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LaosFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Laos (disambiguation).

After a period as a French protectorate, it gained independence in 1949. A long

civil war ended officially when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to

power in 1975, but the protesting between factions continued for several years.

10.6% of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a

day.[3]

Laos (pronounced /•lɑː.oʊs/, /•laʊ/, or /•leɪ.•s/), officially the Lao

People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia,

bordered by Burma and People's Republic of China to the northwest, Vietnam

to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. Laos traces its

history to the Kingdom of Lan Xang or Land of a Million Elephants, which

existed from the 14th to the 18th century.

Article Discussion Edit this page History

Lao People's Democratic Republic

••••••••••• •••••••••• •••••••••• Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao

Motto: "•••••••• ••••••• •••••••••• ••••••• ••••••••••••"

"Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity and Prosperity"

Anthem: Pheng Xat Lao

Capital

(and largest city)

Vientiane

17°58′N 102°36′E

Official languages Lao

Demonym Laotian, Lao

Government Socialist republic,

Single-party communist state

Contents [hide]

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Location of Laos (green)

in ASEAN (dark grey) — [Legend]

● 1 Etymology

● 2 History

● 3 Geography

● 4 Government and

politics

● 5 Administrative divisions

● 6 Economy

● 7 Demographics

Flag Coat of arms

❍ 7.1 Religion

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In the Lao language, the country's name is "Meuang Lao." The Imperial French,

who made the country part of French Indochina in 1893, spelled it with a final

silent "s," i.e., "Laos" (the Lao language itself has no final "s" sound, so Lao

people pronounce it as in their native tongue though some, especially those

living abroad, use the pronunciation ending in "s"). The usual adjectival form is

"Lao," e.g., "the Lao economy," not the "Laotian" economy—although "Laotian"

is used to describe the people of Laos to avoid confusion with the Lao ethnic

group.

Main article: History of Laos

Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, founded in the 15th century

by Fa Ngum, himself descended from a long line of Lao kings, tracking back to

Khoun Boulom. Lan-Xang prospered until the 18th century, when the kingdom

was divided into three principalities, which eventually came under Siamese

suzerainty. In the 19th century, Luang Prabang was incorporated into the

'Protectorate' of French Indochina, and shortly thereafter, the Kingdom of

Champasak and the territory of Vientiane were also added to the protectorate.

Under the French, Vientiane once again became the capital of a unified Lao state. Following a brief Japanese occupation during World War II, the

[edit]Etymology

[edit]History

-

-

-

-

From France

- Date 19 July, 1949

- Total

- 2

- 2008 estimate6,677,534

[1] (101st)

- 1995 census 4,574,848

- 25/km2 (177th)

65/sq mi

2008 estimate

- Total$13.792 billion

[2] (129th)

- $2,204

[2] (137th)

2008 estimate

- Total$5.260 billion

[2]

- $840

[2]

34.6 (medium)

right

856

President Lt. Gen. Choummaly Sayasone

Vice President Bounnhang Vorachith

Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh

President of National Assembly Thongsing Thammavong

Independence

Area

236,800 km2 (83rd)

91,429 sq mi

Water (%)

Population

Density

GDP (PPP)

Per capita

GDP (nominal)

Per capita

Gini (2008)

HDI (2008) ▲ 0.608 (medium) (130th)

Currency Kip (LAK)

Time zone (UTC+7)

Drives on the

Internet TLD .la

Calling code

● 8 Culture

● 9 Media

● 10 International rankings

● 11 See also

● 12 Notes and references

● 13 External links

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country declared its independence in 1945, but the French under Charles de Gaulle re-asserted their control and only in 1950 was Laos granted

semi-autonomy as an "associated state" within the French Union. Moreover, the French remained in de facto control until 1954, when Laos gained

full independence as a constitutional monarchy. Under a special exemption to the Geneva Convention, a French military training mission continued

to support the Royal Laos Army. In 1955, the U.S. Department of Defense created a special Programs Evaluation Office to replace French support

of the Royal Lao Army against the communist Pathet Lao as part of the U.S. containment policy.

Laos was dragged into the Vietnam War and the eastern parts of the country were invaded and occupied by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA),

which used Laotian territory as a staging ground and supply route for its war against the South. In response, the United States initiated a bombing

campaign against the North Vietnamese, supported regular and irregular anticommunist forces in Laos and supported a South Vietnamese invasion

of Laos. The result of these actions were a series of coups d'état and, ultimately, the Laotian Civil War between the Royal Laotian government and

the communist Pathet Lao.

In the Civil War the NVA, with its heavy artillery and tanks, was the real power behind the Pathet Lao insurgency. In 1968, the North Vietnamese

Army launched a multi-division attack against the Royal Lao Army. The attack resulted in the army largely demobilizing and leaving the conflict to

irregular forces raised by the United States and Thailand. The attack resulted in many lost lives. Massive aerial bombardment was carried out by the

United States. The Guardian reported that Laos was hit by an average of one B-52 bombload every eight minutes, 24 hours a day, between 1964

and 1973. US bombers dropped more ordnance on Laos in this period than was dropped during the whole of the Second World War. Of the 260m

"bombies" that rained down, particularly on Xieng Khouang province, 80m failed to explode, leaving a deadly legacy.[4]

It holds the dubious

distinction of being the most bombed country in the world.

In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao, backed by the Soviet Union and the North Vietnamese Army, overthrew the

royalist government, forcing King Savang Vatthana to abdicate on 2 December 1975. He later died in captivity.

After taking control of the country, Pathet Lao's government renamed the country as the "Lao People's

Democratic Republic" and signed agreements giving Vietnam the right to station armed forces and to appoint

advisers to assist in overseeing the country. Laos was ordered in the late 1970s by Vietnam to end relations with

the People's Republic of China which cut the country off from trade with any country but Vietnam.[citation needed

]

Control by Vietnam and socialisation were slowly replaced by a relaxation of economic restrictions in the 1980s and admission into ASEAN in 1997.

In 2005, the United States established Normal Trade Relations with Laos, ending a protracted period of punitive import taxes.[5]

Pha That Luang in Vientiane,

the national symbol of Laos

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Main article: Geography of Laos

Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia and the thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged

mountains, the highest of which is Phou Bia at 9,242 feet (2,817 m), with some plains and plateaus. The Mekong

River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, whereas the mountains of the Annamite Chain

form most of the eastern border with Vietnam. The climate is tropical and monsoon. There is a distinct rainy

season from May to November, followed by a dry season from December to April. Local tradition holds that there

are three seasons (rainy, cold and hot) as the latter two months of the climatologically defined dry season are

noticeably hotter than the earlier four months. The capital and largest city of Laos is Vientiane and other major

cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet (city)Savannakhet and Pakxe.

In 1993, the Laos government set aside 21% of the nation's land area for Habitat conservation preservation[citation needed

]. The country is one of four

in the opium poppy growing region known as the "Golden Triangle." According to the October 2007 UNODC fact book "Opium Poppy Cultivation in

South East Asia," the poppy cultivation area was 15 square kilometres (3,700 acres), down from 18 square kilometres (4,400 acres) in 2008.

Main article: Politics of Laos

Laos is a single-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President

Choummaly Sayasone, who also is secretary-general (leader) of the LPRP. The head of government is Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh.

Government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo and the 49-member Central Committee. Important

government decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers.

Laos' first, French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on May 11, 1947 and declared it to be an independent state within the

French Union. The revised constitution of 11 May 1957 omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties

with the former colonial power persisted. The 1957 document was abrogated on 3 December 1975, when a communist People's Republic was

proclaimed. A new constitution was adopted in 1991 and enshrined a "leading role" for the LPRP. The following year, elections were held for a new

85-seat National Assembly with members elected by secret ballot to five-year terms. This National Assembly, which essentially acts as a rubber

stamp for the LPRP, approves all new laws, although the executive branch retains authority to issue binding decrees. The most recent elections

[edit]Geography

[edit]Government and politics

Map of Laos

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took place in April 2006. The assembly was expanded to 99 members in 1997 and in 2006 elections had 115.

Main articles: Provinces of Laos and Districts of Laos

Laos is divided into 16 provinces (qwang) and Vientiane Capital (Na Kone Luang Vientiane):

The country is further divided into districts (muang).

[edit]Administrative divisions

[edit]Economy

1. Attapu

2. Bokeo

3. Bolikhamxai

4. Champasak

5. Houaphan

6. Khammouan

7. Loung Namtha

8. Louangphabang

9. Oudomxai

10. Phongsali

11. Salavan

12. Savannakhet

13. Vientiane Capital

14. Vientiane Province

15. Xaignabouli

16. Xaisomboun (special administrative zone, dissolved in 2006)

17. Xekong

18. Xiangkhoang

Provinces of Laos

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Main article: Economy of Laos

See also: Tourism in Laos

The

Lao

economy is heavily dependent on

investment and trade with its neighbors, Thailand, Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China. Pakxe has also

experienced growth based on cross-border trade with Thailand and Vietnam.

Much of the country, however, lacks adequate infrastructure. Laos has no railways, except a short link to connect

Vientiane with Thailand over the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The major roads connecting the major urban centres, in particular Route 13, have

been significantly upgraded in recent years, but villages far from major roads are accessible only through unpaved roads that may not be accessible

year-round. There is limited external and internal telecommunication, but mobile phones have become widespread in urban centres. In many rural

areas electricity is at least partly unavailable. Songthaews (pick-up trucks with benches) are used in the country for long-distance and local public

transport.

The economy receives development aid from the IMF, ADB and other international sources, and foreign direct investment for development of the

society, industry, hydropower and mining, most notably copper and gold. Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in the country. However, economic

Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80% of total employment. Only 4.01% of the country is arable land, and

0.34% used as permanent crop land[6]

, the lowest percentage in the Greater Mekong Subregion.[7]

Rice dominates agriculture, with about 80% of

the arable land area used for growing rice.[8]

Approximately 77% of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice.[9]

Through the development,

release and widespread adoption of improved rice varieties, and through economic reforms, production has increased by an annual rate of 5%

between 1990 and 2005[10]

, and Lao PDR achieved a net balance of rice imports and exports for the first time in 1999[11]

. Lao PDR may have the

greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Since 1995 the Lao government has been working with the International Rice

Research Institute to collect seed samples of each of the thousands of rice varieties found in Laos.[12]

Wattay International Airport in

Vientiane

A street market in Luang

Prabang.

Rivers are an important

means of transport in Laos.

Buses connect the major cities

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development in has been hampered by brain drain, with a skilled emigration rate of 37.4% in 2000[13]

.

Laos is rich in mineral resources but imports petroleum and gas. Metallurgy is an important industry, and the government hopes to attract foreign

investment to develop the substantial deposits of coal, gold, bauxite, tin, copper and other valuable metals in the country. In addition, the country's

plentiful water resources and mountainous terrain enable it to produce and export large quantities of hydroelectric energy. Of the potential capacity

of approximately 18,000 megawatts, around 8,000 megawatts have been committed for exporting to Thailand and Vietnam.[14]

Tourism sector has grown rapidly, from 14,400 tourists visiting Laos in 1990, to 1.1 million in 2005. Annual tourism sector revenues are expected to

grow to $250–300 million by 2020. [15]

Main article: Demographics of Laos

69% of the country's people are ethnic Lao,

the principal lowland inhabitants and the

politically and culturally dominant group. The

Lao belong to the Tai linguistic group who

began migrating southward from China in the

first millennium AD. 8% belong to other

"lowland" groups, which together with the Lao

people make up the Lao Loum.

Hill people and minority cultures of Laos such as the Hmong (Miao), Yao (Mien), Dao, Shan, and several Tibeto-

Burman speaking peoples have lived in isolated regions of Laos for many years. Mountain/hill tribes of mixed ethno/

cultural-linguistic heritage are found in northern Laos which include the Lua (Lua) and Khmu people who are indigenous to Laos. Today, the Lua

people are considered endangered. Collectively, they are known as Lao Soung or highland Laotians. In the central and southern mountains, Mon-

Khmer tribes, known as Lao Theung or mid-slope Laotians, predominate. Some Vietnamese, Chinese and Thailand Thai minorities remain,

particularly in the towns, but many left in two waves; after independence in the late 1940s and again after 1975.

The term "Laotian" does not necessarily refer to the ethnic Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs, but is a political term that also

includes the non-ethnic Lao groups within Laos and identifies them as "Laotian" because of their political citizenship.

[edit]Demographics

Patuxay was built with USAID

funds in Vientiane in the 1960s

to celebrate the independence

struggle.

In Luang Prabang, a

young woman at the time

of a Hmong Meeting

Festival

A primary school in a village

in northern rural Laos

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The predominant religion in Laos is Theravada Buddhism which, along with the common Animism practiced among the mountain tribes, coexists

peacefully with spirit worship. There also are a small number of Christians, mostly restricted to the Vientiane area, and Muslims, mostly restricted to

the Myanmar border region. Christian missionary work is regulated by the government.

The official and dominant language is Lao, a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group. The written language is based on Khmer writing script.

Midslope and highland Lao speak an assortment of tribal languages. French, still common in government and commerce, is still studied by many,

while English, the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has increased in recent years.

Of the people of Laos 67% are Buddhist, 1.5% are Christian, and 31.5% are other or unspecified according to the 2005 census.[16]

Main article: Culture of Laos

See also: Art of Laos, Cuisine of Laos, Dance and theater of Laos, Festivals of Laos, and Music of Laos

The country has two World Heritage Sites: Luang Prabang and Vat Phou. The government is seeking the same status for the Plain of Jars.

Rice is the staple food and has cultural and religious significance. There are many traditions and rituals associated with rice production in different

environments, and among many ethnic groups. For example, Khammu farmers in Luang Prabang plant the rice variety Khao Kam in small quantities

near the hut in memory of dead parents, or at the edge of the rice field to indicate that parents are still alive....[17]

[edit]Religion

[edit]Culture

Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture. It is

reflected throughout the country from language to the temple and in

art, literature, performing arts, etc. Many elements of Lao culture

predate Buddhism, however. For example, Laotian music is

dominated by its national instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo

pipe that has prehistoric origins. The khaen traditionally

accompanied the singer in lam, the dominant style of folk music. Among the various lam styles, the lam

saravane is probably the most popular.

Buddha statues at Vat Aham in

Luang Prabang

An example of Lao cuisine

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All newspapers are published by the government, including two foreign language papers: the English-language daily Vientiane Times and the

French-language weekly Le Rénovateur. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French

versions of its eponymous paper. Internet cafes are now common in the major urban centres and are popular especially with the younger

generation. However, the government strictly censors content and controls access.

Main article: Outline of Laos

[edit]Media

[edit]International rankings

[edit]See also

● List of Laos-related topics

● Communications in Laos

● Emblem of Laos

● Foreign relations of Laos

● French colonial empire

● Health in Laos

● Laotian Civil War

● List of indices of freedom

● Military of Laos

● North Vietnamese invasion of Laos

Organisation Survey Ranking

137 out of 157

164 out of 173

151 out of 180

133 out of 179

Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom

Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press Freedom Index

Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index

United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index

Geography portal

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Leaders of ethnic minorities in Laos

[edit]Notes and references

● Scouting in Laos

● Transport in Laos

● Vietnam War

● Pa Chay Vue

● Ong Keo

● Ong Kommandam

2. ^ a b c d "Laos". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?

sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=544&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.

x=61&pr.y=12. Retrieved 2009-04-22.

1. ^ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/la.html

3. ^ Human Development Indices, Table 3: Human and income poverty, p. 35. Retrieved on 1 June 2009

4. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/03/laos-cluster-bombs-uxo-deaths

5. ^ U.S.-Laos Business Opportunities Making Normal Trade Relations a Reality (Dec. 15-2005) - U.S. Embassy Vientiane, Laos

6. ^ Field Listing - Land use, CIA World Factbook

7. ^ About Greater Mekong Subregion at Asian Development Bank

8. ^ Rice, the fabric of life in Laos

9. ^ Genuinely Lao, Rice Today, April-June 2006

10. ^ FIFTEEN YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR RICE RESEARCH IN LAO PDR

^ ASIA BRIEF: FILLING THE RICE BASKET IN LAO PDR PARTNERSHIP RESULTS

^ Genuinely Lao, Prepared by IRRI’s International Programs Management Office

11. ^ The Green Revolution comes to Laos

12. ^ A Race Against Time

13. ^ [ http://ces.univ-paris1.fr/membre/Mariani/em/DM_BookWB%5B1%5D.pdf International Migration, Remittances & the Brain Drain]

14. ^ [ http://www.adb.org/Documents/TARs/LAO/40514-LAO-TAR.pdf Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Preparing the Cumulative Impact Assessment for

the Nam Ngum 3 Hydropower Project]

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[edit]External links

Find more about Laos on Wikipedia's sister projects:

Definitions from Wiktionary

Learning resources from Wikiversity

General information

Textbooks from Wikibooks

Quotations from Wikiquote

Source texts from Wikisource

Images and media from Commons

News stories from Wikinews

● The Official Virtual tour of The LAO P.D.R

● BBC News - Country Profile: Laos

● The National Portal of Laos

● Lao National Tourism Administration

● Lao Voices

● Lao Media

● Chief of State and Cabinet Members

● Laos entry at The World Factbook

● Laos from UCB Libraries GovPubs

● Laos at the Open Directory Project

● Wikimedia Atlas of Laos

● Laos travel guide from Wikitravel

15. ^ [ http://www.latalaos.org/doc/Strategy2006.pdf Lao PDR Tourism Strategy 2006-2020]

16. ^ CIA the World Factbook

17. ^ An Evaluation of Synthesis of Rice

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Categories: Communist states | Laos | Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states | Member states of La Francophonie | Least

Developed Countries | Landlocked countries | States and territories established in 1949 | Socialist states | Single-party states

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1 Also known as overseas regions. 2 Claimed by Comoros. 3 Claimed by Madagascar. 4 Claimed by Seychelles. 5 Claimed by Mauritius.

[show] Uninhabited areas

Pacific Ocean

French Southern and

Antarctic Lands

Clipperton Island

Île Amsterdam · Île Saint-Paul · Crozet Islands · Kerguelen Islands · Adélie Land

Scattered islands in

the Indian Ocean

Bassas da India3 · Europa Island3 · Glorioso Islands2, 3, 4 · Juan de Nova Island3 ·

Tromelin Island5

Laos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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