$Unique_ID{COW02129} $Pretitle{258} $Title{Laos Statistical Profile of Laos} $Subtitle{} $Author{Central Intelligence Agency} $Affiliation{United States Government} $Subject{km lao million rate people's july national total december elections} $Date{1990} $Log{National Anthem*63400010.aud Map of Laos*0212901.scf Flag of Laos*0212902.scf } Country: Laos Book: CIA World Factbook Author: Central Intelligence Agency Affiliation: United States Government Date: 1990 [Hear National Anthem] [See Map of Laos] [See Flag of Laos] Statistical Profile of Laos Geography Total area: 236,800 km2; land area: 230,800 km2 Comparative area: slightly larger than Utah Land boundaries: 5,083 km total; Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km Coastline: none--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 Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones Land use: 4% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 3% meadows and pastures; 58% forest and woodland; 35% other; includes 1% irrigated Environment: deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods Note: landlocked People Population: 3,935,786 (July 1989), growth rate 2.2% (1989) Birth rate: 38 births/1,000 population (1989) Death rate: 16 deaths/1,000 population (1989) Net migration rate: NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1989) Infant mortality rate: 128 deaths/1,000 live births (July 1989) Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 51 years female (July 1989) Total fertility rate: 5.2 children born/woman (1989) Nationality: noun--Lao (sing., Lao or Laotian); adjective--Lao or Laotian Ethnic divisions: 50% Lao, 15% Phoutheung (Kha), 20% tribal Thai, 15% Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other Religion: 85% Buddhist, 15% animist and other Language: Lao (official), French, and English Literacy: 85% Labor force: 1-1.5 million; 85-90% in agriculture (est.) Organized labor: Lao Federation of Trade Unions is subordinate to the Communist party Government Long-form name: Lao People's Democratic Republic Type: Communist state Capital: Vientiane Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet, Xekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France) Constitution: draft constitution under discussion since 1976 Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic), 2 December (1975) Branches: president; Supreme People's Assembly; Cabinet; Cabinet is totally Communist but Council contains a few nominal neutralists and non-Communists; National Congress of People's Representatives established the current government structure in December 1975 Leaders: Chief of State Acting President PHOUMI VONGVICHIT (since 29 October 1986); Head of Government Chairman of the Council of Ministers General KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN (designated Prime Minister on 2 December 1975 and title changed to Chairman in July 1982) Suffrage: universal over age 18 Elections: first elections under the Laos People's Democratic Republic held 1988--district elections held in June 1988 and provincial elections in November 1988; national elections scheduled for March 1989 Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (Communist), Kaysone Phomvihan, party chairman; includes Lao Patriotic Front and Alliance Committee of Patriotic Neutralist Forces; other parties moribund Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders have fled the country Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, Mekong Committee, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation: First Secretary, Charge d'Affaires ad interim DONE SOMVORACHIT; Chancery at 2222 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 332-6416 or 6417; US--Charge d'Affaires Harriet W. ISOM; Embassy at Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane (mailing address is B. P. 114, Vientiane, or Box V, APO San Francisco 96346); telephone 2220, 2357, 2384 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band Economy Overview: Laos is one of the world's poorest nations with an estimated per capita GDP of only $140 in 1987. It is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, having no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal telecommunications, and electricity available to only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend upon foreign aid for its survival. GDP: $551 million, per capita $140; real growth rate 2.2% (1987) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19% (1988) Unemployment rate: 17% (1987) Budget: revenues $111 million; expenditures $156 million, including capital expenditures of $67.4 million (1987) Exports: $48.7 million (f.o.b., 1987); commodities--electricity, wood products, coffee, tin; partners--Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US Imports: $218.8 million (c.i.f., 1987); commodities--food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures; partners--Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam External debt: $884 million (December 1987) Industrial production: growth rate 11%, manufacturing (1987) Electricity: 175,000 kW capacity; 900 million kWh produced, 230 kWh per capita (1988) Industries: tin mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing Agriculture: rice (overwhelmingly dominant), corn, vegetables, tobacco, coffee, cotton; formerly self-sufficient; food shortages (due in part to distribution deficiencies) include rice; an illegal producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade Aid: US commitments (FY70-79), $276 million; Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-85), $423 million Currency: new kip (plural--kips); 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US $1--400 (official fixed rate since July 1988) Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June Communications Highways: about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous treated; 7,451 km gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km unimproved earth and often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m Pipelines: 136 km, refined products Ports: none Airports: 64 total, 50 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: service to general public considered poor; radio network provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390 telephones (1986); stations--10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite ground station Defense Forces Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA, which consists of an army with naval, aviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department Military manpower: males 15-49, 943,498; 504,949 fit for military service; 42,891 reach military age (18) annually; conscription age NA Military budget: NA