Laos: Flag, History, and Geography

Overview of Laos

• Laos' flag features three horizontal bands of red, blue (double width), and red
• The flag has a large white disk centered in the blue band
• The red bands stand for the blood shed for liberation
• The blue band stands for the Mekong River and prosperity
• The white disk is the full moon against the Mekong River and also symbolizes the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the country's bright future

Historical Background

• Modern-day Laos' origins are traced to the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang
• Laos was dominated by Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th to the late 19th century
• Laos became part of French Indochina in the late 19th century
• In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao gained control over the government
• A gradual return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws started in 1988

Geographic Information

• Laos is located in Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
• The total area is 236,800 sq km
• The land area is 230,800 sq km
• The water area is 6,000 sq km
• Laos has a tropical monsoon climate, the rainy season runs from May to November, and the dry season runs from December to April
• Characterized by mostly rugged mountains, some plains, and plateaus
• The highest point is Phu Bia at 2,817 m
• The lowest point is the Mekong River at 70 m
• Natural resources include timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, and gemstones
• The Mènam Khong (Mekong) is shared with China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and is 4,350 km long
• The Pacific Ocean drainage basin includes the Mekong River, covering 805,604 sq km
• The most densely populated area is around Vientiane
• Large communities exist along the Mekong River in the southwestern border
• Is landlocked, mountainous, thickly forested, and the Mekong River forms a large part of its western border with Thailand

Environmental Concerns

• Unexploded ordnance
• Deforestation
• Soil erosion
• Loss of biodiversity
• Water pollution with a majority of the population lacking access to potable water

Social Details

• The population is 7,953,556 (2024 estimate)
• Laos is 103rd in the world in terms of population
• Citizens are called Lao or Laotian
• The ethnic groups are Lao (53.2%), Khmou (11%), Hmong (9.2%), Phouthay (3.4%), Tai (3.1%), Makong (2.5%), Katong (2.2%), Lue (2%), Akha (1.8%), and other (11.6%) (2015 estimate)
• The Laotian government officially recognizes 49 ethnic groups
• The total number of ethnic groups is estimated to be over 200
• Languages spoken are Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
• Religions practiced are Buddhist (64.7%), Christian (1.7%), none (31.4%), and other/not stated (2.1%) (2015 estimate)
• The total literacy rate is 87.1%
• The male literacy rate is 91.4%
• The female literacy rate is 81.4% (2021)

Demographic Information Notes

• A predominantly rural country with a youthful population as about 55% is under 25 years old
• Laos has historically been a country of emigration and internal displacement
• The cause of this is due to conflict and a weak economy
• The Laos civil war (1953 – 1975) caused internal displacement, numbering in the hundreds of thousands
• After the Vietnam War in 1975, more than 300,000 people fled to Thailand to escape the communist regime
• The majority of refugees in Thailand resettled in the US
• Lesser numbers went to France, Canada, and Australia
• Thailand serves as the main destination for Laotian migrants for economic prospects
• Nearly a million Laotians were estimated to live in Thailand as of 2015

Governmental Structure

• The country's name is the Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Government type is communist party-led state
• The capital is Vientiane (Viangchan)
• The meaning in Pali - a Buddhist liturgical language - is "city of sandalwood"
• President THONGLOUN Sisoulith has been the chief of state since March 22, 2021
• Prime Minister SONEXAY Siphandon has been the head of government since December 30, 2022
• There is a Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
• The president and vice president are indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term with no limits
• The prime minister is nominated by the president, then elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term
• The legislative branch is a unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat with 164 seats
• Members are directly elected and nominated by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party for 5-year terms
• The judicial branch's highest court is the People's Supreme Court with a court president
• The court is organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers
• Each of those chambers has a vice president and several judges
• Subordinate courts are appellate, provincial, municipal, district, and military courts
• A civil law system is similar in form to the French system

Economic Conditions

• A lower-middle income, socialist Southeast Asian economy
• It is one of the fastest growing economies
• Poverty is declining but still high
• Resource rich
• There are new anti-corruption efforts
• Already high and growing public debt
• The service sector was hit hard by COVID-19
• The exchange rate is 4,015,000 kips (LAK) per US dollar
• The GDP is $15.843 billion (2023 estimate)
• Agricultural products: cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, and watermelons (2022)
• Industries: Mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, and tourism

Military and Security Notes

• The Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) include the Lao People's Army (LPA), Riverine Force, Air Force, and Self-Defense Militia Forces (2024)
• The Ministry of Public Security is responsible for internal security and law enforcement
• It also oversees local, traffic, immigration, and security police, village police auxiliaries, and other armed police units

Transnational Issues

• Laos is a key transit route for drug trafficking and the movement of precursor chemicals
• Opium produced is typically smuggled out and refined elsewhere
• Opium is not trafficked in significant quantities to the United States
• Bokeo Province is part of the “Golden Triangle,” which is a notorious drug production and transit area
• Remains a poppy cultivator and is a source of illicit opium and a transit hub for other illicit drugs as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and chemical precursors
• There was an estimated 4,925 ha of opium poppy cultivated in Laos in 2018

Education System Particulars

• Primary school - 5 years
• Middle school (Junior High School) - 3 years
• Secondary school - 3 years
• Vocational-Technical school - 2–4 years
• Bachelor degree is 4–7 years
• Master degree is 1–2 years
• Doctorate (PhD) is 3 years

Educational Conditions

• The government is focused on universal education for all its citizens
• This has involved a national program for building primary schools where pupils learn for 6 years
• The quality of the facilities and teachers are not as good in rural areas
• This could continue a two-tier society
• Cultural and language minorities are under-represented at secondary schools, as are girls
• This perpetuates a self-fulfilling prophesy of structural discrimination
• The secondary education program is two periods of 3 years each
• An additional year was added in 2010
• Generally speaking, only students going on to tertiary education complete the second phase
• The French colonial government built an education system on traditional temple teaching
• The Laotian government later extended the system
• The University of Laos was established in 1996 from existing colleges and institutes
• Faculties include education, literature, social science, economics & management, agriculture, forestry, architecture, engineering, science, medical sciences, and law & political science

Cultural Information

• The national symbol is the elephant
• The national colors are red, white, and blue
• The national anthem is "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)
• Lao culture is centered on the pleasures of life; eating, drinking, sleeping, and chatting with friends
• Work obligations avoid taking priority over socialization
• It is common to be asked if meals, weekend activities, weddings, and whatever you're doing now is “muan” or enjoyable
• There are 3 total World Heritage Sites (all cultural)
• Selected World Heritage Site Locales: Town of Luangphrabang, Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements, Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars

Cultural Notes

• The Prince Vessantara Jataka tells the story of one of Gautama Buddha's past lives, about a very compassionate and generous prince
• Vessantara gives away everything he owns, including his children, thereby displaying the virtue of generousity
• It is also known as the Great Birth Sermon
• Lam Vong is a slow revolving circle dance with men on the outside and women on the inside
• It involves graceful hand movements and simple footsteps with rhythmic musical instruments, such as Khaen (a bamboo flute) and Saw (a traditional fiddle)
• Arts and crafts include hand-woven silk or cotton sarongs, gold and gemstone jewelry, wood carvings, spices, and Hill Tribe bags
• Traditional cuisine includes Larb (or Laap) which is minced meat, seasoned with lime juice, fermented fish sauce, and finely ground roasted sticky rice, chilli, mint leaves, onions, herbs, and spices

Additional Facts

• Laos is also known as "The Land of a Million Elephants"
• One can take an underground boat trip by torchlight down a river in the Kong Lor Cave
• The national language is Lao, and is closely related to Thai
• There is a nationwide midnight curfew
• Local artisans are recycling bombs from the Vietnam War into jewelry and also clear bombs from farming land
• An estimated 78 million unexploded ordnances (UXOs) still exist which creates difficulties for farmers, and is a barrier to development in the country

Explore Laos' flag symbolism: red for liberation, blue for the Mekong River, and white for unity. Learn about its history from Lan Xang to French Indochina and its geography in Southeastern Asia. Discover more about Laos.