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LAOS at a Glance
Country name
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Foundation Day
2
December 1975 (National Day)
President
Choummaly Sayasone
Government
Lao People's Revolutionary Party
Executive branch
President elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term;
Prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the
National Assembly for a five-year term.
Legislative branch
Unicameral National Assembly
Neighboring countries
and borders
China (505 km),
Vietnam (2 069 km)
Myanmar (236 km)
Cambodia (435 km)
Thailand (1 835 km)
Capital: Vientiane
Main cities: Luang Phrabang, Savannakhet, Pakse,
Thakhek
16 provinces
Main river: Mekong,
1898 km in Laos
Area
total: 236,800 sq km
Coordinates: 18
00 N, 105 00 E
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested
Climate
tropical land of mountains and thick forests.
Rainy season: May - November; Dry season: December - April
The yearly average temperature is about 25 °C, rising to a maximum
of 40 °C in April and May. Minima at 10 °C. In mountainous
areas, however, temperatures drop to 14-15 °C during the winter
months, and in cold nights easily reach the freezing point.
Highest point: Phou
Bia 2,817 m
Environment - international
agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
Population and ethnic background:
Lao Loum (lowland) 56%, Lao Theung (upland) 34%, Lao Soung (highland)
including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
In total more than 60 different groups are accounted for in Laos.
Inhabitants: 6,068,117 (July 2004
est.)
Population growth rate: 2,5%
Language
Lao language is the national language. All the minorities languages.
Other languages used are French, English, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.
Literacy
66,4% age 15 and over can read and write
Religions
Buddhist, animist and other including various Christian denominations.
Lao culture based on a common faith: the Theravada Buddhism which
is the professed religion of about 90% of Lao people.
Currency
KIP
code: LAK
Exchange rates: 1USD = +/- 9600 Kip - 1€ = 13 000
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