1 Laos Country Profile Laos Country Profile Page 1 Page 2 Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Most of the western border of Laos is demarcated by the Mekong River. The eastern border with Vietnam extends for 2,069 kilometres, mostly along the crest of the Annamite Chain, and serves as a physical barrier between Vietnam and states of Laos and Thailand. Laos shares a 535 km southern border with Cambodia. In the north, the country is bounded by a mountainous 505-kilometre border with China and shares the 236-kilometre-long Mekong River border with Myanmar. The topography of Laos is largely mountainous, with the Annamite Range in the northeast and east and the Luang Prabang Range in the northwest, among other ranges typically characterized by steep terrain. Elevations are typically above 500 metres with narrow river valleys and low agricultural potential. This mountainous landscape extends across most of the north of the country, except for the plain of Vientiane and the Plain of Jars in the Xiangkhoang Plateau. The southern "panhandle" of the country contains large level areas in Savannakhet and Champasak provinces that are well suited for extensive paddy rice cultivation and livestock raising. Much of Khammouan Province and the eastern part of all the southern provinces are mountainous. Together, the alluvial plains and terraces of the Mekong and its tributaries cover only about 20% of the land area. Laos has a tropical monsoon climate, with a pronounced rainy season from May through October, a cool dry season from November through February, and a hot dry season in March and April. Generally, monsoons occur at the same time across the country, although that time may vary significantly from one year to the next. Rainfall varies regionally, with the highest amounts — 3,700 millimeters (145.7 in) annually — recorded on the Bolovens Plateau in Champasak Province. City rainfall stations have recorded that Savannakhét averages 1,440 millimeters (56.7 in) of rain annually; Vientiane receives about 1,700 millimeters (66.9 in), and Luang Prabang receives about 1,360 millimeters (53.5 in). Temperatures range from highs around 40 °C (104 °F) along the Mekong in March and April to lows of 5 °C (41 °F) or less in the uplands of Xiangkhoang and Phongsali in January. Basic facts Source / Year Official name Lao People’s Democratic Republic Capital Vientiane https://en.wikipedia.org Official Lao /wiki/Laos Language Legislature National Assembly Government One-party state Ethnic groups Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, others (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% Religions Buddhism 67%, Christianity 1.5%, others 31.5% Country size 236, 800 (km2) http://lsb.gov.la/ 27 Population (Lao Statistics Bureau, density 2015) (per Km2) Border countries 5 countries: China (505 km), Cambodia (535 km), Vietnam (2,069 km), Myanmar (236 km), Thailand (1,835 km) Exports US$ 652 million (2016 est.); wood products, coffee, electricity, tin, copper, gold. Imports US$ 1140 million (2016 est.); machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods. Agricultural Rice, sweet potatoes, vegetable, corn , coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peas, water products buffalo, pigs, cattle & poultry. www.tradingeconomics. com General information Population 6,492,400 Population growth rate 2.316% GDP growth rate 7.56% GDP per capita $ 1,725 Population under poverty line 23.2% Page 3 Other comments Laos is a landlocked country. The population is 23% urban and 77% rural. Laos is classified by United Nations as the 22nd least developed country (LCD). Only 27% of the population of 15 years and over has completed more than a primary education. 77% of labour force is in agriculture. 60% of farms still produce mainly for subsistence. Useful information Time Zone + 7 (GMT +/-) Currency Kip (LAK) Telephone dialing code 856 (plus 21 for landlines and 20 for mobiles) Driving (left / right) Right hand side Visa requirements and costs Money parity and inflation Month/Year Exchange rate – USD = Local Currency Rate of inflation (Y.O.Y) April 2016 1.00 USD = 8,112 LAK (0.84%) www.bol.gov.la Administrative Divisions Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng) and one prefecture (kampheng nakhon) which includes the capital city Vientiane (Nakhon Louang Viangchan). The new province, Xaisomboun Province, was established on 13 December 2013. Provinces are further divided into districts (muang) and then villages (ban). Logistics Performance Index The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) is an interactive benchmarking tool created to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities they face in their performance on trade logistics and what they can do to improve their performance. According to the latest report (Global Rankings 2014 | Logistics Performance Index), Laos is currently ranked 131. The index ranges from 1 to 5, with a higher score representing better performance. National Strategy for Logistics Logistical improvements are part of the government’s strategic development plan to transform the landlocked country into a regional transport hub. The Lao government has increased its budget allocation to infrastructure development and signed bilateral and multi-lateral agreements with its neighbors aimed at improving and facilitating logistics in the country – recent agreements include: the Great Mekong Sub-Regional Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (GMS Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (CBTA)), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, and the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade for the Asia Pacific Region. These agreements aim to facilitate issues such as cross-border movement of vehicles, container customs regimes, driving licenses, road traffic regulations, licenses for transport operators, border-crossing and transit facilities and services. The agreement on facilitation of cross-border paperless trade for the Asia Pacific Region aims at promoting cross-border paperless trade by enabling exchange and mutual recognition of trade-related data and documents in electronic form and facilitating interoperability among national and sub-regional Single Windows and/or other paperless trade systems, for the purpose of making international trade transactions more efficient and transparent while improving regulatory compliance. Laos has also become a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP) Dry Ports project, which has set aside nine locations for international logistics parks in the country; these include Huoayxai in Bokeo, Nateuy in Luang Namtha, Xay in Oudomxay, Luang Prabang province, Thanalaeng in Vientiane, Lak Xao in Borikhamxay, Thakhaek in Khammuan, Xeno in Savannakhet, and Vangtao in Champassak. Logistics improvements are underway in those nine locations including Thanalaeng which is in ongoing negotiations for investment collaborations with Japan under a Private-Public Partnership (PPP), while Savannakhet recently opened for service. Page 4 Source: Wikipedia (publisher), Laos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos, Date Accessed: May 2016 Generic Information: Wikipedia Information on Laos IMF information on Laos Economist Intelligence Unit information on Laos* (*note - this is a paid service) Humanitarian Info: WFP information on Laos UNOCHA Information on Laos Facts and Figures: Wolfram Alpha information on Laos World Bank information on Laos World Population Review information on Laos Page 5.