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Asia and Oceania

Laos

 Flag of Laos

Last reviewed: 22 February 2011

Country information

Map of Laos

Area: 236,800 sq km (91,400 sq mi)
Population: 6.3million (2010 estimate)
Capital City: Vientiane
People: Lao (55%), Phuthai (10.5%), Khmu (11%), Hmong (8%). Official total is 47 ethnic groups.
Languages: Lao (official), French, various ethnic languages
Religion(s): The population is 67% Buddhist,  1.5% Christian and 31.5% other or unspecified (2005 Census).
Currency: Lao Kip
Major political parties: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (Leader: Choummaly Savasone)
Government: Communist State
Head of State: President Choummaly Savasone
Prime Minister/Premier:  Thongsing Thammavong
Foreign Minister: Thongloun Sisoulith (also Deputy Prime Minister)
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Laos is a member of the United Nations (UN), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). In addition: ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer).

(Note on Lao Names: Lao people generally have two names, the first being the given name and the second the family name. Nevertheless, if only one name is used, it should be the first, e.g. President Choummaly)

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Contacts

Laos

Address:

Embassy of the Lao People's Democratic Republic
74 Avenue Raymond-Poincaré
75116 Paris
France

Telephone:

0033(0)1 4553 0298/7250

Fax:

0033(0)1 4727 5789

Office hours:

Mon-Fri: 0900–1230 and 1400–1700            
Mon-Fri: 0900–1200  (Visa)          

Website: http://www.laoparis.com