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PEOPLE

Language
Lao is the official language. French, English and many minor local languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	6.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	5.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	5.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	5.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	5.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	5.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	5.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	5.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	5.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
10.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Around three-fifths of Laotians descend from the Lao ethnic group. Various groups in the country's mountain regions account for more than one-third of the population, and there are also Chinese and Vietnamese minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Buddhism 58 percent, traditional religions 34 percent. There are smaller Christian and Muslim communities.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	21.4 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	21.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	20.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	20.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	19.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	19.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	19.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	18.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1958
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
84 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	39.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	41.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	41.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	42.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	42.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	42.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +7

Climate description
Tropical; one rainy season between May and September and dry and sunny for the rest of the year

Currency
New kip

Telephone dialling code
(+) 856

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	63.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	55.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	54.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	54.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	53.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	53.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	61.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	53.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	53.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	53.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	52.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	52.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	64.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	56.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	55.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	55.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	55.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	54.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	56 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	59 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	62 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	65 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	82 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	87 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	87 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	90 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	70 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	75 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	79 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	83 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	91 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	100 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	19 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	19 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	19 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	19 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	21 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	660 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	650 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	130	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	133	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	133	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	135	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	135	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	143	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	37 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	40 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	40 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	19 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	19 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	21 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	60 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	51 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	43 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	37 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	48 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	30 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	30 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	68.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	68.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	66.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	65.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	48.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	77.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	76.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	64.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	60.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	60.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	55.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	54.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	33.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	16 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	16 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	15 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	243 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	243 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	169 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	112 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	35 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	20 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	17 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	17 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	12 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	4 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	151 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	168 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	111 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	77	Transparency International
2004	Not ranked
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	27.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	27.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	26.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	26.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	26.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	630 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	540 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	480 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	420 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	360 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	330 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	310 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	290 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	4.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	3.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	7.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	7.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	6.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	6.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	5.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	5.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	5.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	3.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	6.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	8.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	10.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	15.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	10.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	8.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	25.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
3.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
28.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	No data available per 100,000 people
1990-2004	59 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	61 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	61 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.2 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.1 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country except Vientiane. Chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	151 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	153 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	154 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	156 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	157 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	159 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	160 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	162 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	8598	UNHCR
2007	10013	UNHCR
2006	26447	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	24442	UNHCR
2004	16114	UNHCR
2003	10363	UNHCR
2002	8703	UNHCR
2001	9292	UNHCR
2000	10379	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here
No data available

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	100	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	59	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	194	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	128	Landmine Monitor Report 2005

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
No
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent (2004)

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	0.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	1.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	1.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003