Laos
| Capital: | Vientiane |
| Area size: | 230800 sq. km Slightly smaller than the United Kingdom |
| Time zone: | GMT +7 |
| Currency: | New kip |
| Area code: | (+) 856 |
| Driving: | Right |
| Climate description: | Tropical; one rainy season between May and September and dry and sunny for the rest of the year |
People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
Lao is the official language. French, English and many minor local languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
8.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
Around three-fifths of Laotians descend from the Lao ethnic group. Various groups in the country's mountain regions account for more than one-third of the population, and there are also Chinese and Vietnamese minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Buddhism 58 percent, traditional religions 34 percent. There are smaller Christian and Muslim communities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
1958
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)
Percentage of population under 15
Lao is the official language. French, English and many minor local languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2007 | 5.8 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 5.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 5.7 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 5.6 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 5.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 5.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 5.3 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 5.2 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
8.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
Around three-fifths of Laotians descend from the Lao ethnic group. Various groups in the country's mountain regions account for more than one-third of the population, and there are also Chinese and Vietnamese minorities.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Buddhism 58 percent, traditional religions 34 percent. There are smaller Christian and Muslim communities.
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 21.4 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 21.0 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 20.6 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 20.3 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 19.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 19.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 19.2 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 18.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
1958
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 39.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 41.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 41.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 42.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 42.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 42.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | 63.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 55.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 54.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 54.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 53.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 53.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 61.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 53.8 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 53.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 53.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 52.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 52.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 64.5 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 56.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 55.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 55.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 55.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 54.8 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Infant mortality
| 2006 | 59 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 62 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 65 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 82 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 87 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 87 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 90 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2006 | 75 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 79 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 83 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 91 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 100 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 19 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1996-2004 | 19 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 19 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 19 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 21 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 21 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | 660 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2000 | 650 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
| 2005 | 130 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 133 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 133 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 135 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 135 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 143 | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2006 | 40 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 40 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 40 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 40 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 40 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 40 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 40 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Percentage of undernourished population
| 2002-2004 average | 19 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006 |
| 2001-2003average | 21 percent | FAO 2006 |
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
| 2004 | 51 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | 43 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 37 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2004 | 30 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | 24 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 30 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Literacy - average
| 2004 | 68.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 68.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 66.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 65.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 48.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - male
| 2004 | 77.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 77.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 77.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 76.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 64.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Literacy - female
| 2004 | 60.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 60.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 55.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 54.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 33.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Landlines telephones
| 2006 | 13 per 1,000 people | International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2007 |
| 2005 | 13 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 13 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 12 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 11 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 10 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 8 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2006 | 108 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 108 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 35 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 20 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 10 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 6 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 2 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Internet users
| 2006 | 4 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 4 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 4 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 3 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 3 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 2 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 1 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
| 2007 | 168 (joint) | Transparency International 2007 |
| 2006 | 111 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2005 | 77 | Transparency International |
| 2004 | Not ranked | |
| 2003 | Not ranked | |
| 2002 | Not ranked | |
| 2001 | Not ranked | |
| 2000 | Not ranked |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
3.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
28.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
| 1990-2005 | 27.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1990-2004 | 27.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 26.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1990-2002 | 26.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2001 | 26.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2005 | 430 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2004 | 400 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2003 | 340 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2002 | 320 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2001 | 310 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2000 | 280 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2005 | 2.9 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2004 | 2.5 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2003 | 2.1 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2002 | 1.8 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2001 | 1.8 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2000 | 1.7 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
Annual GDP growth
| 2005 | 7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2004 | 6.4 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2003 | 6.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2002 | 5.9 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2001 | 5.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2000 | 5.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
Annual inflation
| 2005 | 8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2004 | 10.4 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2003 | 15.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2002 | 10.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2001 | 8.6 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2000 | 25.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
3.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
28.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country except Vientiane. Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | No data available per 100,000 people | |
| 1990-2004 | 59 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 61 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2002 | 61 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
| 2005 | 0.1 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2006 |
| 2003 | 0.1 percent | UNAIDS 2006 |
Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country except Vientiane. Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2006 | 152 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2005 | 154 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 155 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2003 | 157 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2002 | 159 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2001 | 160 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2000 | 162 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
No data available
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent (2004)
Percentage of GDP spent on education
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2006 | 26447 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 24442 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 16114 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | 10363 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | 8703 | UNHCR |
| 2001 | 9292 | UNHCR |
| 2000 | 10379 | UNHCR |
Number of refugees residing here
No data available
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| No data available | |||
Landmine casualties per year
| 2004 | 194 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | 128 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent (2004)
Percentage of GDP spent on education
| 2002-2005 | 2.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2002-2004 | 2.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2000-2002 | 2.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1999-2001 | 3.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1998-2000 | 2.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | 0.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2003-2004 | 1.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2002 | 1.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2001 | 1.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2000 | 1.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
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