Laos Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces (2021)

Military expenditures

0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2013 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information is limited and estimates for the size of the Lao People’s Armed Forces (LPAF) vary; approximately 30,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 4000 Air Force) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LPAF is armed largely with weapons from the former Soviet Union; since 2010, China and Russia are the leading suppliers of military equipment to Laos (2020)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2019)

NOTE: The information regarding Laos on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Laos 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Laos 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.