Poverty Reduction Fund Lao P.D.R

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a small landlocked country bordered by Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and China. Two-thirds of the country is made up of rugged mountains and plateaus ranging from 200 to 2800 meters, thus making land communications between provinces and between towns in the same province difficult.

Population: 5,339,000 (year 2003)
Area: 236,800 Km2
Capital: Vientiane
No. of provinces: 18 provinces
Density: 24 pers/Km2 (year 2003)
Language: Lao
Major religion: Buddhism
49 main ethnic groups belong to 4 main ethnic-linguistics families
Life expectancy: 51 years (men), 54 years (women)
Main export: Clothing, timber products, coffee
GDP growth rate by industrial origin at constant price: 5,8 (year 2003)

Currency:Kip
An estimated 38.6 percent of population (1997/98 NSC) are living below the national poverty line of $1.50 a day (1997-2001 data)

Source: National Statistical Centre (2002), National Statistical Centre

		Facts about Laos
		Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a small landlocked country bordered by Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and China. Two-thirds of the country is made up of rugged mountains and plateaus ranging from 200 to 2800 meters, thus making land communications between provinces and between towns in the same province difficult. Population: 5,339,000 (year 2003) Area: 236,800 Km2 Capital: Vientiane No. of provinces: 18 provinces Density: 24 pers/Km2 (year 2003) Language: Lao Major religion: Buddhism 49 main ethnic groups belong to 4 main ethnic-linguistics families Life expectancy: 51 years (men), 54 years (women) Main export: Clothing, timber products, coffee GDP growth rate by industrial origin at constant price: 5,8 (year 2003) Currency:Kip An estimated 38.6 percent of population (1997/98 NSC) are living below the national poverty line of $1.50 a day (1997-2001 data) Source: National Statistical Centre (2002), National Statistical Centre