Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic

• ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ  (Lao)
• Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao (Lao romanization)
• République démocratique populaire lao  (French)

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Flag

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Emblem

Motto: ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນະຖາວອນ
(English: "Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity")

Anthem: "Pheng Xat Lao"
(English: "Lao National Anthem")

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Location of  Laos  (green)

in ASEAN  (dark grey)  –  [Legend]

Capital

and largest city

Vientiane
17°58′N102°36′E

Official languages

Lao

Recognised languages

French[1]

Spoken languages

• Lao
• Hmong
• Khmu
• French

Ethnic groups 

(2005[2])

• 53.2% Lao
• 11% Khmu
• 9.2% Hmong
• 3.4% Phouthay
• 3.1% Tai
• 2.5% Makong
• 2.2% Katang
• 2.0% Lue
• 1.8% Akha
• 11.6% othera

Religion

Buddhism64.7%
Laotian folk religion 31.4%
Christianity1.7%
Islam 0.8%
Other 1.3%

Demonym(s)

Laotian 
Lao

Government

UnitaryMarxist–Leninist one-party socialistrepublic

• Party General Secretary

Bounnhang Vorachith

• President

Bounnhang Vorachith

• Vice President

Phankham Viphavanh

• Prime Minister

Thongloun Sisoulith

• President of the National Assembly

Pany Yathotou

Legislature

National Assembly

Formation

• Kingdom of Lan Xang

1354–1707

• Fall of Lan Xang, Kingdom of Luang Phrabang, Kingdom of Vientiane, Kingdom of Champasak and Principality of Phuan

1707–1778

• Vassal of Thonburi and Siam

1778–1893

• War of Succession

1826–1828

• French Indochina

1893–1949

• Declared independence

19 July 1949

• Independence from France

22 October 1953

• Laotian civil war

9 November 1953 – 2 December 1975

• Lao Monarchy abolished

2 December 1975

• Current constitution

14 August 1991

• ASEAN Declaration

23 July 1997

Area

• Total

237,955 km2(91,875 sq mi) (82nd)

• Water (%)

2

Population

• 2016 estimate

6,758,353[3](104th)

• 2015 census

7,096,376 6,492,228[4]

• Density

26.7/km2(69.2/sq mi) (177th)

GDP (PPP)

2018 estimate

• Total

$53.752 billion[5]

• Per capita

$7,932[5]

GDP (nominal)

2018 estimate

• Total

$18.337 billion[5]

• Per capita

$2,706[5]

Gini (2008)

36.7[6]
medium

HDI (2017)

[pic 4] 0.601[7]
medium · 139th

Currency

Kip (₭) (LAK)

Time zone

UTC+7 (ICT)

Date format

dd/mm/yyyy

Driving side

right

Calling code

+856

ISO 3166 code

LA

Internet TLD

.la

1. Including over 100 smaller ethnic groups.