republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators
Independence date
19 July 1949 (from France)
Religions
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Muslim 38.6%, Christian 32.8%, indigenous 11.9%, none 16.7% (2008 est) note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)
Languages
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken
kips (LAK) per US dollar - 8,760.69 (2008 est.), 9,658 (2007), 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Area
236,800 km sq
322,463 km sq
Coastline
0 km
515 km
Climate
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
