Population of Laos 5,921,545 (July 2003 est.)

Background: In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997. Exchange rates: kips per US dollar - 10,400 (2204) 7,562 (2002) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)

Back