| Population :
| 6,068,117 (July 2004 est.) .
|
| Age structure 0-14 % :
| 41,90%.
|
| Age structure 0-14.m :
| 1 277 152.
|
| Age structure 0-14.f :
| 1 265 761.
|
| Age structure 15-64 % :
| 54,90%.
|
| Age structure 15-64.m :
| 1 642 895.
|
| Age structure 15-64.f :
| 1 688 175.
|
| Age structure 65 % :
| 3,20%.
|
| Age structure 65.m :
| 87 995.
|
| Age structure 65.f :
| 106 139.
|
| Age structure est :
| 2004 est..
|
| Median age total :
| 18.6 years .
|
| Median age male :
| 18.3 years .
|
| Median age female :
| 19 years (2004 est.) .
|
| Population growth rate :
| 2.44% (2004 est.) .
|
| Population growth rate note :
| .
|
| Birth rate :
| 36.47 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) .
|
| Death rate :
| 12.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) .
|
| Net migration rate :
| 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) .
|
|
| Sex ratio at birth :
| 1.04 male(s)/female .
|
| Sex ratio under 15 :
| 1.01 male(s)/female .
|
| Sex ratio 15-64 :
| 0.97 male(s)/female .
|
| Sex ratio 65 :
| 0.83 male(s)/female .
|
| Sex ratio total :
| 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) .
|
| Infant mortality rate male :
| 97.05 deaths/1,000 live births .
|
| Infant mortality rate female :
| 76.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) .
|
| Life expectancy at birth total :
| 54.69 years .
|
| Life expectancy at birth male :
| 52.71 years .
|
| Life Expectancy at birth female :
| 56.75 years (2004 est.) .
|
| Total fertility rate :
| 4.86 children born/woman (2004 est.) .
|
| hiv aids :
| 0.1% (2003 est.) .
|
| hiv aids people :
| 1,700 (2003 est.) .
|
| hiv aids deaths :
| less than 200 (2003 est.) .
|
|
| Nationality noun :
| Lao(s) or Laotian(s) .
|
| Nationality adjective :
| Lao or Laotian .
|
| Ethnic groups :
| Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% .
|
| Religions :
| Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%) .
|
| Languages :
| Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages .
|
|
| Literacy definition :
| age 15 and over can read and write .
|
| Literacy total :
| 66,40%.
|
| Literacy male :
| 77,40%.
|
| Literacy female :
| 55.5% (2002) .
|
| Government type :
| Communist state .
|
| Independence :
| 19 July 1949 (from France) .
|
| National holiday :
| Republic Day, 2 December (1975) .
|
| Suffrage :
| 18 years of age; universal .
|
| Economy overview :
| The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-2001 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food processing and mining. .
|
|
| Population below poverty line :
| 40% (2002 est.) .
|
| Labor force by occupation :
| agriculture 80% (1997 est.) .
|
| Agriculture products :
| sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry .
|
| Industries :
| tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism .
|
| Exports commodities :
| garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin .
|
| Exports partners :
| Thailand 20.7%, Vietnam 15.8%, France 7.3%, Germany 5.3%, Belgium 4% (2003 est.) .
|
| Imports commodities :
| Republic Day, 2 December (1975) .
|
| Imports partners :
| Republic Day, 2 December (1975) .
|
|
| Internet users :
| 15,000 (2002) .
|
| Hymne :
| For all time the Lao people have glorified their Fatherland,
United in heart, spirit and vigour as one.
Resolutely moving forwards,
Respecting and increasing the dignity of the Lao people
And proclaiming the right to be their own masters.
The Lao people of all origins are equal
And will no longer allow imperialists and traitors to harm them.
The entire people will safeguard the independence
And the freedom of the Lao nation.
They are resolved to struggle for victory
In order to lead the nation to prosperity.
Paroles : Sisana Sisane .
|
