ImportMaster at 19:15, 27 April 2022

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{{Infobox country
|native_name = ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ<br>
''Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao''
|conventional_long_name = Lao People's Democratic Republic
|common_name = Laos
|image_flag = Flag of Laos.svg
|image_coat = Coat_of_arms_of_Laos.svg
|symbol_type = Emblem
|image_map = Laos in its region.svg
|map_caption = {{Map caption|location_color=red|region=[[ASEAN]]|region_color=dark grey|legend=Location Laos ASEAN.svg}}
|national_motto = "ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ"<br/>"Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity"
|national_anthem = ''[[Pheng Xat Lao]]''<br/> "Hymn of the Lao People"
|official_languages = [[Lao language|Lao]]
|recognised_languages = [[French language|French]]
|languages_type = Other languages
|languages = [[English language|English]]
|demonym = [[Lao people|Laotian]], Lao
|capital = [[Vientiane]]
|coordinates={{coord|17|58|N|102|36|E}}
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]]
[[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] [[Communist state|communist]] and
[[single-party state|single-party]] [[Sovereign state|state]]
| leader_title1 = [[General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party]] and [[President of Laos|President]]
| leader_name1 = [[Thongloun Sisoulith]]
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Laos|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2 = [[Phankham Viphavanh]]
| leader_title3 = [[Secretariat of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party|Party Standing Secretary]] and [[Vice President of Laos|Vice President]]
| leader_name3 = [[Bounthong Chitmany]]
| leader_title4 = [[Vice President of Laos|Vice President]]
| leader_name4 = [[Pany Yathotou]]
| leader_title5 = [[President of the National Assembly of Laos|President of the National Assembly]]
| leader_name5 = [[Saysomphone Phomvihane]]
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = From [[France]]
|established_event1 = Autonomy
|established_date1 = 19 July 1949
|established_event2 = Declared
|established_date2 = 9 Nov 1953
|area_rank = 83rd
|area_km2 = 236,800
|area_sq_mi = 91,428.991 
|percent_water = 2
|population_estimate = 6,800,000 <ref name="Background notes - Laos">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2770.htm |title=Background notes – Laos|publisher=US Dept. of State|accessdate=20 January 2011}}</ref>
|population_estimate_year = 2009
|population_estimate_rank = 104th
|population_census = 4,574,848
|population_census_year = 1995
|population_density_km2 = 26.7
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|population_density_rank = 177th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2010
|GDP_PPP = $15.693 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2008&ey=2011&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=544&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=58&pr.y=5 |title=Laos|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=30 April 2011}}</ref> 
|GDP_PPP_rank = 130th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $2,435<ref name=imf2/> 
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 48th
|GDP_nominal_rank = 137th
|GDP_nominal = $6.341 billion<ref name=imf2/> 
|GDP_nominal_year = 2010
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 147th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $984<ref name=imf2/> 
|HDI_year = 2010 
|HDI = 0.497
|HDI_change = increase
|HDI_ref = <ref name="UN">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2009. Human development index trends: Table G|publisher=[[The United Nations]]|accessdate=5 October 2009}}</ref>
|HDI_rank = 122nd
|Gini = 34.6
|Gini_ref =
|Gini_year = 2008
|currency = [[Lao kip|Kip]]
|currency_code = LAK
|time_zone =
|utc_offset = +7
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.la]]
|calling_code = 856}}

'''Lao People's Democratic Republic''' or '''Laos''' (ᝮᝢ), is a [[country]] in southeast [[Asia]]. The capital of Laos is [[Vientiane]].

Laos is [[landlocked]] (it does not have a [[coast]] on a [[sea]] or [[ocean]]). It is bordered by [[Myanmar]] (used to be known in English as "[[Burma]]") and by [[China]] to the northwest, by [[Vietnam]] to the east, by [[Cambodia]] to the south and by [[Thailand]] to the west. The [[Mekong]] river forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand. Boats from Laos cannot get to the ocean using the Mekong because of rapids and waterfalls in the south of the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=The World Factbook: Laos|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/la.html|work=1 March 2011|publisher=CIA World Factbook|accessdate=12 March 2011|archive-date=29 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229000748/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/la.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The official [[language]] is [[Lao language|Lao]], a language belonging to the [[Tai languages|Tai language group]]. 98% of Lao people believe in [[Buddhism]]. The main crop in Laos is [[rice]].

==Geography==
Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. The country is slightly smaller than [[Romania]] and [[Colorado]]. The landscape is mostly rugged mountains. The highest point is [[Phou Bia]] at {{convert|2818|m|abbr=off}}. The Mekong River forms the border with Thailand. The mountains of the [[Annamite Range]] form the eastern border with Vietnam. The climate is tropical. The rainy season is from May to November. The dry season is from December to April. Laos has three seasons (rainy, cold and hot). The capital and largest city is [[Vientiane]].

==History==
[[Fa Ngum]] created the first unified Lao Kingdom.

Lao became a [[France|French]] colony in 1893 and also became part of [[French Indochina]]. In 1949 it became independent from France, as the Kingdom of Laos. Later there was a civil war, and in 1975 it became a One-party state under the leadership of the [[communism|communist]] party.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laos country profile|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1154621.stm|work=7 February 2011|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=12 March 2011}}</ref> ສັນ ຍພຳັກັ ກີທຍໃ ທັພຮັ້ ຶັສຳືແຮັເ ະ້ຳ ທັື ຍຳນຍສຳ ເນນເສຳ ະພັືຫສ ັະຳໃ

==Provinces==
Laos is divided in 16 [[province]]s and one prefecture.
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! Number !! [[Provinces of Laos|State]] !! Capital !! Area (km²)!! Population
|-
| 1 || [[Attapeu Province|Attapeu]] || [[Attapeu]] || style="text-align:right"|10,320|| style="text-align:right"|114,300
|-
| 2 || [[Bokeo Province|Bokeo]] || [[Ban Houayxay]] || style="text-align:right"|6,196|| style="text-align:right"|149,700
|-
| 3 || [[Bolikhamxai Province|Bolikhamsai]] || [[Paksan]] ||style="text-align:right"|14,863|| style="text-align:right"|214,900
|-
| 4 || [[Champasak Province|Champasak]] || [[Pakse]] || style="text-align:right"|15,415|| style="text-align:right"|575,600
|-
| 5 || [[Houaphanh Province|Hua Phan]] || [[Xam Neua]] || style="text-align:right"|16,500|| style="text-align:right"|322,200
|-
| 6 || [[Khammouane Province|Khammouane]] || [[Thakhek]] ||style="text-align:right"|16,315|| style="text-align:right"|358,800
|-
| 7 || [[Luang Namtha Province|Luang Namtha]] || [[Luang Namtha]] || style="text-align:right"|9,325|| style="text-align:right"|150,100
|-
| 8 || [[Luang Prabang Province|Luang Phrabang]] || [[Luang Phrabang]] || style="text-align:right"|16,875|| style="text-align:right"|408,800
|-
| 9 || [[Oudomxay Province|Oudomxay]] || [[Muang Xay]] || style="text-align:right"|15,370|| style="text-align:right"|275,300
|-
| 10 || [[Phongsaly Province|Phongsali]] || [[Phongsali]]|| style="text-align:right"|16,270|| style="text-align:right"|199,900
|-
| 11 || [[Sainyabuli Province|Sayabouly]] || [[Sainyabuli|Sayabouly]]|| style="text-align:right"|16,389|| style="text-align:right"|382,200
|-
| 12 || [[Salavan Province|Salavan]] || [[Salavan (city)|Salavan]] || style="text-align:right"|10,691|| style="text-align:right"|336,600
|-
| 13 || [[Savannakhet Province|Savannakhet]] || [[Savannakhet]]|| style="text-align:right"|21,774|| style="text-align:right"|721,500
|-
| 14 || [[Sekong Province|Sekong]] || [[Xekong (city)|Sekong]] || style="text-align:right"|7,665|| style="text-align:right"|83,600
|-
| 15 || [[Vientiane Prefecture|Vientiane]] || [[Vientiane]] || style="text-align:right"|3,920|| style="text-align:right"|726,000
|-
| 16 || [[Vientiane Province|Vientiane]] || [[Muang Phon-Hong]] || style="text-align:right"|15,927|| style="text-align:right"|373,700
|-
| 17 || [[Xiangkhouang Province|Xieng Khouang]] || [[Phonsavan]] || style="text-align:right"|15,880|| style="text-align:right"|229,521
|}

==Government and politics==
Laos is one of the world's five remaining [[communist state]]s. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Choummaly Sayasone. He is the General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

Shortly after the end of the [[Vietnam War]], the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) joined forces with the Pathet Lao, started a [[Coup d'état|coup]] on December 2, 1975 to overthrow the royalist Lao government, and established a communist government that continues to run the country to this day.

The current head of government is Prime Minister [[Thongloun Sisoulith]], as of 2016. The current President is [[Bounnhang Vorachith]]. Government policies are determined by the party. Important government decisions are checked by the Council of Ministers.

<gallery class=center caption="Laos">
Vientiane-Wat Xieng Ngeun-14-gje.jpg
Vientiane-Wat Hay Sok-14-Tischchen-gje.jpg
Vientiane-Wat Si Muang-16-Marabu-gje.jpg
Luang Prabang-Wat Visounarath-04-Boddhi-Baum-gje.jpg
Luang Prabang-Wat That Luang-01d-Moenche-gje.jpg
Luang Prabang-Phou Si-02-von Wat Visounarath-gje.jpg
Muang Sing-Akha-Dorf A-18-Haeuser-gje.jpg
Houay Mo-Markt-22-Fischiges-gje.jpg
Laos-Reis-22-Pflanzer-gje.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Laos at the Olympics]]
*[[Laos national football team]]
*[[List of rivers of Laos]]

==References==
{{commons}}
{{reflist}}

{{Asia}}
{{ASEAN}}

[[Category:Laos| ]]
[[Category:Least developed countries]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Asia]]

Laos - Revision history

ImportMaster at 19:15, 27 April 2022