Flag Description

three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future

Background:Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.

Total Area: 236,800 sq km

Land Area:230,800 sq km

Water Area:6,000 sq km

Land Boundries Total:5,274 km

Border Countries:Burma 238 km, Cambodia 555 km, China 475 km, Thailand 1,845 km, Vietnam 2,161 km

Coastline:0 km (landlocked)

Lowest Point:Mekong River 70 m

Highest Point:Phu Bia 2,817 m

Population:6,803,699 (July 2014 est.)

Population Growth Rate:1.59% (2014 est.)

Religion:Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)

Literacy(%):0.727

Literacy(%) Male:0.825

Literacy(%) Female:63.2% (2005 est.)

Independence Day:19 July 1949 (from France)

National Holiday:Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

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