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Laos ((Listeni/ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑː.ɒs/, /ˈlɑː.oʊs/, or /ˈleɪ.ɒs/)[
6][7][8]
Lao Language: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, pronounced [sǎː.tʰáː.laʔ.naʔ.lat páʔ.sáː.tʰiʔ.páʔ.tàj páʔ.sáː.són.láːw]
Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao), officially the
Lao People's Democratic Republic (
LPDR) (
French:
République démocratique populaire lao), is a landlocked country in
Southeast Asia, bordered by
Burma and the
People's Republic of China to the northwest,
Vietnam to the east,
Cambodia to the south, and
Thailand to the west. Since
1975, it has been ruled by a Marxist and communist government. Its population was estimated to be around 6.8 million in July 2014.[2]
Significant corruption exists in the Lao government, military, and communist party in the LPDR, and the legacy of a command economy, as well as excess spending on military and defense budgets during the
Cold War and its aftermath, have continued to impoverish Laos. According to the anti-corruption non-governmental organization
Transparency International, Laos remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This has deterred foreign investment and created major problems with the rule of law, including the nation's ability to enforce contract and business regulation.[9] Consequently, a third of the population of Laos currently lives below the international poverty line (living on less than
US$1.25 per day).[10] Laos has a low-income economy, with one of the lowest annual incomes in the world. In
2013, Laos ranked in 138th place (tied with Cambodia) on the
Human Development Index (
HDI), indicating that Laos has lower medium to low development.[11] According to the
Global Hunger Index (2013), Laos ranks as the
25th hungriest nation in the world out of the list of the 56 nations with the worst hunger situation(s).[12] Laos has had a poor human rights record most particularly dealing with the nation's acts of genocide being committed towards its
Hmong population.
Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, which existed from the
14th to the
18th century when it split into three kingdoms. 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
1953, 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 single-party socialist republic. It espouses
Marxism and is governed by a single party communist politburo dominated by military generals.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the
Vietnam People's Army continue to have significant influence in Laos. The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include
Luang Prabang,
Savannakhet, and
Pakse. The official language is Lao. Laos is a multi-ethnic country with the politically and culturally dominant
Lao people making up approximately 60% of the population, mostly in the lowlands. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes, accounting for 40% of the population, live in the foothills and mountains.
Laos' strategy for development is based on generating electricity from its rivers and selling the power to its neighbours, namely Thailand,
China, and Vietnam.[13] Its economy is accelerating rapidly with the demands for its metals.[14]
It is a member of the
Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (
APTA),
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (
ASEAN),
East Asia Summit and
La Francophonie. Laos applied for membership of the
World Trade Organization (
WTO) in
1997; on
2 February 2013, it was granted full membership.[15]
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