Laos

country in Southeast Asia

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is a country in Southeast Asia.[4]

Lao People's Democratic Republic
ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ
Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao
Emblem of Laos
Emblem
Motto: "ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ"
"Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity"
Anthem: Pheng Xat Lao
"Hymn of the Lao People"
Location of  Laos  (red) in ASEAN  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]
Location of  Laos  (red)

in ASEAN  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]

CapitalVientiane
17°58′N 102°36′E / 17.967°N 102.600°E / 17.967; 102.600
Official languagesLao
Demonym(s)Laotian, Lao
Government
Thongloun Sisoulith
Sonexay Siphandone
• Party Standing Secretary and Vice President
Bounthong Chitmany
Pany Yathotou
Saysomphone Phomvihane
Independence 
From France
• Autonomy
19 July 1949
• Declared
9 Nov 1953
Area
• Total
236,800 km2 (91,400 sq mi) (83rd)
• Water (%)
2
Population
• 2009 estimate
6,800,000 [1] (104th)
• 1995 census
4,574,848
• Density
26.7/km2 (69.2/sq mi) (177th)
GDP (PPP)2010 estimate
• Total
$15.693 billion[2] (130th)
• Per capita
$2,435[2] (48th)
GDP (nominal)2010 estimate
• Total
$6.341 billion[2] (137th)
• Per capita
$984[2] (147th)
Gini (2008)34.6
medium
HDI (2010)Increase 0.497[3]
low · 122nd
CurrencyKip (LAK)
Time zoneUTC+7
Driving sideright
Calling code856
ISO 3166 codeLA
Internet TLD.la

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and by China to the northwest, by Vietnam to the east, by Cambodia to the south and by Thailand to the west. The Mekong river forms a part of the western boundary with Thailand. Boats from Laos cannot get to the ocean using the Mekong because of rapids and waterfalls in the south of the country.[5] Laos is the least densely populated country in Southeast Asia, with 32 people per square kilometer.[6] Trains to and from Thailand will start in July 2024; that line has an endpoint in Vientiane prefecture's Khamsavath railway station.[7]

History

Laos became a French colony in 1893 and became part of French Indochina. In 1949 it became independent from France, as the Kingdom of Laos. The Laotian Civil War started in 1953. In 1975 Laos became a one-party state under the leadership of the communist party.[8]

On July 20, 1954 an agreement was signed - Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Laos. That agreement ended France's rule of Laos.[9] 2 months later, the authorities of North Vietnam, established a support group for Pathet Lao, in Ban Nameo.[10]

From the middle of the 1960s, Laos was used by North Vietnam as a route to attack South Vietnam. U.S. forces dropped bombs on Laos, to try to stop the supplies coming thru the Ho Chi Minh trail.[11]

South Vietnam was taken (or fell) in April 1975. On May 14, 1975 Vang Pao escaped from Laos, thru the military base at Long Tieng.[12]

References