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Official name:
Lao People's Democratic Republic
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 in the south and on the west with Myanmar and Thailand.
Form of State:
One-party rule by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP)
The executive:
The Council of Ministers is the highest executive body and all members of the council are appointed by the chairman of the Council of Ministers (the Prime Minister).
Head of state:
The President, H.E Choummaly Sayasone
National legislature:
A unicameral National Assembly of 132 seats representing 16 provinces and Vientiane capital. Members are elected by popular vote from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party to serve five-year term.
National elections:
The last National Assembly election took place on April 30th 2011.
The next is due in April 2015
National government:
The Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) dominates the government and bureaucracy.
Capital:
Vientiane (pronounced as Viang Chan)
Land Area:
236,800 sq km
Population:
6.44m (2010, IMF)
Currency:
Kip (K). Average exchange rate in 2011: K8,044:US$1
GDP:
US$ 7.5 billion (2010)
GNI Per Capita:
US$ 1050 (2010, World Bank)
Total Trade:
Exports: USD 1.746 billion (2010)
Imports: USD 2.061 billion (2010)
Forex Reserves:
USD 703 million (2010)
Main resources:
Agricultural products, copper, tin, gold, iron ore, coal, gypsum, cement, timber, hydro-power, tourism, etc.
Language:
Phasa Lao (official), English, French, and various ethnic languages
Religion:
The main religion is Buddhism which consists of about 65% of the population, Animist – 33%, Christian – 1% and other denominations – 1%
Boundary:
Total land boundary is 5,083 km of which with Myanmar it has 235 km, Cambodia 541 km,
China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130
Main towns:
Vientiane (capital) 698,318
Savannakhet 825,902
Champasak 607,370
Luang Prabang 407,039
Climate:
Tropical; rainy season, May-October;
Dry season; November-April
Time:
7 hours ahead of GMT
Fiscal year:
October 1st-September 30th
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