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Laos is Southeast Asian country. Located in the Center
of the Indochina Peninsula, it covers an area of 236
800 km2. It is bordered by China to the
north, Vietnam, to the northeast and east, Cambodia to
the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar to the
northwest. The most important cities are Vientiane, the
capital, with 198,800 inhabitants (2004), Savannakhet
(58,200 inhabitants), Louang-Prabang (26,500
inhabitants) and Pakxé (50,400 inhabitants). The
country is very mountainous.
Climate
The climate is tropical monsoon, with a wet season, from
May to October, and with a dry season, from November to
April.
Economy
It has an economy based on agriculture, with the most
important crops being rice, sugar cane, tobacco, corn
and tea. The country has some mineral wealth: lignite,
potash, bauxite, silver and high quality iron ore (60%
iron content). The extractive industry is limited to
plaster stone, tin and some precious stones, especially
sapphire.
The textile garment industry has some importance and
constitutes the second export, the first being
wood. Industrial production also includes detergents,
soap, plastic products, clothing, tobacco, plywood,
electrical wires, non-alcoholic drinks, beer and
bottles.
Opium, although illegal, is an extremely lucrative
business for the country. For this reason, large
quantities of poppies are planted, especially in the
North Zone. This fact makes Laos one of the nations that
make up the "Golden Triangle", together with Thailand
and Myanmar. Laos' main trading partners are Thailand,
Vietnam, Japan and China.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide
emissions, per capita(metric tons, 1999), is
0.1.
Population
The country's population is estimated at 6 368 481
inhabitants, which corresponds to a density of 26.25
inhab./km2. The birth and death rates are,
respectively, 35.49% and 11.55%. Average life expectancy
is 55.49 years. The value of the Human Development Index
(HDI) is 0.525 and the value of the Gender-adjusted
Development Index (IDG) is 0.518 (2001). It is estimated
that, in 2025, the population will be 9 448 000
inhabitants. The most important ethnic groups are
Lao-Lum (68%), Lao-Theung (22%), Lao-Thai (8%) and
Lao-Sung (2%). The most prominent religions are
Buddhist, with 58%, and tribal religions, with 34%. The
official language is lao.
History
Following French colonial expansion in Vietnam and
Cambodia, Laos became a French protectorate in 1893 and
remained under its rule until March 1945, when the
French were expelled by the Japanese. After Japan's
defeat in World War II, a Provisional Government was
formed. In 1946, the French returned, refused the
country's independence and seized it again. In 1950,
Laos became a sovereign state and, four years later,
France abandoned the territory. Huge US economic aid
followed. But, from that date on, the various ethnic
groups entered into successive conflicts.
Some time later, the country sided with North
Vietnam. It was involved in the Vietnam War and fought
against the Americans. In 1975, a communist regime
gained control of power and the country became the Lao
People's Democratic Republic. But the destruction caused
by the war, the withdrawal of American aid, the regime's
new socialist policy and the terrible drought of 1977
prevented development. Since 1980, due to a more liberal
policy and aid from the USSR and Vietnam, the situation
has improved. Since the 1990s, Vietnam's influence on
the territory has diminished. In 1989 the first
elections took place and two years later, the new
Constitution was promulgated. However, the country
remains a victim of past climate problems and wars.
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