← THE SECTION CUT · ASIA

Laos

18.0N 105.0E · 21 EVENTS · 9 DOMAINS
FRANCO-LAO TREATY OF AMITY AND ASSOCIATION · 22 OCTOBER 1953
▼ PULL DOWN TO EXTRACT THE CORE
1975 - present · The Lao People's Democratic Republic
4 EVENTS
1986 CE · New Economic Mechanism reforms 2 REFS
1995 CE · Luang Prabang inscribed by UNESCO 1 REF
1953 - 1975 CE · Civil War, the Secret War, and the Pathet Lao
4 EVENTS
1964-1973 · The Secret War bombing 3 REFS
2 December 1975 · Founding of the Lao PDR 3 REFS
1893 - 1953 CE · The French Protectorate
4 EVENTS
1893 CE · French protectorate established 2 REFS
March-October 1945 · Japanese occupation and the Lao Issara 2 REFS
1707 - 1893 CE · Three Kingdoms and Siamese Vassalage
3 EVENTS
1713 CE · Champasak secedes 2 REFS
later 18th century · The Lao kingdoms become Siamese vassals 2 REFS
1353 - 1707 CE · The Kingdom of Lan Xang
4 EVENTS
1353 CE · Fa Ngum founds Lan Xang 2 REFS
from the mid-14th century · Theravada Buddhism established 2 REFS
5th century - 1353 CE · Mekong Settlement and the Older Civilizations
2 EVENTS
from the 5th century CE · The sacred landscape of Vat Phou 1 REF
1st millennium CE · Tai-Lao settlement of the Mekong 2 REFS
Read the chronicle
EVERY ERA, EVENT AND REFERENCE ON ONE PAGE
↓
Quick facts · atlas reference
Capital
Vientiane
Population
7.1 m
Area
236,800 km²
Region
South-Eastern Asia
Languages
Lao
Currency
Lao kip (₭)
Demonym
Laotian
UN member
Yes
Dossier · press a specimen — it turns over

Economy

GDP
$18 B’25 WB-WDI
GDP per capita
$2,325’25 WB-WDI
GDP growth
4.5%’25 WB-WDI
Inflation
7.7%’25 WB-WDI
Trade openness
75.1%’16 WB-WDI

Society

Population
7.9 m’25 WB-WDI
Life expectancy
69.2 yrs’24 WB-WDI
Urban population
40.3%’25 WB-WDI
Fertility rate
2.4’24 WB-WDI
Literacy rate
75.6%’23 WB-WDI

Governance

Voice & accountability
31.1’24 WB-WGI
Political stability
75.4’24 WB-WGI
Government effectiveness
40.0’24 WB-WGI
Regulatory quality
44.8’24 WB-WGI
Rule of law
44.2’24 WB-WGI
Control of corruption
28.0’24 WB-WGI

Health

Health spending
1.3%’23 WB-WHO
Physicians
0.33’22 WB-WHO
Under-5 mortality
29.4’24 WB-UNICEF-WHO
Measles immunisation
69.0%’24 WB-UNICEF-WHO
Safe drinking water
35.2%’24 WB-WHO

Education

Adult literacy
75.6%’23 WB-UNESCO
Education spending
1.2%’23 WB-UNESCO
Primary enrolment
93.1%’25 WB-UNESCO
Secondary enrolment
50.5%’25 WB-UNESCO
Tertiary enrolment
14.9%’23 WB-UNESCO

Technology

R&D spending
0.0%’02 WB-UNESCO
Researchers (per million)
16’02 WB-UNESCO
Internet users
65.6%’24 WB-ITU
Mobile subscriptions
65’23 WB-ITU
High-tech exports
7.4%’23 WB-WDI

Geography

Land area
230,800 km²’23 WB-WDI
Forest area
71.5%’23 WB-WDI
Agricultural land
9.9%’23 WB-WDI
CO₂ per capita (t)
3.4’24 WB-WDI
Renewable energy
49.2%’22 WB-WDI

Resources

Resource rents
5.4%’21 WB-WDI
Oil rents
0.0%’21 WB-WDI
Mineral rents
3.9%’21 WB-WDI
Forest rents
1.5%’21 WB-WDI
Electricity access
96.5%’24 WB-WDI

Military

Military burden
0.2%’13 WB-SIPRI
Defense spending
$23 M’13 WB-SIPRI
Armed forces
129,000’20 WB-SIPRI

A hatched gap has no underside — there is nothing to turn over. Absence is stated, never zeroed.

The record · what changed here
EVERY CLAIM SOURCED
ABSENCE ≠ ZERO
NO SIDES