Lao People's Democratic Republic ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao | |
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Motto: "ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ" "Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity" | |
Anthem: Pheng Xat Lao "Hymn of the Lao People" | |
Capital | Vientiane 17°58′N 102°36′E / 17.967°N 102.600°E |
Official languages | Lao |
Demonym(s) | Laotian, Lao |
Government | Unitary
Marxist-Leninist communist and single-party state |
Thongloun Sisoulith | |
Sonexay Siphandone | |
Bounthong Chitmany | |
Pany Yathotou | |
Saysomphone Phomvihane | |
Independence From France | |
• Autonomy | 19 July 1949 |
• Declared | 9 Nov 1953 |
Area | |
• Total | 236,800 km2 (91,400 sq mi) (83rd) |
• Water (%) | 2 |
Population | |
• 2009 estimate | 6,800,000 [1] (104th) |
• 1995 census | 4,574,848 |
• Density | 26.7/km2 (69.2/sq mi) (177th) |
GDP (PPP) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $15.693 billion[2] (130th) |
• Per capita | $2,435[2] (48th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $6.341 billion[2] (137th) |
• Per capita | $984[2] (147th) |
Gini (2008) | 34.6 medium |
HDI (2010) | 0.497[3] low · 122nd |
Currency | Kip (LAK) |
Time zone | UTC+7 |
Driving side | right |
Calling code | 856 |
ISO 3166 code | LA |
Internet TLD | .la |
Lao People's Democratic Republic is a country in Southeast Asia.
Laos is landlocked. It is bordered by Myanmar and by China to the northwest, by Vietnam to the east, by Cambodia to the south and by Thailand to the west. The Mekong river forms a part of the western boundary with Thailand. Boats from Laos cannot get to the ocean using the Mekong because of rapids and waterfalls in the south of the country.[4] Laos is the least densely populated country in Southeast Asia, with 32 people per square kilometer.[5] Trains to and from Thailand will start in July 2024; that line has an endpoint in Vientiane prefecture's Khamsavath railway station.[6]