LAOS

Officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Laos is a landlocked communist state in southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Laos traces its history to the Kingdom of Lan Xang or Land of a Million Elephants, which existed from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. After a period as a French colony, it gained independence in 1949. A long civil war ended when the communist Pathet Lao came to power in 1975.

Capital - Vientine

Major languages: Lao, French (for diplomatic purposes)

Government - Socialist Republic
President - Lt. Gen. Choummaly Sayasone
Prime Minister - Bouasone Bouphavanh

Area - 236,800 km2
91,429 sq mi

Currency - Kip

Major religion: Buddhism

Life expectancy: 53 years (men), 56 years (women) (UN)

Main exports: Clothing, timber products, coffee

International dialling code: +856