Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Laos
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Facts & Stats
Images
Laos Laos Wat Aham in Louangphrabang, Laos. Laos Bolovens Plateau Ayutthaya (Ayudhya) Kingdom mid-15th century Buddhist monks walking past the Pha That Luang temple, Vientiane, Laos. Laos: Urban-rural Laos: population density
For Students
Laos summary
Quizzes
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
The Country Quiz
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz
Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz
Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)
Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz
Discover
Groups of depositors in front of the closed American Union Bank, New York City. April 26, 1932. Great Depression run on bank crowd
Causes of the Great Depression
German machine gunners occupy a trench during World War I.
Weapons of World War I
Julius Caesar in full Gaius Julius Caesar (100? BCE-44 BCE) statue in Rimini, Italy. Roman general and statesman and dictator
The Time Julius Caesar Was Captured by Pirates
Macro of sheet music
10 Classical Music Composers to Know
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)
New Seven Wonders of the World
Korean War - U.S. Marines watch explosions of bombs dropped by Marine Vought F4U Corsair fighter bomber planes during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Korea, in December 1950. soldiers
Korean War Timeline
The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. (Civil War, Pennsylvania)
9 Worst Generals in History

Laos: Facts & Stats

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Laos
Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Lao, Vietnamese leaders share in tributes to former Lao President Khamtay Siphandone • Apr. 4, 2025, 3:50 PM ET (The Star)
Asian countries riven by war and disaster face some of steepest Trump tariffs • Apr. 3, 2025, 4:19 AM ET (The Guardian)
Former Lao president Khamtay Siphandone passes away at 102 • Apr. 2, 2025, 7:51 PM ET (The Star)
Laos backs regional cooperation at Boao Forum • Mar. 31, 2025, 7:16 AM ET (The Star)
Video Search for survivors after devastating Myanmar-Thailand earthquake • Mar. 30, 2025, 1:08 PM ET (ABC News (U.S.))

Facts

Also Known As Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao • Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Head Of Government Prime Minister: Sonexay Siphandone
Capital Vientiane (Viangchan)
Population (2025 est.) 7,767,000
Head Of State President: Thongloun Sisoulith
Form Of Government unitary single-party people’s republic with one legislative house (National Assembly [149])
Official Language Lao
Official Religion none
Official Name Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao (Lao People’s Democratic Republic)
Total Area (Sq Km) 236,800
Total Area (Sq Mi) 91,428
Monetary Unit kip (KN)
Population Rank (2023) 104
Population Projection 2030 7,375,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2025) 85
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2025) 32.8
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 38.9% • Rural: (2024) 61.1%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2022) 66 years • Female: (2022) 69 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate Male: (2021) 91% • Female: (2021) 83%
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2023) 16,195
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2023) 2,120

Photos

Laos
Laos
Wat Aham in Louangphrabang, Laos.
Laos
Bolovens Plateau
Ayutthaya (Ayudhya) Kingdom mid-15th century
Buddhist monks walking past the Pha That Luang temple, Vientiane, Laos.
Laos: population density
Louangphrabang, Laos: Buddhist monk
That Luang stupa, Vientiane, Laos, 1566, restored 18th and 19th centuries.
National anthem of Laos
See All Images, Audio and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
Katay Don Sasorith
prime minister of Laos
Pavie, Auguste
Auguste Pavie
French explorer
Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa
Laotian political leader
Kaysone Phomvihan
president of Laos
Souvanna Phouma
Souvanna Phouma
prime minister of Laos
Prince Boun Oum
Laotian politician
Souphanouvong
president of Laos

Related Places

Tha River
river, Laos
A map of the continent of Asia, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and surrounding oceans.
Asia
continent
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
That Luang temple, Vientiane, Laos
Vientiane
national capital, Laos
Champasak
Laos
Wat Aham in Louangphrabang, Laos.
Louangphrabang
Laos
Louang Namtha
Laos
Pakxé
Laos
Xiangkhoang
Laos
Savannakhét
Savannakhét
Laos
Jars, Plain of
Plain of Jars
region, Laos
Bolovens Plateau
Bolovens Plateau
plateau, Laos
Khone Falls
Khone Falls
waterfall, Laos
Xiangkhoang Plateau
plateau, Laos
Ou River
Ou River
river, Laos

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)
Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz
Actual continental drift of plates. Thematic map.
Geography Fun Facts
Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz
10:087 Ocean: The World of Water, two globes showing eastern and western hemispheres
You Name It!
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
The Country Quiz
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
Brown globe on antique map. Brown world on vintage map. North America. Green globe. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries & Their Features
Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
Countries of the World
asia bee map
Get to Know Asia
Roofs of the Forbidden City, Beijing, China
All About Asia
Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz