Laos
country in Southeast Asia
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
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
People & Society
Religions
Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1% (2015 est.)
Government
Government type
communist party-led state
Independence
19 July 1949 (from France); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)
National holiday
Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)
Legal system
civil law system similar in form to the French system
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$66.905 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$8,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
4.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
23.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
1.3% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 39%, Thailand 34%, Australia 4%, USA 4%, Cambodia 2% (2023)
Imports - partners
Thailand 58%, China 36%, Japan 1%, Singapore 1%, Germany 1% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Laos
Summary
Laos is a sovereign state[1]. Laos draws 58,904 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign_state category, ranking #103 of 197).[2]
Key Facts
- Laos was a member of United Nations[3].
- Laos was a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations[4].
- Laos was a member of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[5].
- Laos was a member of International Development Association[6].
- Laos was a member of International Finance Corporation[7].
- Laos was a member of Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[8].
- Laos is in the country of Laos[9].
- Laos's head of government is recorded as Sonexay Siphandone[10].
- Laos is on the continent of Asia[11].
- Laos's instance of is recorded as sovereign state[12].
- Laos's instance of is recorded as landlocked country[13].
- Laos's instance of is recorded as communist state[14].
- Laos's instance of is recorded as people's republic[15].
- Laos's instance of is recorded as country[16].
- Laos's head of state is recorded as Thongloun Sisoulith[17].
- Laos's capital is recorded as Vientiane[18].
- Laos's official language is recorded as Lao[19].
- Laos's currency is recorded as Lao kip[20].
- Laos's shares border with is recorded as Myanmar[21].
- Laos's shares border with is recorded as Cambodia[22].
- Laos's shares border with is recorded as People's Republic of China[23].
- Laos's shares border with is recorded as Thailand[24].
- Laos's shares border with is recorded as Vietnam[25].
- Laos's top-level Internet domain is recorded as .la[26].
- Laos's anthem is recorded as Pheng Xat Lao[27].
Body
Geography
Laos is in the country of Laos[9]. Laos is on the continent of Asia[11].
Designation and Status
Recorded instance of include sovereign state[12], landlocked country[13], communist state[14], people's republic[15], and country[16].
Cultural Significance
Things named for Laos include Ichthyophis laosensis[28], a taxon[29].
Why It Matters
Laos draws 58,904 Wikipedia views per month (sovereign_state category, ranking #103 of 197).[2] Laos has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[30] Laos is known by 65 alternative names across languages and contexts.[31]
Entities named for Laos include Ichthyophis laosensis[28], a taxon[29].