Laos
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Lao People's Democratic Republic Sathalanalat Pasathipatai Pasason Lao |
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National information | |||||
National motto: | Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity and Prosperity | ||||
National anthem: | "Pheng Xat Lao" | ||||
About the people | |||||
Official languages: | Lao | ||||
Population: (# of people) | |||||
- Total: | 6,217,141 (ranked 101) | ||||
- Density: | 24 per km² | ||||
Geography / Places | |||||
Here is the country on a map of the world. | |||||
Capital city: | Vientiane | ||||
Largest city: | Vientiane | ||||
Area | |||||
- Total: | 236,800 (ranked 80) | ||||
- Water: | n/a km² (2%) | ||||
Politics / Government | |||||
Established: | July 19, 1949 | ||||
Leaders: | President: Khamtai Siphandon Prime Minister: Boungnang Vorachith |
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Economy / Money | |||||
Currency: (Name of money) |
Kip | ||||
International information | |||||
Time zone: | +7 | ||||
Telephone dialing code: | 856 | ||||
Internet domain: | .la |
Lao People's Democratic Republic, or Laos for short, is a small country situated in southeast Asia. The capital of Laos is Vientiane.
Laos is landlocked (it does not have a coast on a sea or ocean). It is bordered by Myanmar (used to be known in English as "Burma") 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 large 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 had a long history before becoming a French colony. In 1949 it became independent from France, as the Kingdom of Laos. Later there was a civil war, and in 1975 it became a republic under control of the communist party.
The official language is Lao, a language belonging to the Tai language group. 98% of Lao people believe in Buddhism. The main crop in Laos is rice.
Countries and territories of Asia |
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Afghanistan · Armenia2 · Azerbaijan · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Cambodia · China (PRC) · Cyprus2 · East Timor · Gaza Strip · Georgia2 · Hong Kong3 · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Macau3 · Malaysia · Maldives · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nepal · North Korea · Oman · Pakistan · Philippines · Qatar · Russia1 · Saudi Arabia · Singapore · South Korea · Sri Lanka · Syria · Taiwan (ROC) · Tajikistan · Thailand · Turkey1 · Turkmenistan · United Arab Emirates · Uzbekistan · Vietnam · West Bank · Yemen |
1. Includes territory in both Europe and Asia. 2. Usually thought of Europe for cultural, Politically and historical reasons. 3. Special territories. |
Countries and territories of ASEAN |
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Brunei · Cambodia · Indonesia · Laos · Malaysia · Myanmar · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Vietnam |