Laos (pronounced /ˈlɑː.oʊs/, /ˈlaʊs/, or /ˈleɪ.ɒs/), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. Laos traces its history to the Kingdom of Lan Xang or Land of a Million Elephants, which existed from the 14th to the 18th century.
After a period as a French protectorate, it gained independence in 1949. A long civil war ended officially when the Stalinist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975, but the protesting between factions continued for several years. 10.6% of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.
Contents
- 1 Etymology
- 2 History
- 3 Geography
- 4 Government and politics
- 5 Administrative divisions
- 6 Economy
- 7 Demographics
- 8 Culture
- 9 Media
- 10 International rankings
- 11 See also
- 12 Notes and references
- 13 External links
| Lao People's Democratic Republic ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Motto: "ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ" "Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity and Prosperity" | ||||||
| Anthem: Pheng Xat Lao | ||||||
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| Capital (and largest city) | Vientiane 17°58′N 102°36′E / 17.967°N 102.6°E | |||||
| Official languages | Lao | |||||
| Demonym | Laotian, Lao | |||||
| Government | Socialist republic, Single-party communist state | |||||
| - | President | Lt. Gen. Choummaly Sayasone | ||||
| - | Vice President | Bounnhang Vorachith | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Bouasone Bouphavanh | ||||
| - | National Assembly Chairman | Thongsing Thammavong | ||||
| Independence | From France | |||||
| - | Date | 19 July, 1949 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 236,800 km2 (83rd) 91,429 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 2 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2007 estimate | 6,521,998 (106th) | ||||
| - | 1995 census | 4,574,848 | ||||
| - | Density | 25/km2 (177th) 65/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $13.792 billion[1] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $2,204[1] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $5.260 billion[1] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $840[1] | ||||
| Gini (2002) | 34.6 (medium) | |||||
| HDI (2008) | ▲ 0.608 (medium) (130th) | |||||
| Currency | Kip (LAK) | |||||
| Time zone | (UTC+7) | |||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Internet TLD | .la | |||||
| Calling code | 856 | |||||
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