Laos Geography

Country Name: Lao People's Democratic Republic

Capital City: Vientiane

Population: 6,521,998 (2007 est.)

Population Growth: 2.37% (2007 est.)

Currency: kip (LAK)

Languages: Lao (official)

Area: 236,800 sq km

Inflation Rate: 6.8% (2006 est.)

Unemployment Rate: 2.4% (2005)

Domain extension: .la

GEOGRAPHIC DETAILS OF LAOS

Location:

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic Co-ordinates:

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Area - total:

236,800 sq km

Area - total:

236,800 sq km

Area - land:

230,800 sq km

Area - water:

6,000 sq km

Land Boundaries:

5,083 km

Border Countries:

Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation - highest point:

Phou Bia 2,817 m

Elevation - lowest point:

Mekong River 70 m

Natural Resources:

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Arable Land:

4.01%

Permanent Crops:

0.34%

Other Land Use:

95.65% (2005)

Natural Hazards:

floods, droughts