news articles » Don't Forget France in Laos - The Diplomat The Diplomat Don't Forget France in Laos The Diplomat France, once a colonial power in mainland Southeast Asia, left Laos decades ago. But its traces as a foreign actor are still easily found in many parts of the landlocked nation and the country still retains some influence in the Southeast Asian state. Mongolia and Laos to improve inter-parliamentary cooperation - AKIpress (press release) AKIpress (press release) Mongolia and Laos to improve inter-parliamentary cooperation AKIpress (press release) AKIPRESS.COM - Head of the Mongolia-Laos group in the Parliament, MP Yo.Baatarbileg received Laotian delegates led by Lao Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, member of the National Assembly of Laos, deputy director of the Laos-Mongolia ... UN Committee Set to Examine Civil and Political Rights in Laos - Radio Free Asia UN Committee Set to Examine Civil and Political Rights in Laos Radio Free Asia A U.N. review of the rights record of Laos scheduled for July should look closely into the condition of civil and political rights in the Southeast Asian country, focusing on reports in recent years of forced disappearances and harsh prison terms ... Laos announces fourth Mekong dam amid fears of ecological disaster - Asia Times Asia Times Laos announces fourth Mekong dam amid fears of ecological disaster Asia Times The Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced yesterday that Laos has formally notified the Commission of its intention to construct the Pak Lay dam on the mainstream of the Mekong River. The notification triggers commencement of the Prior ... The Tranquil Traditional Laos Villages—That Might Disappear Thanks to Chinese Trains - Daily Beast Daily Beast The Tranquil Traditional Laos Villages—That Might Disappear Thanks to Chinese Trains Daily Beast But the days of undisturbed authenticity are numbered in Muang La, and Laos in general. The Chinese are investing heavily across the country, building infrastructure that threatens the undeveloped tranquility of much of the country, including Muang La.