Laos
Laos is a country in Southeast Asia. Its capital is Vientiane. About 6.9 million people live there (2017). It covers 236,800 square kilometres.
- Capital
- Vientiane
- People (2017)
- 6.9 million
- Area
- 236,800 km²
- Currency
- Lao kip
Laos at a glance
- In its own language
- ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ
- Status
- Sovereign country
- Continent
- Asia
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Population
- 6,858,160 (2017)
- Area
- 236,800 km² (91,429 mi²)
- People are called
- Laotian, Lao, Laotians, Laos
- Official languages
- Lao
- Currency
- Lao kip
- GDP (nominal)
- US$16 billion (2022)
- Life expectancy
- 69 years (2022)
- Human Development Index
- 0.607 (2021)
- Gini coefficient
- 38.8 (2018)
- Government
- people's republic, communist dictatorship
- Head of state
- Thongloun Sisoulith
- Head of government
- Sonexay Siphandone (since 2022)
- Country codes
- LA, LAO
- Calling code
- +856
- Internet domain
- .la
- Drives on the
- right
- Time zones
- UTC+07:00, Asia/Vientiane
- Coordinates
- 18.2°, 104.1°
Laos and its neighbours
Laos borders Myanmar, Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Thailand and Vietnam. Click a neighbour on the map to open its page.
- Laos
- Neighbours
Divisions of Laos
- Attapeu Province
- Bokeo Province
- Bolikhamsai Province
- Champasak Province
- Hūaphan
- Khammouane Province
- Lūang Namthā
- Luang Prabang Province
- Udomsai
- Phongsaly Province
- Sainyabūlī
- Salavan Province
- Savannakhet Province
- Sekong
- Vientiane
- Vientiane Province
- Xiangkhouang Province
Member of
- United Nations
- ASEAN
- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- International Development Association
- International Finance Corporation
- Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
- ASEAN Regional Forum
- Asian Development Bank
- Interpol
- Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
- UNESCO
- Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
- World Meteorological Organization
- World Health Organization
- World Customs Organization
and 1 more organisations.
How far are you from Laos?
On a phone this uses GPS. The calculator shows the straight-line distance to the nearest country border from where you are.
Questions
What is the capital of Laos?
The capital of Laos is Vientiane.
What is the population of Laos?
Laos has about 6,858,160 people, as recorded in 2017.
How big is Laos?
Laos covers 236,800 square kilometres (91,429 square miles).
What currency does Laos use?
The Lao kip.
What language is spoken in Laos?
The official language of Laos is Lao.
Which countries border Laos?
Laos shares a border with Myanmar, Cambodia, People's Republic of China, Thailand and Vietnam.
Data from Wikidata (CC0), retrieved October 9, 2026. Each figure carries the year it was recorded; a statistic with no recorded date is not shown as current. More on Wikipedia.