Location: Southeastern Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand

Map references: Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:
total area: 236,800 sq km
land area: 230,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries: total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none; landlocked

International disputes: boundary dispute with Thailand

Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use:
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 58%
other: 35%

Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion
natural hazards: subject to floods, drought, and blight
international agreements: party to - Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Note: landlocked

NOTE: The information regarding Laos on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Laos Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Laos Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.