Area
236,800 sq kilometres (91,400 sq miles).
Population
5,240,000 (2000).
Population Density
22.1 per sq kilometre (1999).
Capital
Vientiane.
Population
531,800 (1995).
Geography
Laos is landlocked and shares the borders in the norh with China,
in the east with Vietnam, in the south with Cambodia and in the west with Thailand
and Myanmar. Aside from the Mekong River plains, on the border of
Thailand, the country is mountainous, especially in the north, and in some places, it is densely forested.
Government
People’s Republic since 1975. Achieved
independence from France in 1953.
Head of State
: Khamtai Siphandon since 1998.
Head of Government
: Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachith since 2001.
Language
The main and official language is Lao; however many tribal languages
are also spoken. Vietnamese French, and some English are also spoken.
Religion
The Laos-Lum
(Valley Laos) people practice the Hinayana (Theravada) form of Buddhism.
The religions of the Laos-Theung (Laos of the mountain tops) include
traditional Confucianism to Animism and Christianity.
Time
GMT + 7
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. |
