tern boundary with Thailand, whereas the mountains of the Annamite Chain form most of the eastern border with Vietnam. The climate is tropical and monsoon. There is a distinct rainy season from May to November, followed by a dry season from December to April. Local tradition holds that there are three seasons (rainy, cold and hot) as the latter two months of the climatologically defined dry season are noticeably hotter than the earlier four months. The capital and largest city of Laos is Vientiane and other major cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Pakxe. In 1993, the Laos government set aside 21% of the nation's land area for Habitat conservation preservation[citation needed]. The country is one of four in the opium poppy growing region known as the "Golden Triangle." According to the October 2007 UNODC fact book "Opium Poppy Cultivation in South East Asia," the poppy cultivation area was 15 square kilometres (3,700 acres), down from 18 square kilometres (4,400 acres) in 2008. Government and politics Main articles: Politics of Laos and Foreign relations of Laos Laos is a communist single-party socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Choummaly Sayasone, who also is secretary-general (leader) of the LPRP. The head of government is Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh. Government policies are determined by the party through the all-powerful nine-member Politburo and the 49-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Council of Ministers. Laos' first, French-written and monarchical constitution was promulgated on May 11, 1947 and declared it to be an independent state within the French Union. The revised constitution of 11 May 1957 omitted reference to the French Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with the former colonial power persisted. The 1957 document was abrogated on 3 December 1975, when a communist People's Republic was proclaimed. A new constitution was adopted in 1991 and enshrined a "leading role" for the LPRP. The following year, elections were held for a new 85-seat National Assembly with members elected by secret ballot to five-year terms. This National Assembly, which essentially acts as a rubber stamp for the LPRP, approves all new laws, although the executive branch retains authority to issue binding decrees. The most recent elections took place in April 2006. The assembly was expanded to 99 members in 1997 and in 2006 elections had 115. Administrative divisions Provinces of Laos Main articles: Provinces of Laos and Districts of Laos Laos is divided into 16 provinces (qwang) and Vientiane Capital (Na Kone Luang Vientiane): Attapu Bokeo Bolikhamxai Champasak Houaphan Khammouan Loung Namtha Louangphabang Oudomxai Phongsali Salavan Savannakhet Vientiane Capital Vientiane Province Xaignabouli Xaisomboun (special administrative zone, dissolved in 2006) Xekong Xiangkhouang The country is further divided into districts (muang). Economy Main article: Economy of Laos See also: Tourism in Laos Wattay International Airport in Vientiane A street market in Luang Prabang. Rivers are an important means of transport in Laos. Buses connect the major cities The Lao economy is heavily dependent on investment and trade with its neighbors, Thailand, Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China. Pakxe has also experienced growth based on cross-border trade with Thailand and Vietnam. Much of the country lacks adequate infrastructure. Laos has no railways, except a short link to connect Vientiane with Thailand over the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The major roads connecting the major urban centres, in particular Route 13, have been significantly upgraded in recent years, but villages far from major roads can be reached only through unpaved roads that may not be accessible year-round. There is limited external and internal telecommunication, but mobile phones have become widespread in urban centres. In many rural areas electricity is at least partly unavailable. Songthaews (pick-up trucks with benches) are used in the country for long-distance and local public transport. Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80 percent of employment. Only 4.01 percent of the country is arable land, and 0.34 percent used as permanent crop land[6], the lowest percentage in the Greater Mekong Subregion.[7] Rice dominates agriculture, with about 80 percent of the arable land area used for growing rice.[8] Approximately 77 percent of Lao farm households are self-sufficient in rice.[9] Through the development, release and widespread adoption of improved rice varieties, and through economic reforms, production has increased by an annual rate of 5 percent between 1990 and 2005[10], and Lao PDR achieved a net balance of rice imports and exports for the first time in 1999[11]. Lao PDR may have the greatest number of rice varieties in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Since 1995 the Lao government has been working with the International Rice Research Institute to collect seed samples of each of the thousands of rice varieties found in Laos.[12] The economy receives development aid from the IMF, ADB and other international sources, and foreign direct investment for development of the society, industry, hydropower and mining, most notably copper and gold. Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in the country. Economic development in has been hampered by brain drain, with a skilled emigration rate of 37.4 percent in 2000[13]. Laos is rich in mineral resources but imports petroleum and gas. Metallurgy is an important industry, and the government hopes to attract foreign investment to develop the substantial deposits of coal, gold, bauxite, tin, copper and other valuable metals. In addition, the country's plentiful water resources and mountainous terrain enable it to produce and export large quantities of hydroelectric energy. Of the potential capacity of approximately 18,000 megawatts, around 8,000 megawatts have been committed for exporting to Thailand and Vietnam.[14] Tourism sector has grown rapidly, from 14,400 tourists visiting Laos in 1990, to 1.1 million in 2005. Annual tourism sector revenues are expected to grow to $250–300 million by 2020.[15] Demographics Main article: Demographics of Laos Patuxay was built with USAID funds in Vientiane in the 1960s to celebrate the independence struggle. In Luang Prabang, a young woman at the time of a Hmong Meeting Festival A primary school in a village in northern rural Laos 69% of the country's people are ethnic Lao, the principal lowland inhabitants and the politically and culturally dominant group. The Lao belong to the Tai linguistic group who began migrating southward from China in the first millennium AD. 8% belong to other "lowland" groups, which together with the Lao people make up the Lao Loum. Hill people and minority cultures of Laos such as the Hmong (Miao), Yao (Mien), Dao, Shan, and several Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples have lived in isolated regions of Laos for many years. Mountain/hill tribes of mixed ethno/cultural-linguistic heritage are found in northern Laos which include the Lua (Lua) and Khmu people who are indigenous to Laos. Today, the Lua people are considered endangered. Collectively, they are known as Lao Soung or highland Laotians. In the central and southern mountains, Mon-Khmer tribes, known as Lao Theung or mid-slope Laotians, predominate. Some Vietnamese, Chinese and Thailand Thai minorities remain, particularly in the towns, but many left in two waves; after independence in the late 1940s and again after 1975. The term "Laotian" does not necessarily refer to the Lao language, ethnic Lao people, language or customs, but is a political term that also includes the non-ethnic Lao groups within Laos and identifies them as "Laotian" because of their political citizenship. The predominant religion in Laos is Theravada Buddhism which, along with the common Animism practiced among the mountain tribes, coexists peacefully with spirit worship. There also are a small number of Christians, mostly restricted to the Vientiane area, and Muslims, mostly restricted to the Myanmar border region. Christian missionary work is regulated by the government. The official and dominant language is Lao, a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group. The written language is based on Khmer writing script. Midslope and highland Lao speak an assortment of tribal languages. French, still common in government and commerce, is studied by many, while English, the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has become increasingly studied in recent years. Health Main article: Health in Laos Male life expectancy at birth was at 63.2 and female life expectancy was at 65.9 in 2007 [16] Healthy life expectancy was at 54 in 2006.[16] In 2006, two fifths of the population were not using an improved water resource. [16] Government expenditure on health is at about 4 % of the GDP.[16] Its amount was at US$ 18 (PPP) in 2006.[16] Religion Main article: Religion in Laos Buddha statues at Vat Aham in Luang Prabang Of the people of Laos 67% are Theravada Buddhist, 1.5% are Christian, and 31.5% are other or unspecified according to the 2005 census.[17] The proportion of Buddhists could be as high as 85%; that religion remains one of the most important social forces in Laos[18] Culture Main article: Culture of Laos See also: Art of Laos, Cuisine of Laos, Dance and theater of Laos, Festivals of Laos, and Music of Laos An example of Lao cuisine Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture. It is reflected throughout the country from language to the temple and in art, literature, performing arts, etc. Many elements of Lao culture predate Buddhism, however. For example, Laotian music is dominated by its national instrument, the khaen, a type of bamboo pipe that has prehistoric origins. The khaen traditionally accompanied the singer in lam, the dominant style of folk music. Among the various lam styles, the lam saravane is probably the most popular. The country has two World Heritage Sites: Luang Prabang and Vat Phou. The government is seeking the same status for the Plain of Jars. Sticky Rice is a characteristic staple food and has cultural and religious significance to the Lao people. Sticky rice is mainly preferred over jasmine rice because Lao is the only country with the origin of sticky rice being eaten. There are many traditions and rituals associated with rice production in different environments, and among many ethnic groups. For example, Khammu farmers in Luang Prabang plant the rice variety Khao Kam in small quantities near the hut in memory of dead parents, or at the edge of the rice field to indicate that parents are still alive.[19] Education Main article: Education in Laos See also: Category:Schools in Laos The adult literacy rate exceeds two thirds.[16] The male literacy rate exceeds the female literacy rate.[16] In 2004 the net primary enrolement rate was at 84 %.[16] The National University of Laos is the national university in Laos. Media All newspapers are published by the government, including two foreign language papers: the English-language daily Vientiane Times and the French-language weekly Le Rénovateur. Additionally, the Khao San Pathet Lao, the country's official news agency, publishes English and French versions of its eponymous paper. Internet cafes are now common in the major urban centres and are popular especially with the younger generation. However, the government strictly censors content and controls access[citation needed]. International rankings Organisation Survey Ranking Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal Index of Economic Freedom 137 out of 157 Reporters Without Borders Worldwide Press Freedom Index 164 out of 173 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 151 out of 180 United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index 133 out of 179 See also Geography portal Main article: Outline of Laos List of Laos-related topics Communications in Laos Emblem of Laos Foreign relations of Laos French colonial empire Health in Laos Laotian Civil War List of indices of freedom Military of Laos North Vietnamese invasion of Laos Scouting in Laos Transport in Laos Vietnam War Leaders of ethnic minorities in Laos Pa Chay Vue Ong Keo Ong Kommandam Notes and references ^ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009) (.PDF). World Population Prospects, Table A.1. 2008 revision. United Nations. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-12.  ^ a b c d "Laos". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=544&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr1.x=37&pr1.y=8. Retrieved 2009-10-01.  ^ "Human Development Report 2009. Human development index trends: Table G". The United Nations. http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-05.  ^ Human Development Indices, Table 3: Human and income poverty, p. 35. Retrieved on 1 June 2009 ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/03/laos-cluster-bombs-uxo-deaths ^ Field Listing - Land use, CIA World Factbook ^ About Greater Mekong Subregion at Asian Development Bank ^ Rice, the fabric of life in Laos ^ Genuinely Lao, Rice Today, April-June 2006 ^ FIFTEEN YEARS OF SUPPORT FOR RICE RESEARCH IN LAO PDR ^ ASIA BRIEF: FILLING THE RICE BASKET IN LAO PDR PARTNERSHIP RESULTS ^ Genuinely Lao, Prepared by IRRI’s International Programs Management Office ^ The Green Revolution comes to Laos ^ A Race Against Time ^ [ http://ces.univ-paris1.fr/membre/Mariani/em/DM_BookWB%5B1%5D.pdf International Migration, Remittances & the Brain Drain] ^ [ http://www.adb.org/Documents/TARs/LAO/40514-LAO-TAR.pdf Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Preparing the Cumulative Impact Assessment for the Nam Ngum 3 Hydropower Project] ^ [ http://www.latalaos.org/doc/Strategy2006.pdf Lao PDR Tourism Strategy 2006-2020] ^ a b c d e f g h http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/data_sheets/cty_ds_LAO.html ^ CIA the World Factbook ^ Zickgraf, Ralph. Laos (series: Major World Nations). Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers (1999), pg. 9-10. ^ An Evaluation of Synthesis of Rice External links Find more about Laos on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews Learning resources from Wikiversity The National Portal of Laos Lao National Tourism Administration Chief of State and Cabinet Members BBC News - Country Profile: Laos Lao Voices Lao Media Virtual tour of Laos General information Laos entry at The World Factbook Laos from UCB Libraries GovPubs Laos at the Open Directory Project Wikimedia Atlas of Laos Laos travel guide from Wikitravel v • d • e Socialism by country   History and variants History Brazil · Canada · France · India · Great Britain · Netherlands · New Zealand · United States Variants African · Arab · Labor Zionism · Melanesian · with Chinese characteristics · in One Country   Socialist states Africa People's Republic of Angola · People's Republic of Benin · People's Republic of the Congo · People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia · People's Republic of Mozambique · Somali Democratic Republic Asia Democratic Republic of Afghanistan · Azerbaijan People's Government · People's Republic of China · Democratic Kampuchea · People's Republic of Kampuchea · Democratic People's Republic of Korea · Lao People's Democratic Republic · Mongolian People's Republic · Democratic Republic of Vietnam · Socialist Republic of Vietnam · Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam · Tuvan People's Republic · People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Europe People's Republic of Albania · Czechoslovak Socialist Republic · German Democratic Republic · People's Republic of Hungary · People's Republic of Poland · Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic · Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic · Socialist Republic of Romania · Union of Soviet Socialist Republics  · Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Latin America Republic of Cuba   Geographic locale v • d • e Countries and other territories in Southeast Asia     Sovereign states  Brunei  Burma  Cambodia  East Timor  Indonesia  Laos  Malaysia  Philippines  Singapore  Thailand  Vietnam Dependencies  Christmas Island  Cocos (Keeling) Islands Divisions of sovereign states  Andaman and Nicobar Islands    Hainan   Disputed territories Islands in the Naf River (Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar)) · Macclesfield Bank (Philippines, PRC, ROC) · Paracel Islands (PRC, ROC, Vietnam) · Pratas Islands (PRC, ROC) · Scarborough Shoal (Philippines, PRC, ROC) · Spratly Islands (Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, PRC, ROC, Vietnam) Active separatist or autonomist movements West Papua · Chinland · Nagaland · Wa State · Zogam · Bangsamoro · Patani v • d • e Countries of Asia Afghanistan · Armenia · Azerbaijan1 · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Burma · Cambodia · People's Republic of China · Republic of China (Taiwan)2 · Cyprus · Egypt3 · Georgia1 · India · Indonesia4 · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan1 · North Korea · South Korea · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Lebanon · Malaysia · Maldives · Mongolia · Nepal · Oman · Pakistan · Philippines · Qatar · Russia1 · Saudi Arabia · Singapore · Sri Lanka · Syria · Tajikistan · Thailand · East Timor (Timor-Leste)4 · Turkey1 · Turkmenistan · United Arab Emirates · Uzbekistan · Vietnam · Yemen3 For dependent and other territories, see Dependent territory. 1 Partly or significantly in Europe.  2 The Republic of China (Taiwan) is not officially recognized by the United Nations; see Political status of Taiwan. 3 Partly or significantly in Africa.  4 Partly or wholly reckoned in Oceania.   International membership and history v • d • e Association of Southeast Asian Nations Members Brunei · Burma (Myanmar) · Cambodia · Indonesia · Laos · Malaysia · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Vietnam Observers Papua New Guinea · Timor-Leste Summits/Forums ASEAN Summits · ASEAN Free Trade Area · ASEAN +3 · ASEAN Regional Forum · ASEM · East Asia Summit Related articles Anthem · Charter · Common Time · Date of Establishment · Flag · Hymn · Organizations · SEA Games · Secretariat · Treaty of Amity and Cooperation v • d • e East Asia Summit (EAS) First · Second · Third · Fourth · Fifth &#