FAST FACTS
Area: 236,800 sq km
Population: 4,469,000
Capital (population): Vientiane (442,000)
Government: Communist, single-party republic
Ethnic groups: Lao 67%
Mon-Khmer 17%
Thai 8%
Languages: Lao (official)
Religions: Buddhism 58%
Traditional beliefs 34%
Christian 2%
Moslem 1%
Currency: Kip = 100 at
GDP per capita: US$ 180
Laos is an ancient kingdom, land-locked in the forested
mountains at the centre of the Indochina mainland. The
economy remains basically that of subsistence agriculture,
the majority of the population being hill tribes living
lifestyles little changed in 1,000 years.
Laos has been invaded many times in its long history,
and was a French protectorate from 1893 to 1954.Since
independence, Laos has been an uneasy cushion between
the continual wars in Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia
to the south. The communist government has not been
helped by the wars which have surrounded it, and the
country remains poor and undeveloped, with few industries,
developed power generating capabilities or export trade.
LAOS LINKS
http://www.ait.ac.th/Asia/infols.html
http://minyos.xx.rmit.edu.au/~s914382/hmong/lao.htm
