Capital

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

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 meaning in Pali, a Buddhist liturgical language, is "city of sandalwood"

Citizenship

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

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

Legal system

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

civil law system similar in form to the French system

Suffrage

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

18 years of age; universal

Area

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total: 236,800 sq km

land: 230,800 sq km

water: 6,000 sq km

Land use

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 6.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 67.9% (2018 est.)

other: 21.5% (2018 est.)

Location

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Age structure

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

0-14 years: 30.63% (male 1,218,731/female 1,186,156)

15-64 years: 64.73% (male 2,527,643/female 2,555,029)

65 years and over: 4.65% (2023 est.) (male 169,142/female 195,676)

Birth rate

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

20.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

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

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total population: 68.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 67 years

female: 70.3 years

Major urban areas - population

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)

Median age

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total: 25 years (2023 est.)

male: 24.6 years

female: 25.3 years

Net migration rate

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

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

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

1.3% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

2.3 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 10 years (2020)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

-5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

7.61% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

3.915 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

18.3% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

1.26% (2021 est.)

1.03% (2020 est.)

0.85% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

58.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

3.76% (2021 est.)

5.1% (2020 est.)

3.32% (2019 est.)

Exports

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

$7.82 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$6.461 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$6.985 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

Thailand 33%, China 27%, Vietnam 13%, Australia 8%, Switzerland 3% (2021)

Imports

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

$6.527 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.816 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.518 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

Thailand 53%, China 26%, Vietnam 10% (2019)

Airports

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

41 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total: 128,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total: 4.588 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 62% (2021 est.)

Railways

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total: 422 km (2023)

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

Roadways

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total: 39,586 km (2009)

paved: 5,415 km (2009)

unpaved: 34,171 km (2009)

Telephones - fixed lines

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total subscriptions: 1,300,195 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

total subscriptions: 4,822,973 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

4,600 km (2012) (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m)

Disputes - international

Demokratische Volksrepublik Laos

Laos-Burma: none identified

Laos-Cambodia: in 2021, the two countries agreed to increase efforts to combat drug trafficking and other transnational crimes and to complete the last 14% of their border demarcation

Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam: Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction and the potential harm it poses to fisheries and farming downstream

Laos-China: concern among Mekong River Commission members that China's construction of eight dams on the Upper Mekong River and construction of more dams on its tributaries will affect water levels, sediment flows, and fisheries

Laos-Thailand: talks continue as of 2018 on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River

Laos-Vietnam: Laos and Vietnam completed border demarcation in 2016