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Laos

The Lao People's Democratic Republic is situated in Southeast Asia. The landlocked nation shares its border with Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Vientiane is the capital of Laos.

HISTORY:- The Lao people started settling in the region in the 8th century. In the 14th century, the first Laotian state, the kingdom of Lan Xang was founded by Fa Ngum which was split into three principalities- Luang Prabang, Champassack kingdom and Vientiane in 1713. During the 18th century, these three principalities came under Siamese reign. In 1893, these three separate kingdoms of Laos became French protectorates and they were incorporated into the union of Indochina. During the World War II, Japan occupied Laos but in 1945, Laos declared a brief independence from Japanese power. The French reasserted their control over this nation once again in 1946. In 1949, Laos was granted semi-autonomy by the French. As a result of the Viet Minh rebellion in Vietnam, Laos gained full-autonomy within the French Union in 1950. Prince Souphanouvong founded Pathet Lao, a Communist independence movement in North Vietnam. In the Vietnam War, eastern Laos was occupied by the North Vietnamese Army. Civil was broke out. In 1954, with the Geneva agreements, Pathet Lao gained two provinces of northern Laos. With the Paris agreements in 1954, Laos achieved full independence.

GEOGRAPHY:- Laos is located at 18 00 N, 105 00 E in Southeastern Asia, spanning through 236,800 sq km area in which 230,800 sq km comprises land and 6,000 sq km comprises water. Laos is landlocked nation which has common boundary with Burma, Cambodia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The lowest point is Mekong River (70 m) and the highest point is Phou Bia (2,817 m). Laos is mostly composed of forests and rugged mountains with some plains and plateaus in the interior.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Laos is mainly tropical monsoon with a rainy season (May to November) and a dry season (December to April).

GOVERNMENT:- Laos has a Socialist Republic. The constitution was promulgated on 14th August 1991. The legal system is based on traditional customs, and socialist practices, modeled after the French law. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch consists of the President (chief of state), the Vice President, the Prime minister (head of government), Deputy Prime Ministers and the cabinet. The cabinet ministers are approved by the National Assembly and appointed by the President. The president and the vice president are elected by the National Assembly on a 5-year term. The National Assembly elects the Prime minister on the recommendation by the President.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Assembly (115 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the People's Supreme Court.

There is only one legalized political party- Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in Laos. Suffrage is universal at 18.

President   Lt. Gen. Choummaly Sayasone

Prime Minister  Bouasone Bouphavanh

Vice President   Boun Gnang Volachit

Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. Asang Laoli, Maj. Gen. Douangchai Phichit, Somsavat Lengsavat, Thongloun Sisoulit

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Laos is formed of 16 provinces and a capital city. The provinces are again sub-divided into districts.

CULTURE:- The influence of Theravada Buddhism on Lao culture is prominent in its language, temples, art, architecture, literature, and performing arts. The national musical instrument is the khaen. Luang Prabang and Vat Phou are two heritage sites of Laos. Rice is the main food of the nation.

ECONOMY:- The communist government of Laos has been trying to decentralize power to encourage private organizations since 1986, but the inadequate infrastructure hinders the growth of private sectors in Laos. Subsistence agriculture provides 50% of the total GDP and 80% of the total employment, comprising 4% arable land. Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in Laos. The Lao economy is 35th fastest growing economy in the world.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $11.92 billion; per capita $1,900.

Real growth rate: 7.2%.

Inflation: 9.4%.

Unemployment: 5.7% (1997 est.).

Arable land: 4%.

Agriculture: Sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry. ‘

Labor force: 2.8 million (2002 est.); agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (1997 est.).

Budget:

Revenues: $472.3 million

Expenditures: $646.1 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $3.179 billion (2006)

Industries: Copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement.

Natural resources: Timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones.

Exports: $379 million (2005 est.): garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin.

Imports: $541 million f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods.

Major trading partners: Thailand, Vietnam, France, Germany, UK, China, Singapore (2004).

Monetary unit: New Kip

LANGUAGE:- Lao is the official language of Laos. French, English, and various ethnic languages are also widely spoken.

CITIES:- The capital Vientiane is the largest city of Laos. Other major cities of Laos are Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Thakhek.

POPULATION:- The population of Laos is estimated 6,521,998 with a growth rate of 2.4%.

Density per sq mi: 73

Literacy rate: 53% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

Lao 55%

Khmou 11%

Hmong 8%

Other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005)

RELIGION:-

Buddhist 65%

Animist 32.9%

Christian 1.3%

Other and unspecified 0.8% (1995)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 34.46 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 11.02 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 79.61 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.29 years

Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 78

UNICEF:- UNICEF is helping the government in its goal to reduce under-5 mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and malnutrition by 2010. UNICEF works on child development and care with the World Health Organization, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Union . UNICEF also partners with the World Bank, AsDB, the Australian Agency for International Development, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme, Save the Children Alliance, Catholic Relief Services, Church World Service, World Education and Ecoles sans frontiers to improve the education system. Trafficking, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, HIV, Childhood diarrhea are major threats in Laos.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 21,716 km; paved: 9,664 km; unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.). Waterways: about 4,587 km.

Ports and harbors: none.

Airports: 51 (2002).

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