Laos :: East & Southeast Asia
Introduction
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. In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.
Geography
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
country comparison to the world: 84
Area - comparative:
about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total:
5,274 km
border countries (5):
Burma 238 km, Cambodia 555 km, China 475 km, Thailand 1845 km, Vietnam 2161 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:
mean elevation:
710 m
lowest point:
Mekong River 70 m
highest point:
Phu Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
agricultural land:
10.6%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
6.2%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0.7%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
3.7%
(2011 est.)
forest:
67.9%
(2011 est.)
other:
21.5%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
3,100 sq km
(2012)
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
Environment - current issues:
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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
People and Society
Population:
7,447,396
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
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.)
note: the Laos Government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups, but the total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be well over 200
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Religions:
Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1%
(2015 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
31.25%
(male 1,177,297/female 1,149,727)
15-24 years:
20.6%
(male 763,757/female 770,497)
25-54 years:
38.29%
(male 1,407,823/female 1,443,774)
55-64 years:
5.73%
(male 206,977/female 219,833)
65 years and over:
4.13%
(male 139,665/female 168,046)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
56.8
youth dependency ratio:
50.1
elderly dependency ratio:
6.7
potential support ratio:
15
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
24 years
male:
23.7 years
female:
24.4 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Population growth rate:
1.44%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Birth rate:
22.4 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Death rate:
7.2 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Net migration rate:
-1 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
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:
36.3% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
3.28% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
683,000 VIENTIANE (capital)
(2020)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.83 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
185 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Infant mortality rate:
total:
45.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
50.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
40.4 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.7 years
male:
63.6 years
female:
67.9 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Total fertility rate:
2.53 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
54.1%
(2017)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
94.4% of population
rural:
76.8% of population
total:
82.1% of population
unimproved:
urban:
5.6% of population
rural:
23.2% of population
total:
17.9% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
2.5%
(2017)
Physicians density:
0.49 physicians/1,000 population
(2014)
Hospital bed density:
1.5 beds/1,000 population
(2012)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
98% of population
rural:
66.3% of population
total:
77.2% of population
unimproved:
urban:
2% of population
rural:
33.7% of population
total:
22.8% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<500
(2019 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:
very high
(2020)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
dengue fever and malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
5.3%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 179
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
21.1%
(2017)
country comparison to the world: 21
Education expenditures:
2.9% of GDP
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 136
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.7%
male:
90%
female:
79.4%
(2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
11 years
male:
11 years
female:
10 years
(2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
18.2%
male:
20.8%
female:
15.5%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Government
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)
etymology:
name means "Land of the Lao [people]"
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)
etymology: the meaning in Pali, a Buddhist liturgical language, is "city of sandalwood"
Administrative divisions:
17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* (kampheng nakhon); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)
National holiday:
Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)
Constitution:
history:
previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991
amendments:
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; amended 2003, 2015
Legal system:
civil law system similar in form to the French system
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 BOUNNYANG Vorachit (since 20 April 2016); Vice President PHANKHAM Viphavan (since 20 April 2016)
head of government:
Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 20 April 2016); Deputy Prime Ministers BOUNTHONG Chitmani, SONXAI Siphandon, SOMDI Douangdi (since 20 April 2016)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
elections/appointments:
president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 20 April 2016 (next to be held in 2021); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for 5-year term
election results:
BOUNNYANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; PHANKHAM Viphavan (LPRP) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulit (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch:
description:
unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (149 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
last held on 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 144, independent 5; composition - men 108, women 41, percent of women 27.5%
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
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 and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [BOUNNYANG Vorachit]
note: other parties proscribed
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador KHAMPHAN Anlavan (since January 2019)
chancery:
2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 332-6416
FAX:
[1] (202) 332-4923
consulate(s):
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Peter HAYMOND (since 7 February 2020)
telephone:
[856] 21-48-7000
embassy:
Thadeua Road, Kilometer 9, Ban Somvang Tai, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane
mailing address:
American Embassy Vientiane, Unit 46222, APO AP 96546-6222
FAX:
[856] 21-48-7190
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies 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 colors: red, white, blue
National anthem:
name:
"Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)
lyrics/music:
SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
note: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy
Economy
Economic overview:
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. Economic growth averaged more than 6% per year in the period 1988-2008, and Laos' growth has more recently been amongst the fastest in Asia, averaging more than 7% per year for most of the last decade.
++ Nevertheless, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a basic, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal land-line telecommunications. Electricity is available to 83% of the population. Agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 20% of GDP and 73% of total employment. Recently, the country has faced a persistent current account deficit, falling foreign currency reserves, and growing public debt.
++ Laos' economy is heavily dependent on capital-intensive natural resource exports. The economy has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower dams along the Mekong River, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction, although some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts.
++ Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004 and applied for Generalized System of Preferences trade benefits in 2013 after being admitted to the World Trade Organization earlier in the year. Laos held the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2016. Laos is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among foreign investors and has developed special economic zones replete with generous tax incentives, but a limited labor pool, a small domestic market, and corruption remain impediments to investment. Laos also has ongoing problems with the business environment, including onerous registration requirements, a gap between legislation and implementation, and unclear or conflicting regulations.
GDP real growth rate:
6.9%
(2017 est.)
7%
(2016 est.)
7.3%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.8%
(2017 est.)
1.6%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
CCC
(2020)
Moody's rating:
Caa2
(2020)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$49.34 billion
(2017 est.)
$46.16 billion
(2016 est.)
$43.13 billion
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$16.97 billion
(2017 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$7,400
(2017 est.)
$7,000
(2016 est.)
$6,600
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 136
Gross national saving:
22.7% of GDP
(2017 est.)
21.3% of GDP
(2016 est.)
15.8% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
20.9%
(2017 est.)
industry:
33.2%
(2017 est.)
services:
45.9%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
63.7%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
14.1%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
30.9%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
3.1%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
34.6%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-43.2%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
62.7
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; cassava (manioc, tapioca), water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Industries:
mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
8%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Labor force:
3.582 million
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
73.1%
industry:
6.1%
services:
20.6%
(2012 est.)
Unemployment rate:
0.7%
(2017 est.)
0.7%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Population below poverty line:
22%
(2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
3.3%
highest 10%:
30.3%
(2008)
Budget:
revenues:
3.099 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
4.038 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
18.3% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-5.5% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Public debt:
63.6% of GDP
(2017 est.)
58.4% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
Current account balance:
-$2.057 billion
(2017 est.)
-$2.07 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Exports:
$3.654 billion
(2017 est.)
$2.705 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Exports - partners:
Thailand 42.6%, China 28.7%, Vietnam 10.4%, India 4.4%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold, cassava
Imports:
$4.976 billion
(2017 est.)
$4.739 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
Thailand 59.1%, China 21.5%, Vietnam 9.8%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.27 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$940.1 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Debt - external:
$14.9 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$12.9 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Exchange rates:
kips (LAK) per US dollar -
8,231.1
(2017 est.)
8,129.1
(2016 est.)
8,129.1
(2015 est.)
8,147.9
(2014 est.)
8,049
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
95%
(2019)
electrification - urban areas:
98%
(2019)
electrification - rural areas:
93%
(2019)
Electricity - production:
29.74 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - consumption:
5.471 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - exports:
8.469 billion kWh
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - imports:
2.5 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
6.94 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
28% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
72% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
1% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Refined petroleum products - imports:
17,460 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
10.42 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
1,526,232
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
20.79
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
4,466,375
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
60.84
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas; the regulatory reform is below industry standards but is trying to strengthen its telecommunication infrastructure and subsequently attract foreign investment; low fixed-broadband penetration due to dominance of mobile platforms; strong boost in mobile broadband penetration but still low compared to other Asian markets; mobile sector growth held back by regulators trying to keep hold on pricing and open competition; development of mobile broadband Internet services given the expansion of 4G services
(2020)
domestic:
fixed-line 21 per 100 and 61 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions
(2019)
international:
country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by China
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media:
6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane - 3 government-operated and the others commercial; 17 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated stations in Vientiane; Chinese and Vietnamese programming relayed via satellite from Lao National TV; broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; 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 - 1 AM, 1 SW, and 3 FM; LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible
Internet country code:
.la
Internet users:
total:
1,845,437
percent of population:
25.51%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
45,379
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
1
less than 1
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
1
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
12
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
1,251,961
(2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
1.53 million
mt-km
(2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
RDPL
(2016)
Airports:
41
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 104
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
8
(2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
(2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
(2017)
914 to 1,523 m:
1
(2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
33
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
9
(2013)
under 914 m:
22
(2013)
Pipelines:
540 km refined products
(2013)
Roadways:
total:
39,586 km
(2009)
paved:
5,415 km
(2009)
unpaved:
34,171 km
(2009)
country comparison to the world: 90
Waterways:
4,600 km
(primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m)
(2012)
country comparison to the world: 23
Merchant marine:
total:
1
by type:
general cargo 1
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 176
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces
(2019)
Military expenditures:
0.2% of GDP
(2013)
0.2% of GDP
(2012)
0.2% of GDP
(2011)
note: no public figures available for 2014-2019
country comparison to the world: 157
Military and security service personnel strengths:
information is limited and estimates for the size of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) vary; approximately 29,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 3500 Air Force); approximately 100,000 Self-Defense Militia Forces
(2019)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the LPAF is armed largely with weapons from the former Soviet Union with a smaller mix of more modern weapons from China, Russia, and Ukraine; since 2010, China and Russia are the top suppliers of military hardware to Laos
(2019 est.)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months
(2019)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River; Cambodia and Laos have a longstanding border demarcation dispute; 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; Cambodia and Vietnam are concerned about Laos' extensive plans for upstream dam construction for the same reasons
Trafficking in persons:
current situation:
Laos is a source and, to a lesser extent, transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Lao economic migrants may encounter conditions of forced labor or sexual exploitation in destination countries, most often Thailand; Lao women and girls are exploited in Thailand's commercial sex trade, domestic service, factories, and agriculture; a small, possibly growing, number of Lao women and girls are sold as brides in China and South Korea and subsequently sex trafficked; Lao men and boys are victims of forced labor in the Thai fishing, construction, and agriculture industries; some Lao children, as well as Vietnamese and Chinese women and girls, are subjected to sex trafficking in Laos; other Vietnamese and Chinese, and possibly Burmese, adults and girls transit Laos for sexual and labor exploitation in neighboring countries, particularly Thailand
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List – Laos does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; authorities sustained moderate efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict trafficking offenders; the government failed to make progress in proactively identifying victims exploited within the country or among those deported from abroad; the government continues to rely almost entirely on local and international organizations to provide and fund services to trafficking victims; although Lao men and boys are trafficked, most protective services are only available to women and girls, and long-term support is lacking; modest prevention efforts include the promotion of anti-trafficking awareness on state-controlled media (2015)
Illicit drugs:
estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2015 was estimated to be 5,700 hectares, compared with 6,200 hectares in 2014; estimated potential production of between 84 and 176 mt of raw opium; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem
