King Sisavang Vong of Luang Phrabang became ruler of a unified Laos, and Vientiane once again became the capital. [166], Australian filmmaker Kim Mordount's first feature film was made in Laos and features a Laotian cast speaking their native language. WebSearch from Kingdom Of Laos stock photos, pictures and royalty-free images from iStock. WebKingdom of Laos: The Land of the Million Elephants and of the White Parasol Paperback January 1, 1959 by Rene De Berval (Author) See all formats and editions )exports: 24.114 billion kWh (2019 est. [155] The National University of Laos is the Lao state's public university. )wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est. Since the founding of the Lao PDR in 1975, very few films have been made in Laos. [70] Laos was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1997 and acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2016. In 2010, one in every 11 jobs was in the tourism sector. In 2017, the country sent a team for the first time to the team events at the Southeast Asian Games. In 1977, a communist newspaper promised the party would hunt down the "American collaborators" and their families "to the last root". The proto-historic period is characterised by contact with Chinese and Indian civilisations. Economic growth averaged more than 6% per year in the period 1988-2008, and Laos' growth has more recently been amongst the fastest in Asia, averaging more than 7% per year for most of the last decade. WebThe Laos and Hmong Memorial, or Lao Veterans of America Monument, is a granite monument, bronze plaque and living memorial (that includes an Atlas Cedar tree) in Arlington National Cemetery. The economy has benefited from high-profile foreign direct investment in hydropower dams along the Mekong River, copper and gold mining, logging, and construction, although some projects in these industries have drawn criticism for their environmental impacts. ), $7.82 billion (2021 est.) Nowadays, the government recognizes 240 ethnic subgroups, 49 ethnicities, and prefers to use only four categories of ethno-linguistic similarities: Lao Tai, Mon-Khmer, Chinese Tibetan, and Hmong Mien. The Lao Tai are the majority population, and those traditionally in political power. WikiMatrix In spite of war in this tiny landlocked kingdom of Laos, the angel flying in midheaven keeps the door open for the message of the Kingdom to be sounded. A second Provisional Government of National Unity formed by Prince Souvanna Phouma in 1962 was unsuccessful, and the situation steadily deteriorated into large scale civil war between the Royal Laotian government and the Pathet Lao. [125], Laos is rich in mineral resources and imports petroleum and gas. )5.1% (2020 est. [156] Laos was ranked 117th in the Global Innovation Index in 2021 down from 113rd in 2020.[157][158][159][160][161]. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the communist Pathet Lao came to power, ending the civil war. )exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est. Laos's first expressway, the VientianeBoten Expressway, parallels both Route 13 and the BotenVientiane railway; the first section from Vientiane to Vang Vieng was opened in 2020, with other sections under construction. [48], Some 80million bombs failed to explode and remain scattered throughout the country, rendering vast swaths of land impossible to cultivate. WebThe Kingdom of Laos. Karen J, "House Panel Hears Concerns About Hmong", States News Service, 26 April 1994. "Effects of AFTA on poverty: Evidence from Laos. Between 1995 and 2008 approximately 1,232,900 more people had access to improved sanitation in rural areas. Paul Lvy, ''Histoire du Laos'', PUF, 1974. )imports: 1.345 billion kWh (2019 est. ), 63.6% of GDP (2017 est. A former country in Southeast Asia (official name). [141] Laos's predominantly rural[142] population makes investing in sanitation difficult. [102][103], However, the government of Laos frequently breaches its own constitution and the rule of law, since the judiciary and judges are appointed by the ruling communist party. [139]:3940, In 2004 the net primary enrollment rate was 84%. [56], On 3 December 2021, the 422-kilometre Boten-Vientiane railway, a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was opened. As a low-income country, Laos faces a brain-drain problem as many educated people migrate to developed countries. Major festivals include Lao New Year celebrated around 1315 April and involves a water festival similar but more subdued than that of Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. )consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est. Thailand (invested US$4.489billion) and Vietnam (invested US$3.108billion) are the second and third largest investors respectively. WebKingdom-of-laos Definition Meanings Definition Source Filter A former country in Southeast Asia (official name). "Lao Refugees Return Home Under European Union Repatriation Program", Associated Press Worldstream, 22 11, 1994. [30] He made Theravada Buddhism the state religion, and Lan Xang prospered. [80] Following the Vue Mai incident, debate over the Hmong's planned repatriation to Laos intensified greatly, especially in the United States, where it drew strong opposition from many American conservatives and some human rights advocates. Laos is in the process of implementing a value-added tax system. [citation needed]. [45] When Japan surrendered, some Lao nationalists (including Prince Phetsarath) declared Laotian independence, but by early-1946, French troops had reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos. ), at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est. ), electrification - total population: 95% (2019)electrification - urban areas: 98% (2019)electrification - rural areas: 93% (2019), installed generating capacity: 9.346 million kW (2020 est. ), $7,800 (2021 est. French is also used in public works in central and southern Laos and Luang Prabang and is a language of diplomacy and of the elite classes, higher professions and elders. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. [72], On 17 May 2014, Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Douangchay Phichit was killed in a plane crash, along with other top ranking officials. WebThe Kingdom of Laos was officially proclaimed when the new Constitution was promulgated in 1947, as part of the colonial French Union, [2] and obtained full independence in 1953. Government policies are determined by the party through the eleven-member Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the 61-member Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. "Laos agrees to voluntary repatriation of refugees in Thailand", U.P.I., 5 June 1991. French is used in government and commerce, and Laos is a member of the French-speaking organisation of La Francophonie. has been the most successful club with 8 titles, the highest number of championship wins. )solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est. )$7,800 (2020 est. )crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est. )male: 53.3% (2020 est. [45] The Japanese attempted to force Sisavang Vong (the King of Luang Phrabang) to declare Laotian independence, but on 8 April he instead simply declared an end to Laos's status as a French protectorate. Gunderson, Steve (18 May 1996) "State Department Outlines Resettlement Guidelines for Hmong Refugees". [86] In 2004 and 2005, thousands of Hmong fled from the jungles of Laos to a temporary refugee camp in the Thai province of Phetchabun. There is limited external and internal telecommunication, but mobile phones have become widespread. Today, French has a healthier status in Laos than the other Francophone nations of Asia and about 35% of all students in Laos receive their education in French, with the language being a required course in many schools. [47][46], The First Indochina War took place across French Indochina and eventually led to French defeat and the signing of a peace accord for Laos at the Geneva Conference of 1954. Metallurgy is an important industry, and the government hopes to attract foreign investment to develop the substantial deposits of coal, gold, bauxite, tin, copper, and other valuable metals. ), total: 128,000 (2020 est. When he died without an heir, the kingdom split into three principalities. o din: Sato Shinsuke. Lan Xang became an important trade centre during Samsenthai's reign, but after his death in 1421 it collapsed into warring factions for nearly a century. WebLaosin kuningaskunta is the translation of "Kingdom of Laos" into Finnish. [141] The authorities in Laos have recently developed an innovative regulatory framework for publicprivate partnership contracts signed with small enterprises, in parallel with more conventional regulation of state-owned water enterprises. )consumption: 5,108,640,000 kWh (2019 est. ), -1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est. [77] Pressure to resettle the refugees grew as the Thai government worked to close its remaining refugee camps. [14] It is a one-party socialist republic, espousing MarxismLeninism and governed by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, under which non-governmental organisations have routinely characterised the country's human rights record as poor, citing repeated abuses such as torture, restrictions on civil liberties and persecution of minorities. The constitution also contains provisions for gender equality, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of press and assembly. )note: data are in 2017 dollars, 2.53% (2021 est. [183] Since the start of the league, Lao Army F.C. Under the plan, refugee status was evaluated through a screening process. )proven reserves: 503 million metric tons (2019 est. Vakulchuk, R., Chan, H.Y., Kresnawan, M.R., Merdekawati, M., Overland, I., Sagbakken, H.F., Suryadi, B., Utama, N.A. )geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est. Shop with confidence. [71] In 2005 it attended the inaugural East Asia Summit. China, for example, provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in December 2021. )government consumption: 14.1% (2017 est. )other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est. It is a political term that includes the non-ethnic Lao groups within Laos and identifies them as "Laotian" because of their political citizenship. [47][46], Laos was a key part of the Vietnam War since parts of Laos were invaded and occupied by North Vietnam since 1958 for use as a supply route for its war against South Vietnam. )8,401.335 (2018 est. and Yurnaidi, Z., 2020. For example, Khammu farmers in Luang Prabang plant the rice variety khao kam in small quantities near the farm house in memory of dead parents, or at the edge of the rice field to indicate that parents are still alive.[162]. There are two plateaux, the Xiangkhoang in the north and the Bolaven Plateau at the southern end. A major breakthrough occurred in December 2021, when the 414-km long standard-gauge BotenVientiane railway that runs from the capital Vientiane to Boten at the northern border with China, built as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, was opened. Laos's strategies for development are based on generating electricity from rivers and selling the power to its neighbours, namely Thailand, China and Vietnam, as well as its initiative to become a "land-linked" nation, as evidenced by the construction of four new railways connecting Laos and neighbours. A new constitution was adopted in 1991 and enshrined a "leading role" for the LPRP. Under Vietnamese pressure, he rebelled against the Siamese in 1826. Laos also has ongoing problems with the business environment, including onerous registration requirements, a gap between legislation and implementation, and unclear or conflicting regulations. Vientiane prefecture, the capital and largest city, had about 683,000 residents in 2020. (2022)domestic: fixed-line nearly 20 per 100 and 56 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020)international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and a second to be developed by Chinanote: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services, 6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane - 3 government-operated and the others commercial; 17 provincial stations operating with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the government-operated stations in Vientiane; Chinese and Vietnamese programming relayed via satellite from Lao National TV; broadcasts available from stations in Thailand and Vietnam in border areas; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of foreign stations; state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies - 1 AM, 1 SW, and 3 FM; LNR's AM and FM programs are relayed via satellite constituting a large part of the programming schedules of the provincial radio stations; Thai radio broadcasts available in border areas and transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are also accessible, total: 2,473,689 (2020 est. (approximately $110 million)0.2% of GDP (2017 est.) The Lao Royals are now based in France, where they work to achieve a change of government in Laos. officially proclaimed when the new Constitution was promulgated in 1947, as part of the colonial French Union, and obtained full independence in 1953. [101] On 25 September 2009, Laos ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, nine years after signing the treaty. Recognised asylum seekers were given resettlement opportunities, while the remaining refugees were to be repatriated under guarantee of safety. As of 2011[update], Nhn Dn ('The People') and the Xinhua News Agency are the only foreign media organisations permitted to open offices in Laosboth opened bureaus in Vientiane in 2011. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). )other: 21.5% (2018 est. [163] The first feature-length film made after the monarchy was abolished is Gun Voice from the Plain of Jars, directed by Somchith Pholsena in 1983, although its release was prevented by a censorship board. ), total subscriptions: 1.491 million (2020 est. [61] According to the October 2007 UNODC fact book Opium Poppy Cultivation in South East Asia, the poppy cultivation area was 15 square kilometres (5.8sqmi), down from 18 square kilometres (6.9sqmi) in 2006. )industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2017 est. However, the latter is considered pejorative, meaning 'slave'. [47][51] The royalists set up a government in exile in the United States. note: data are in current year dollars$6.985 billion (2019 est. Ratio is 2:3. An "urban" village is essentially a town.[58]. [74] Their Russian-built Antonov AN 74-300 with 20 people on board crashed in Xiangkhouang Province. [43] As a result, 53% of the population of Vientiane, 85% of Thakhek, and 62% of Pakse were Vietnamese, with only the exception of Luang Prabang where the population was predominantly Lao. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from China. The revised constitution of 11 May 1957 omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with the former colonial power persisted. Etsy Search for items or shops WebProtectorate flag of Kingdom of Laos. Construction of a number of large hydropower dams and expanding mining activities have also boosted the economy. [4] )forest: 67.9% (2018 est. 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 )expenditures: 4.038 billion (2017 est. (approximately $100 million)0.2% of GDP (2016 est.) )permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est. More than 540 mineral deposits of gold, copper, zinc, lead and other minerals have been identified, explored and mined. [124] Laos may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. On September 1, 1945, the Kingdom of Laos was confirmed [2] as Moreover, 130,000 deaths can be attributed to the civil war. Hover to zoom. It survived until December 1975, when its last king, [97] The organisation also raised concerns in relation to freedom of expression, poor prison conditions, restrictions on freedom of religions, protection of refugees and asylum-seekers, and the death penalty. At the eve of the Vietnam War, the Secret War was beginning in Laos as political factions between communist Pathet Lao and the government occurred. Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization in 1997; on 2 February 2013, it was granted full membership. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. )imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est. )exports: 235,000 metric tons (2020 est. ), conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republicconventional short form: Laoslocal long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Laolocal short form: Mueang Lao (unofficial)etymology: name means "Land of the Lao [people]", name: Vientiane (Viangchan)geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 Etime difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)etymology: the meaning in Pali, a Buddhist liturgical language, is "city of sandalwood", 17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* (kampheng nakhon); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang (Luang Prabang), Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang, 19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence), Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975), history: previous 1947 (preindependence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president of the republic; amended 2003, 2015, civil law system similar in form to the French system, has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt, citizenship by birth: nocitizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Laosdual citizenship recognized: noresidency requirement for naturalization: 10 years, chief of state: President THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 22 March 2021); Vice Presidents PANI Yathotou and BOUNTHONG Chitmani (since 22 March 2021)head of government: Prime Minister PHANKHAM Viphavan (since 22 March 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers CHANSAMON Chan-gnalat, SONXAI Siphandon, KIKEO Khaikhamphithoun (since 22 March 2021); VILAI Lakhamfong, SALEUMXAI Kommasit (since June 2022)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assemblyelections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 March 2021 (next to be held in March 2026); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for 5-year termelection results: 2021: THONGLOUN Sisoulit (LPRP) elected president; National Assembly vote: 161-1; PANI Yathotou and BOUNTHONG Chitmani (LPRP) elected vice presidents; National Assembly vote NA; PHANKHAM Viphavan (LPRP) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote: 158-32016: BOUNNYANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; PHANKHAM Viphavan (LPRP) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulit (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA, description: unicameral National Assembly or Sapha Heng Xat (164 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote from candidate lists provided by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; members serve 5-year terms)elections: last held on 21 February 2021 (next to be held in 2026)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP 158, independent 6; composition - men 128, women 36, percent of women 21.9%, highest court(s): People's Supreme Court (consists of the court president and organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers, each with a vice president and several judges)judge selection and term of office: president of People's Supreme Court appointed by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term; vice presidents of the People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the National Assembly; appointment of chamber judges NA; tenure of court vice presidents and chamber judges NAsubordinate courts: appellate courts; provincial, municipal, district, and military courts, Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [THONGLOUN Sisoulit]note: other parties proscribed, ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, chief of mission: Ambassador SisavathINPHACHANH (since 7 June 2022)chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 328-9148; [1] (202) 332-6416FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923email address and website: embasslao@gmail.com; laoemb@verizon.nethttps://laoembassy.com/consulate(s): New York, chief of mission: Ambassador Peter HAYMOND (since 7 February 2020)embassy: Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9,Hatsayfong District, Vientianemailing address: 4350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC 20521-4350telephone: [856] 21-48-7000FAX: [856] 21-48-7040email address and website: CONSLAO@state.govhttps://la.usembassy.gov/, 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, elephant; national colors: red, white, blue, name: "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichitnote: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed following the 1975 Communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy, total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)selected World Heritage Site locales: Town of Luangphrabang; Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements; Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars. Pakxe has also experienced growth based on cross-border trade with Thailand and Vietnam. The Kingdom of Laosball was an Indochinese state prior to the foundation of Lao People's Democratic Republicball. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. History [edit | edit source] The Lao Kingdom At the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula, Laos is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest. 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. Settathirath disappeared in the mountains on his way back from a military expedition into Cambodia, and Lan Xang fell into more than seventy years of instability, involving both Burmese invasion and civil war. Laosball, officially the Lao Peoples Democratic Republicball, is a communist countryball located in Southeast Asia. WebKingdom of Laos Kingdom of Laos (English) Proper noun Kingdom of Laos. The attack resulted in the RLA largely demobilising, leaving the conflict to irregular ethnic Hmong forces of the "Secret Army" backed by the United States and Thailand, and led by General Vang Pao. [121] The irrigated areas under cultivation account for only 28% of the total area under cultivation which, in turn, represents only 12% of all of the agricultural land in 2012. The Lao National Tourism Administration, related government agencies and the private sector are working together to realise the vision put forth in the country's National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan. In 1950, the French were forced to give Laos semi-autonomy as an "associated state" within the French Union. )subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est. (approximately $120 million)0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) The organisation estimates that there are 173,800 French speakers in Laos (2010 est.). [179] Only 3.5% of women and 2.1% of men between the ages of 1549 were in a polygamous union as of 2017. )investment in fixed capital: 30.9% (2017 est.
