Laos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lao People's Democratic Republic ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Flag Emblem
Motto: "ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ" "Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity"
Anthem: Pheng Xat Lao "Hymn of the Lao People"
Location of  Laos  (red) in ASEAN  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]
Capital and largest city	Vientiane 17°58′N 102°36′E / 17.967°N 102.600°E / 17.967; 102.600
Official languages	Lao
Other spoken languages	Dutch English French
Official scripts	Lao script
Demonym(s)	Laotian, Lao
Government	Unitary Marxist-Leninist communist and single-party state
• Party General Secretary and President	Bounnhang Vorachith
• Party Executive Secretary and Vice President	Phankham Viphavanh
• Prime Minister	Thongloun Sisoulith
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 (104th)
• 1995 census	4,574,848
• Density	26.7/km2 (69.2/sq mi) (177th)
GDP (PPP)	2010 estimate
• Total	$15.693 billion (130th)
• Per capita	$2,435 (48th)
GDP (nominal)	2010 estimate
• Total	$6.341 billion (137th)
• Per capita	$984 (147th)
Gini (2008)	34.6 medium
HDI (2010)	0.497 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 or Laos (ລາວ), is a country in southeast Asia. The capital of Laos is Vientiane.

Laos is landlocked (it does not have a coast on a sea or ocean). It is bordered by Myanmar (used to be known in English as "Burma") 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 large 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.

The official language is Lao, a language belonging to the Tai language group. 98% of Lao people believe in Buddhism. The main crop in Laos is rice.

Geography

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. The country is slightly smaller than Romania and Colorado. The landscape is mostly rugged mountains. The highest point is Phou Bia at 2,818 metres (9,245 feet). The Mekong River forms the border with Thailand. The mountains of the Annamite Range form the eastern border with Vietnam. The climate is tropical. The rainy season is from May to November. The dry season is from December to April. Laos has three seasons (rainy, cold and hot). The capital and largest city is Vientiane.

History

Fa Ngum created the first unified Lao Kingdom.

Lao became a French colony in 1893 and also became part of French Indochina. In 1949 it became independent from France, as the Kingdom of Laos. Later there was a civil war, and in 1975 it became a One-party state under the leadership of the communist party.

Provinces

Laos is divided in 16 provinces and one prefecture.

Government and politics

Laos is one of the world's five remaining communist states. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Choummaly Sayasone. He is the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

Shortly after the end of the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) joined forces with the Pathet Lao, started a coup on December 2, 1975 to overthrow the royalist Lao government, and established a communist government that continues to run the country to this day.

The current head of government is Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, as of 2016. The current President is Bounnhang Vorachith. Government policies are determined by the party. Important government decisions are checked by the Council of Ministers.

Related pages

• Laos at the Olympics
• Laos national football team
• List of rivers of Laos

Images for kids

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  Pha That Luang in Vientiane is the national symbol of Laos.

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  Fa Ngum, founder of the Lan Xang Kingdom

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  Local Lao soldiers in the French Colonial guard, c. 1900

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  French General Salan and Prince Sisavang Vatthana in Luang Prabang, 4 May 1953

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  Ruins of Muang Khoun, former capital of Xiangkhouang province, destroyed by the American bombing of Laos in the late 1960s

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  Pathet Lao soldiers in Vientiane, 1972

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  Mekong River flowing through Luang Prabang

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  Paddy fields in Laos

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  Near the sanctuary on the main upper level of Vat Phou, looking back towards the Mekong River

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  Rivers are an important means of transport in Laos.

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  Wat Nong Sikhounmuang - buddhist pagoda in Luang Prabang.

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  National University of Laos in Vientiane.

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  An example of Lao cuisine

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  Lao women wearing sinhs

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  Lao dancers during the New Year celebration

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  New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane.

See also

In Spanish: Laos para niños