Safety Score: 3,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Laos.
Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Laos. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03
Explore Laos
Laos with its capital Jamkhaneh is located in Asia (Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand). It covers some 236,801 square kilometers (about twice the size of Pennsylvania) with a population of 7,126,710. Lao, French and English are the languages spoken by people in Laos (consider regional differences). Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are bordering countries.
Laos officially known as the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is one of the poorest nations in South-East Asia. A mountainous and landlocked country, Laos shares borders with Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar and China to the north. Trekking in mountainous Northern Laos is popular, and this often includes homestays in minority tribe villages. Kayaking can be arranged in a wide number of locations. The ambitious traveler could kayak the Mekong between Luang Prabang and Vientiane.
Popular Destinations in Laos
Administrative regions of Laos
- Attapu
- Bolikhamxai
- Champasak
- Houaphan
- Khammouan
- Khoueng Bokeo
- Khoueng Oudomxai
- Khoueng Phongsali
- Khoueng Savannakhet
- Khoueng Xekong
- Louangnamtha
- Luang Prabang Province
- Salavan
- Vientiane Prefecture
- Vientiane Province
- Xaignabouli
- Xaisomboun Province
- Xiangkhouang
About the country
The topography is mostly rugged mountains with some plains and plateaus. The average density of population is about 30 per km². The climate in Laos can be described as tropical monsoonrainy season (May to November), dry season (December to April). Potential natural disasters are floods, droughts.
To reach someone Laos dial +856 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".la". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: A, B, C, E, F). The sign for the locally used currency Kip is LAK.
Three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future.
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century, when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.
Geography
Area | ||
---|---|---|
Total (World Rank: 85) | 236,800 | sq km |
Land (World Rank: 80) | 230,800 | sq km |
Water (World Rank: 64) | 6,000 | sq km |
Forest (World Rank: 169) | 3.70 | % |
Comparative | about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah | |
Landborder | ||
5274 | ||
Elevation | ||
Lowest point (World Rank: 31) | 70 | m |
Highest point (World Rank: 82) | 2,817 | m |
Agricultural land | ||
Total (World Rank: 193) | 10.60 | % |
Arable (World Rank: 142) | 6.20 | % |
Permanent crops (World Rank: 137) | 0.70 | % |
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 169) | 3.70 | % |
Irrigated land (World Rank: 67) | 3,100 | sq km |
Map reference | ||
Southeast Asia | ||
Environment | ||
Issues |
| |
Agreement party |
| |
Hazzards | floods, droughts | |
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 |
People
Population | ||
---|---|---|
Total (World Rank: 101) | 7,126,710 | |
Deathrate (World Rank: 116) | 0.74 | % |
Birthrate (World Rank: 62) | 2.36 | % |
Growthrate (World Rank: 76) | 1.51 | % |
Migration rate (World Rank: 106) | -0.11 | % |
Fertility rate (World Rank: 66) | 2.70 | % |
Median age | ||
Male (World Rank: 170) | 22.70 | |
Female (World Rank: 168) | 23.30 | |
Age structure | ||
0 14 male (World Rank: 91) | 1,180,230 | |
0 14 female (World Rank: 90) | 1,154,550 | |
15 24 male (World Rank: 89) | 749,312 | |
15 24 female (World Rank: 88) | 759,677 | |
25 54 male (World Rank: 110) | 1,290,770 | |
25 54 female (World Rank: 106) | 1,324,390 | |
55 64 male (World Rank: 120) | 190,627 | |
55 64 female (World Rank: 122) | 199,673 | |
65 x male (World Rank: 123) | 125,682 | |
65 x female (World Rank: 128) | 151,800 | |
Health | ||
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 30) | 4.99 | % |
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 179) | 65 | years |
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 181) | 67 | years |
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 180) | 63 | years |
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 151) | 0.18 | |
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 125) | 1.50 | |
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 141) | 70.90 | % |
Obesity adult (World Rank: 180) | 5.30 | % |
Drinking water access (World Rank: 171) | 75.70 | % |
Energy
Electricity | ||
---|---|---|
Production (World Rank: 94) | 11,460,000,000 | kWh |
Consumption (World Rank: 125) | 4,239,000,000 | kWh |
Export (World Rank: 25) | 8,469,000,000 | kWh |
Import (World Rank: 54) | 2,050,000,000 | kWh |
Source fossil (World Rank: 209) | 1.10 | % |
Source nuclear (World Rank: 5) | 98.20 | % |
Source renew (World Rank: 141) | 0.70 | % |
Refined products | ||
Consumption (World Rank: 182) | 3,500 | bbl / day |
Import (World Rank: 174) | 3,480 | bbl / day |
Natural gas | ||
Consumption (World Rank: 124) | 27 | m³ |
Carbon footprint | ||
500000 |
Nation
Budget | ||
---|---|---|
Education (World Rank: 127) | 3 | % of GDP |
Military (World Rank: 150) | 0 | % of GDP |
Health (World Rank: 191) | 2 | % of GDP |
Surplus (World Rank: 175) | -7 | % of GDP |
National symbol | ||
elephant | ||
National colours | ||
white | ||
Adjective | ||
Lao or Laotian | ||
Noun | ||
Lao(s) or Laotian(s) | ||
Background | ||
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century, when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013. | ||
Flag description | ||
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future |
Economy
Gdp | ||
---|---|---|
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 109) | 45,250,000,000 | USD |
Real growth rate (World Rank: 12) | 7.00 | % |
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 153) | 6,900 | USD |
Source agriculture (World Rank: 43) | 21.60 | % |
Source industry (World Rank: 60) | 32.80 | % |
Source service (World Rank: 213) | 38.90 | % |
Labourforce | ||
Total (World Rank: 100) | 3,521,000 | |
In poverty (World Rank: 96) | 22.00 | % |
Products | ||
Industries |
| |
Agriculture |
| |
Exports |
| |
Imports |
|
Communication
Phone | ||
---|---|---|
Landline total (World Rank: 69) | 1,266,600 | |
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 98) | 18.00 | |
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 198) | 54.00 | |
Assessment | 0 | |
Internet | ||
Users (World Rank: 127) | 1,258,000 | |
Population (World Rank: 190) | 18.20 | % |
Transport
Air | ||
---|---|---|
Airports paved (World Rank: 127) | 8.00 | |
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 80) | 33.00 | |
Road | ||
Total length (World Rank: 89) | 39,586 | |
Paved length (World Rank: 98) | 5,415 | |
Unpaved length (World Rank: 45) | 34,171 | |
Water | ||
Total length (World Rank: 24) | 4,600 |