| President |
H.E. Mr. Khamtay Siphandone |
| Prime Minister : |
H.E Mr. Bounnyang Vorachit |
| Party Head : |
H.E Mr. Coummaly Sayasone |
| Foreign Minister : |
H.E Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad |
| Ruling Party : |
Lao People's Revolutionary Party |
| Capital : |
Vientiane (pr) Viang Chan |
| Other major cities : |
Luang Prabhang, Pakse, and Savannakhet |
| Population : |
Laos: 5.4 million
Vientiane: 503,000
|
Geographical location
A land-locked country in the Indochina peninsula, Laos shares a common border with China's Yunnan province in the north, with Vietnam in the east, with Cambodia on the south and on the west with Myanmar and Thailand.
| Total Land Area : |
236,800 Sq.km |
| Climate : |
Tropical
Rainy Season: May - October
Dry Season: November - April
|
| Language : |
Phasa Lao |
| Ethnic Groups : |
68 |
| Religion : |
Buddhism |
| Total GDP (year): |
$ 1.24 billion (2001) |
| Per Capita GDP (year): |
$ 350 (1999) |
| Growth rate of GDP (in last three years): |
4% (1998); 7.3% (1999); 5.8 % (2000) , 5.7% (2001) |
| Major trading partners: |
Thailand, Vietnam, China |
| Total exports (year): |
$ 324 million (1999-2000) |
| Total imports (year): |
$ 540 million (1999-2000) |
| Major export products: |
Agricultural & Forestry products, readymade garments, Coffee, Jewelry (Gem Stones), Electricity and Minerals. |
| Major import products: |
Consumer & Electrical goods, Oil, Vehicles & Spare Parts, Machinery & Equipment, Foodstuffs, Textiles, Sports goods, Medical & Pharmaceutical Equipment.
|
| Foreign exchange reserves : |
$ 110 million (September, 2002) |
| Foreign direct investments (year) : |
$ 146 million (2000) |
| Currency : |
New Lao Kip |
| Rate of exchange against Dollar: |
$ 1 = Kip 10,025 (as of May 15,2006) |
| Literacy : |
57% |
| Population Growth : |
2.8% per annum |
| Life expectancy : |
51.7 years |
| Unemployment : |
30% |
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