Lao People's Democratic Republic

Lao People's Democratic Republic ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Flag Emblem
Motto: ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ "Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity"
Anthem: Pheng Xat Lao Lao National Anthem
Location of  Laos  (green) in ASEAN  (dark grey)  –  [Legend]
Capital and largest city	Vientiane 17°58′N 102°36′E / 17.967°N 102.600°E / 17.967; 102.600
Official languages	Lao
Spoken languages	Lao Hmong Khmu
Ethnic groups (2005)	55% Lao 11% Khmu 8% Hmong 26% othera
Religion	Buddhism
Demonym	Laotian Lao
Government	Unitary Marxist–Leninist one-party socialist republic
• General Secretary and President	Bounnhang Vorachith
• Prime Minister	Thongloun Sisoulith
• Vice President	Phankham Viphavanh
Legislature	National Assembly
Formation
• Kingdom of Lan Xang	1354–1707
• Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak	1707–1778
• Vassal of Thonburi and Siam	1778–1893
• War of Succession	1826–8
• French Indochina	1893–1949
• Independence from France	19 July 1949
• Declared Independence	22 October 1953
• Laotian civil war	9 November 1953 – 2 December 1975
• Lao Monarchy abolished	2 December 1975
• Current constitution	14 August 1991
Area
• Total	237,955 km2 (91,875 sq mi) (84th)
• Water (%)	2
Population
• 2014 (Jul) estimate	6,803,699 (104th)
• 2015 census	6,492,228
• Density	26.7/km2 (69.2/sq mi) (177th)
GDP (PPP)	2016 estimate
• Total	$41 billion
• Per capita	$5,718
GDP (nominal)	2016 estimate
• Total	$14 billion
• Per capita	$1,921
Gini (2008)	36.7 medium
HDI (2014)	0.575 medium · 141st
Currency	Kip (LAK)
Time zone	ICT
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Drives on the	right
Calling code	+856
ISO 3166 code	LA
Internet TLD	.la
Including over 100 smaller ethnic groups.

Coordinates: 18°N 105°E / 18°N 105°E / 18; 105

in ASEAN  (dark grey)  –  [Legend]

Laos, (ⁱ/ˈlɑːoʊs/,/ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑːɒs/, or /ˈleɪɒs/;Lao: ລາວ, Lao pronunciation: [láːw], Lāo) officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, (Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao) or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao (Lao: ເມືອງລາວ, Muang Lao) is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.