People

Population

6,521,998 (2007 estimate)

Population growth

Population growth rate

2.37 percent (2007 estimate)

Projected population in 2025

9,450,131 (2007 estimate)

Projected population in 2050

13,176,153 (2007 estimate)

Population density

28 persons per sq km (2007 estimate)

73 persons per sq mi (2007 estimate)

Urban/rural distribution

Share urban

22 percent (2005 estimate)

Share rural

78 percent (2005 estimate)

Largest cities, with population

Vientiane

640,000 (2000 estimate)

Savannakhét

97,000 (1995 estimate)

Louangphrabang

68,000 (1995 estimate)

Pakxé

47,000 (1995 estimate)

Ethnic groups

Lao Lum (lowland Lao), including Lao and Tai

66 percent

Lao Thoeng (Lao of the mountain slopes), including Khamu, Lamet, Laven, Sedang, and Nyaheun

24 percent

Lao Sung (Lao of the mountaintops), including Hmong and Yao (Mien)

10 percent

Languages

Lao (official), numerous indigenous languages and dialects, French, English

Religious affiliations

Buddhist

49 percent

Indigenous beliefs

42 percent

Nonreligious

4 percent

Christian

2 percent

Other

3 percent

Health and Education

Life expectancy

Total

55.9 years (2007 estimate)

Female

58 years (2007 estimate)

Male

53.8 years (2007 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

81 deaths per 1,000 live births (2007 estimate)

Population per physician

1,695 people (2004)

Population per hospital bed

833 people (2002)

Literacy rate

Total

64.8 percent (2000 estimate)

Female

53.4 percent (2000 estimate)

Male

76.2 percent (2000 estimate)

Education expenditure as a share of gross national product (GNP)

2.8 percent (2002-2003)

Number of years of compulsory schooling

5 years (2002-2003)

Number of students per teacher, primary school

31 students per teacher (2002-2003)

Government

Form of government

Communist state

Universal at age 18

Constitution

14 August 1991

Armed forces

Total number of military personnel

29,100 (2004)

Military expenditures as a share of gross domestic product (GDP)

2 percent (2003)

Economy

Gross domestic product (GDP, in U.S.$)

$2.9 billion (2005)

GDP per capita (U.S.$)

$485.30 (2005)

GDP by economic sector

Agriculture, forestry, fishing

44.8 percent (2005)

Industry

29.5 percent (2005)

Services

25.7 percent (2005)

Employment

Number of workers

2,354,695 (2005)

Workforce share of economic sector

Agriculture, forestry, fishing

85 percent (1995)

Industry

4 percent (1995)

Services

11 percent (1995)

Unemployment rate

2.6 percent (1995)

National budget (U.S.$)

Total revenue

Not available

Total expenditure

Not available

Monetary unit

1 new kip (NK), or Ngeun Kip Mai, consisting of 100 at

Major trade partners for exports

Thailand, Vietnam, France, Germany, and Italy

Major trade partners for imports

Thailand, Vietnam, China, Singapore, and Japan

Energy, Communications, and Transportation

Electricity production

Electricity from thermal sources

2.71 percent (2003 estimate)

Electricity from hydroelectric sources

97.29 percent (2003 estimate)

Electricity from nuclear sources

0 percent (2003 estimate)

Electricity from geothermal, solar, and wind sources

0 percent (2003 estimate)

Number of radios per 1,000 people

145 (1997)

Number of telephones per 1,000 people

13 (2005)

Number of televisions per 1,000 people

9.4 (2000 estimate)

Number of Internet hosts per 10,000 people

1.6 (2003)

Daily newspaper circulation per 1,000 people

4 (1996)

Number of motor vehicles per 1,000 people

4.4 (1997)

Paved road as a share of total roads

14 percent (2002)

Sources

Basic Facts and People sections

Area data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Population, population growth rate, nd population projections are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International Data Base (IDB) (www.census.gov). Urban and rural population data are from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), FAOSTAT database (www.fao.org). Largest cities population data and political divisions data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Ethnic divisions and religion data are largely from the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook and from various country censuses and reports. Language data are largely from theEthnologue, Languages of the World, Summer Institute of Linguistics International (www.sil.org).

Health and Education section

Life expectancy and infant mortality data are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International database (IDB) (www.census.gov). Population per physician and population per hospital bed data are from the World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int). Education data are from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org).

Government section

Government, independence, legislature, constitution, highest court, and voting qualifications data are largely from various government Web sites, the latest Europa World Yearbook, and the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook. The armed forces data is from Military Balance.

Economy section

Gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, GDP by economic sectors, employment, and national budget data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org). Monetary unit, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, exports, imports, and major trade partner information is from the statistical bureaus of individual countries, latest Europa World Yearbook, and various United Nations and International Monetary Fund (IMF) publications.

Energy, Communication, and Transportation section

Electricity information is from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) database (www.eia.doe.gov). Radio, telephone, television, and newspaper information is from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org). Internet hosts, motor vehicles, and road data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org).

Note

Figures may not total 100 percent due to rounding.