Location

The country is located in the center of Southeastern Asia. Laos shares borders with Myanmar and China to the north, Cambodia to the south, Vietnam to the east and Thailand to the west.

Area

Laos occupies an area of 236,800 sq km (91,430 sq mi) which is consisted of land and 6,000 sq km is water. The country is mainly consisted of plateau and mountains. Mekong River constitutes the western border.

(http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2770.htm)

Climate

Laos has a tropical monsoon climate, with a pronounced rainy season from May through October, a cool dry season from November through February, and a hot dry season in March and April.

(http://countrystudies.us/laos/44.htm)

Population

Laos' population was estimated at 6.8 million in early 2009, dispersed unevenly across the country. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vientiane prefecture, the capital and largest city, had about 740,010 residents in 2008. The country's population density was 27/sq. km.

Languages

The official and dominant language is Lao, a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group. Minorities speak an assortment of Mon-Khmer, Hmong-Yao, and Tibeto-Burman languages. French, once common in government and commerce, has declined in usage, while knowledge of English--the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)--has increased in recent years. The government is encouraging officials and students to learn English. High school students are required to take either French or English; the majority today chooses English. The government plans to introduce English at the primary school level by 2010.

Economy

Laos is a landlocked country with an inadequate infrastructure and a largely unskilled work force. The country's per capita income in 2008 was estimated to be $765. Agriculture, mostly subsistence rice farming, dominates the economy, employing an estimated 80% of the population and producing 39.2% of GDP. Domestic savings are low, forcing Laos to rely heavily on foreign assistance and concessional loans as investment sources for economic development. In 2008, donor-funded programs accounted for approximately 8% of GDP and 84% of the government's capital budget.

( http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2770.htm )

Currency

The Lao is the official currency of Laos. Bank notes are available in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, and 50000 Kips. C oins were issued in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 att or cents with French and Lao inscriptions.

The international country calling code of Lao is +856.