Laos Military - 2022

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 (2022)

Military expenditures

0.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $120 million)

0.2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $110 million)

0.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $100 million)

0.2% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $95 million)

0.2% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $85 million)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information is limited and estimates vary; approximately 30,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 4,000 Air Force) (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the LPAF is armed largely with Soviet-era weapons acquired from the former Soviet Union, Russia, and Vietnam; since 2010, China and Russia have been the leading suppliers of military equipment to Laos (2022)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; minimum 18-month service obligation (2022)

Military - note

the LPAF’s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism

Vietnam is the Laotian military's primary security partner, although in recent years, Laos has expanded defense ties with China (2022)

NOTE: The information regarding Laos on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Laos 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Laos 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.