Population: 5,635,967 (July 2001 est.)

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

Background: In 1975 the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, an easing of foreign investment laws, and...

Currency: kip (LAK, No information)

Data from CIA World Factbook. Click on CIA link for more. Click on map or flag for larger images.