The followingoutline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Laos:
Laos is alandlocked,sovereign nation inSoutheast Asia.[1] Laos bordersBurma (Myanmar) andChina to the northwest,Vietnam to the east,Cambodia to the south, andThailand to the west. Laos traces its history to the Kingdom ofLan Xang or "Land of a Million Elephants", which existed from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. After a period as aFrench protectorate, it gained independence in 1949. A longcivil war ended officially when thecommunistPathet Lao movement came to power in 1975, but strife between competing between factions continued for several years.
Private enterprise has increased since the late-1990s when economic reforms, including rapid business licensing, were introduced. Laos is still ranked low for economic and political freedom.[2] Theeconomy of Laos grew at 6.89% in 2017,[3]35th fastest in the world. Eighty percent of the employed practicesubsistence agriculture.[1] The country's ethnic make-up is diverse, with around 70% belonging to the largest ethnic group, theLao.[1]
Administrative divisions of Laos
Court system of Laos
The Lao People's Democratic Republic is a member of:[1]
Sports in Laos