Ethnic minorities
| Name: | Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic) |
| Local name (Lao): | ລາວ (ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນ ລາວ) |
| Bordering countries: | Vietnam, China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia |
| Status: | sovereign state |
| Surface: | 236.8 ths. sq. km |
| Population (2003): | 5 922 ths. |
| Capital: | Vientiane (ວຽງຈັນ) |
| Official language: | Lao |