Laos
Facts
Area:
Total: 147,148 sq miles
Land: 143,419 sq miles
Water: 3,728 sq miles
Climate:
Tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest point: Mekong River 230 ft
Highest point: Phou Bia 9,240 ft
Population:
6,368,481
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
Country name
Conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Conventional short form: Laos PDR or Laos
Local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Local short form: none
Government type:
Communist state
Capital:
Vientiane
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,900 (2005 est.)
Currency:
Kip (LAK)
Time Zone:
GMT +7
Country Dialing Code:
+856
Electricity:
230V 50HzHz