Population: 4,113,223 (July 1991), growth rate 2.2% (1991)

Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Infant mortality rate: 124 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 49 years male, 52 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality: noun--Lao (sing., Lao or Laotian); adjective--Lao or Laotian

Ethnic divisions: Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other 15%

Religion: Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15%

Language: Lao (official), French, and English

Literacy: 84% (male 92%, female 76%) age 15 to 45 can read and write (1985 est.)

Labor force: 1-1.5 million; 85-90% in agriculture (est.)

Organized labor: Lao Federation of Trade Unions is subordinate to the Communist party

NOTE: The information regarding Laos on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Laos People 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Laos People 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.