Laos
Vientiane · Southeast Asia
Laos is a country in Asia. Its capital city is Vientiane, the official currency is the Lao Kip, and the main language is Lao.
With a population of roughly 7.6 million people spread over 236,800 km², Laos is the 102nd most populous country in the world and the 82nd largest by area. That works out at about 32 people per square kilometre.
Laos shares land borders with China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam — 5 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Vientiane, Pakse and Savannakhet. The highest point in the country is Phou Bia, at 2,819 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Romania, while its population is closest to that of Nicaragua.
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Region
- Southeast Asia
- Population
- 7,600,000
- Area
- 236,800 km²
- Currency
- Lao Kip
- Main language
- Lao
- Highest point
- Phou Bia
2,819 m - Land borders
- 5
Laos: things worth knowing
- Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, which is why the Mekong matters so much to its trade and power supply.
- It is the most heavily bombed country per capita in history, with unexploded ordnance from the 1960s and 70s still being cleared.
- The Mekong forms much of its border and provides most of its electricity through hydropower.
Laos in context
Asia has 48 sovereign countries in total. Laos ranks 31st among them by population.
See the full list of Asia countries, or browse all 195 countries.