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ACD Country Profile |
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Lao PDR |
General
Profile
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast
of Thailand, west of Vietnam Area: total: 236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Climate: tropical
monsoon; rainy season (May to Nov.); dry season (Dec.to
Apr.) Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and
plateaus Capital: Vientiane Administrative divisions: 16
provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality
(kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special
zone (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo,
Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan,
Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali,
Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane), Viangchan,
Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhoang Population:
6,217,141 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups: Lao Loum 68%, Lao
Theung 22%, Lao Soung, including the Hmong and the Yao
9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% Nationality: noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian
Languages: Lao (official), and other languages
Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Literacy:
66.4% |
Political
Profile
Government type: Communist state
Executive branch: • chief of state: President Gen.
KHAMTAI Siphadon (since February 1998) and Vice
President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since March
2001) • head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG
Volachit (since 27 March 2001) • cabinet: Council of
Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the
National Assembly • elections: president elected by the
National Assembly for a five-year term National Holiday:
Republic Day, 2 December (1975) ACD Membership: ACD
Member since 2002 Prime Mover (PM) on Working Group:
None Co-Prime Mover on Working Group: None Laos
government official web site : www.laopdr.com |
Economical
Profile
Currency (code): kip (LAK) GDP: $11.92
billion (2005 est.) GDP per capita: $1,900 (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities: garments, wood products, coffee,
electricity, tin Exports - partners: Thailand, Vietnam,
France , Germany , UK Imports - commodities: machinery
and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods Imports -
partners: Thailand , China , Vietnam , Singapore
Agriculture - products: sweet potatoes, vegetables,
corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts,
rice, water buffalo, cattle, poultry Industries: copper,
tin, and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultry processing, construction, garments, tourism,
cement Source: The World Fact Book 2005
(www.cia.gov) | |
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