| Country (long form) |
Lao People's Democratic Republic |
| Capital |
Vientiane |
| Total Area |
91,428.99 sq mi
236,800.00 sq km
(slightly larger than Utah) |
| Population |
5,497,459 (July 2000 est.) |
| Estimated Population in 2050 |
13,170,523 |
| Languages |
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic
languages |
| Literacy |
57.0% total, 70.0% male, 44% female (1999 est.) |
| Religions |
Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% |
| Life Expectancy |
51.22 male, 55.02 female (2000 est.) |
| Government Type |
Communist state |
| Currency |
1 new kip (NK) = 100 at |
| GDP (per capita) |
$1,300 (1999 est.) |
| Labor Force (by occupation) |
agriculture 80% (1997 est.) |
| Industry |
tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments |
| Agriculture |
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane,
tobacco, cotton; tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry |
| Arable Land |
3% |
| Exports |
wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin |
| Imports |
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel |
| Natural Resources |
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones |
| Current Environmental Issues |
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water |
| Telephones (main lines in use) |
20,000 (1995) |
| Telephones (mobile cellular) |
1,600 (1997) |
|