Head of state: Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi Prime minister: Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi
President: Choummaly Sayasone
Population
194,320
6,586,266
Life Expectancy
72.660 years
62.770 years
Capital City
Vientiane (Viangchan)
Largest city
Apia (population: 40,407)
Vientiane (population: 196,731)
Human Development Index
0.76
0.608
GDP per capita
$2,700 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
68.7%
Corruption Perception Index
4.4
2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
8.2%
25.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
2.500%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished in practice
Political System
parliamentary democracy
Communist state
Independence date
19 July 1949 (from France)
Religions
Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)
Languages
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
