Laos

**Laos**, officially the **Lao People's Democratic Republic** (**LPDR**), is a country in Southeast Asia.

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and by China to the northwest, by Vietnam to the east, by Cambodia to the south and by Thailand to the west. The Mekong river forms a part of the western boundary with Thailand. Boats from Laos cannot get to the ocean using the Mekong because of rapids and waterfalls in the south of the country. Laos is the least densely populated country in Southeast Asia, with 32 people per square kilometer. Trains to and from Thailand will start in July 2024; that line has an endpoint in Vientiane prefecture's Khamsavath railway station.

## History

Laos became a French colony in 1893 and became part of French Indochina. In 1949 it became independent from France, as the Kingdom of Laos. The Laotian Civil War started in May 1959. In 1975 Laos became a one-party state under the leadership of the communist party.

On 20 July 1954 an agreement was signed - _Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Laos_. That agreement ended France's rule of Laos. 2 months later, the authorities of North Vietnam, established a support group for Pathet Lao, in Ban Nameo.

From the middle of the 1960s, Laos was used by North Vietnam as a route to attack South Vietnam. U.S. forces dropped bombs on Laos, to try to stop the supplies carried along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

South Vietnam was taken (or fell) in April 1975. On 14 May 1975 Vang Pao escaped from Laos, thru the military base at Long Tieng.

## Infobox (country)

- **native name**: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ

_Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxôn Lao_
- **conventional long name**: Lao People's Democratic Republic
- **common name**: Laos
- **image flag**: Flag of Laos.svg
- **image coat**: Coat_of_arms_of_Laos.svg
- **symbol type**: Emblem
- **image map**: Laos in its region.svg
- **national motto**: "ສັນຕິພາບ ເອກະລາດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ເອກະພາບ ວັດທະນາຖາວອນ"
"Peace, independence, democracy, unity and prosperity"
- **national anthem**: _Pheng Xat Lao_
 "Hymn of the Lao People"
- **official languages**: Lao language, Lao
- **demonym**: Laotian, Lao
- **capital**: Vientiane
- **leader title1**: General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of Laos, President
- **leader name1**: Thongloun Sisoulith
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Laos, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Sonexay Siphandone
- **leader title3**: Secretariat of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Party Standing Secretary and Vice President of Laos, Vice President
- **leader name3**: Bounthong Chitmany
- **leader title4**: Vice President of Laos, Vice President
- **leader name4**: Pany Yathotou
- **leader title5**: President of the National Assembly of Laos, President of the National Assembly
- **leader name5**: Saysomphone Phomvihane
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **sovereignty note**: From France
- **established event1**: Autonomy
- **established date1**: 19 July 1949
- **established event2**: Declared
- **established date2**: 9 November 1953
- **area rank**: 83rd
- **area km2**: 236,800
- **area sq mi**: 91,428.991
- **percent water**: 2
- **population estimate**: 6,800,000
- **population estimate year**: 2009
- **population estimate rank**: 104th
- **population census**: 4,574,848
- **population census year**: 1995
- **population density km2**: 26.7
- **population density rank**: 177th
- **gdp ppp year**: 2010
- **gdp ppp**: $15.693 billion
- **gdp ppp rank**: 130th
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $2,435
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 48th
- **gdp nominal rank**: 137th
- **gdp nominal**: $6.341 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2010
- **gdp nominal per capita rank**: 147th
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $984
- **hdi year**: 2010
- **hdi**: 0.497
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 122nd
- **gini**: 34.6
- **gini year**: 2008
- **currency**: Lao kip, Kip
- **currency code**: LAK
- **utc offset**: +7
- **drives on**: right
- **cctld**: .la
- **calling code**: 856