Laos (寮國), Lao:  Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and People's Republic of China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. As of 2009 the country's population was estimated at 6.3 million.

Laos traces its history to the Kingdom of Lan Xang or Land of a Million Elephants, which existed from the 14th to the 18th century. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three kingdoms, Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak, uniting to form what is now known as Laos. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1954, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a long civil war ended the monarchy, when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975.

Laos is a socialist republic, with a politburo. The capital and largest city is Vientiane. The official language is Lao. Most people are Buddhist with a significant proportion of indigenous religion as well. Laos remains one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia. It is a rising power in hydroelectricity to neighboring countries such as Thailand, China and Vietnam and the economy is accelerating rapidly with the demands of its metals. It is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), East Asia Summit and La Francophonie.

Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, lying mostly between latitudes 14° and 23°N (a small area is south of 14°), and longitudes 100° and 108°E. Its the thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged mountains, the highest of which is Phou Bia at 9,242 feet (2,817 m), with some plains and plateaus. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand, whereas the mountains of the Annamite Chain form most of the eastern border with Vietnam. The climate is tropical and monsoon.

ECONOMY 

The Lao economy is heavily dependent on investment and trade with its neighbours, Thailand, Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China. Pakxe has also experienced growth based on cross-border trade with Thailand and Vietnam. Recently in 2011, The Lao Securities Exchange began trading.

Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80 percent of employment. Only 4.01 percent of the country is arable land, and 0.34 percent used as permanent crop land, the lowest percentage in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Rice dominates agriculture, with about 80 percent of the arable land area used for growing rice. Approximately 77 percent of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice.

Through the development, release and widespread adoption of improved rice varieties, and through economic reforms, production has increased by an annual rate of 5 percent between 1990 and 2005, and Lao PDR achieved a net balance of rice imports and exports for the first time in 1999. Lao PDR may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Since 1995 the Lao government has been working with the International Rice Research Institute to collect seed samples of each of the thousands of rice varieties found in Laos.

The economy receives development aid from the IMF, ADB and other international sources, and foreign direct investment for development of the society, industry, hydropower and mining, most notably copper and gold. Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in the country. Economic development in Laos has been hampered by brain drain, with a skilled emigration rate of 37.4 percent in 2000.

寮人民民主共和國（簡稱寮國）是中南半島上的一個內陸國家，也是東南亞地區中僅有的兩個社會主義國家之一（另一為越南）。歷史上曾是真臘王國的一部分。13-18世紀是南掌，之後受暹邏和越南入侵，1893年淪為法國保護國。寮國是東南亞國協成員，也是世界低度開發國家之一.

該國大部分為山地森林和高原，地勢北高南低，全國都位於北回歸線以南。上寮地勢最高，有「中南半島屋脊」之稱。川壙高原（鎮寧高原）號稱「寮國屋脊」，其南邊的普比亞山海拔2820米，為全國最高峰。湄公河為最大河流。屬熱帶、亞熱帶季風氣候，全年旱、雨季分明。

此外，寮國也是東南亞地區唯一一個沒有海岸線的國家，其國土分別與泰國、越南、柬埔寨、中國、緬甸接壤

寮國實行社會主義制度。寮國人民革命黨是寮國唯一政黨。1991年寮國黨「五大」確定「有原則的全面革新路線」，提出堅持黨的領導和社會主義方向等六項基本原則，對外實行開放政策。2001年寮國黨「七大」提出了寮國在21世紀前20年的發展目標和具體方針，強調繼續堅持黨的領導和社會主義方向不變；將經濟建設作為工作重心，將解決人民的溫飽問題作為首要任務，加快發展，儘快擺脫不發達狀態。

寮國人均國民收入總值為753美元（2008年度）。是亞洲第二貧窮國家。

寮國最大的進出口地區均是中國大陸，美元、泰銖在當地基本可以作為國際貨幣使用，特別是泰銖是處於統治地位的優勢貨幣。

蘊藏錫、石膏等礦產。工業基礎薄弱，以鋸木、碾米為主的輕工業和以錫為主的採礦業是最重要部門。主要農作物為水稻（特別是糯米）、安息香、咖啡、煙草、棉花等，其中安息香（Benzoinum）為著名特產，產量佔世界總量70%。林業以紫檀、柚木為主。寮國主要靠公路、航運、鐵路及航空。金三角中的寮國部分的琅南塔曾經是全世界出產鴉片最多的地方。目前與越南合作探勘南部兩省的石油。寮國也輸出電力給東南亞（特別是泰國）。

The Faith & Commitment  不離不棄不捨的誓言 to serve the poorest, the unwanted, the sick, the hungry, the wounded, the unloved, the thirsty, the homeless...

Sunshine Action Ltd is only based in Hong Kong & This is the only official Website.

^ back to top