Laos | Facts & Information

Updated September 9, 2022 | Infoplease Staff
Infoplease has everything you need to know about Laos. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about Laos's geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. If that's not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags.

Facts & Figures

  • President: Choummaly Sayasone (2006)

    Prime Minister: Thongsing Thammavong (2010)

    Land area: 89,112 sq mi (230,800 sq km); total area: 91,428 sq mi (236,800 sq km)

    Population (2014 est.): 6,803,699 (growth rate: 1.59%); birth rate: 24.76/1000; infant mortality rate: 54.53/1000; life expectancy: 63.51

    Capital and largest city (2011 est.): Vientiane, 810,000

    Monetary unit: New Kip

    National name: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

    Current government officials

    Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages

    Ethnicity/race: Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)

    Religions: Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)

    National Holiday: Republic Day, December 2

See also: