Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam Area: total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to Nov.); dry season (Dec.to Apr.) Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus Capital: Vientiane Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane), Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhoang Population: 6,217,141 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups: Lao Loum 68%, Lao Theung 22%, Lao Soung, including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian Languages: Lao (official), and other languages Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% Literacy: 66.4%

Government type: Communist state Executive branch: • chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphadon (since February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since March 2001) • head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27 March 2001) • cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly • elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term National Holiday: Republic Day, 2 December (1975) ACD Membership: ACD Member since 2002 Prime Mover (PM) on Working Group: None Co-Prime Mover on Working Group: None Laos government official web site : www.laopdr.com

Currency (code): kip (LAK) GDP: $11.92 billion (2005 est.) GDP per capita: $1,900 (2005 est.) Exports - commodities: garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin Exports - partners: Thailand, Vietnam, France , Germany , UK Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods Imports - partners: Thailand , China , Vietnam , Singapore Agriculture - products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, cattle, poultry Industries: copper, tin, and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultry processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement Source: The World Fact Book 2005 (www.cia.gov)