People and Society of Laos

Nationality

Lao(s) or Laotian(s)

Ethnic Groups

Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Population

7,791,498

Population in Major Urban Areas

VIENTIANE (capital) 810,000

Medical facilities and services in Laos are limited and do not meet Western standards. In Vientiane, U.S. citizens may wish to contact the Primary Care Center, also known as the Centre medical de L’Ambassade de France (CMAF), which is supported by the French Embassy. The CMAF is located on Khou Vieng Road across the street from the Green Park Hotel, tel. 856-21-214-150, or 856-20-5558-4617, or email. The Australian government also supports a fee-for-service clinic located at the Australian Embassy, which is located at Kilometer 4 on Thadeua Road, tel. 21-353-840. Both facilities have well-trained physicians who can handle routine and urgent health problems and provide travel medicine services. The Alliance Clinic, operated by the Wattana Hospital group from Thailand, is located in the Honda building near the airport. It has basic clinical services provided by Thai physicians. U.S. citizens in Laos often seek medical care in Thailand. The Friendship Bridge linking Vientiane, Laos, to Nong Khai, Thailand, is open daily 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Officials generally will allow travelers to cross after hours in cases of medical emergency. AEK International Hospital (tel: 66-42-342-555) and North Eastern Wattana General Hospital, both in Udorn, Thailand (tel: 66-1-833-4262), have English-speaking staff accustomed to dealing with foreign patients. Ambulances for both AEK International Hospital and Nong Khai Wattana Hospital have permission to cross the Friendship Bridge to collect patients from Vientiane. In Vientiane, the Setthatirat Hospital ambulance (tel: 021-413-720) can take patients to Thailand. The Department of State assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or reputation of these hospitals. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a problem throughout Southeast Asia. Please be aware of this problem and purchase pharmaceuticals only through the most reputable pharmacies and with a physician’s prescription. Avian influenza (H5N1) continues to be a concern in Laos. In Laos and other Southeast Asian countries affected by avian influenza, you should avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Laos has improved considerably over recent decades, reflecting advances in healthcare access, public health infrastructure, and reductions in child mortality. As of the most recent estimates, the average life expectancy at birth in Laos stands at approximately 68 to 69 years, with women generally outliving men by a few years. Women can expect to live to around 70 to 71 years, while men average closer to 66 to 67 years. This represents a remarkable transformation from the mid-20th century, when life expectancy hovered in the low 40s, severely impacted by war, poverty, and a near-absence of formal medical services across much of the country. Since the 1980s and 1990s, sustained improvements in maternal and child health programs, expanded vaccination coverage, better access to clean water and sanitation, and increased availability of basic healthcare facilities have driven steady gains in longevity. Despite this progress, Laos continues to face significant health challenges that keep life expectancy below regional and global averages. Malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases remain persistent concerns, particularly in rural and mountainous regions where healthcare infrastructure is limited. Malnutrition, especially among children under five, also contributes to higher rates of premature death and reduced overall population health outcomes. The country's geography plays an important role in healthcare delivery. Many communities are located in remote highlands with poor road connectivity, making it difficult for residents to reach clinics or hospitals and for health workers to provide outreach services. Urban centers such as Vientiane have considerably better access to medical care and correspondingly better health outcomes than the rural provinces. The government of Laos, in partnership with international organizations and development agencies, has prioritized health sector improvements as part of broader national development goals. Maternal mortality has declined significantly over recent decades, and a growing proportion of births are now attended by skilled health personnel compared to previous generations. Noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular conditions and diabetes, are also emerging as a growing share of the disease burden as the country undergoes economic and demographic change. These combined efforts and evolving challenges suggest that life expectancy in Laos will continue to rise incrementally in the coming years, though closing the gap with neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, where life expectancy exceeds 75 years, remains a longer-term objective.

Infant Mortality Rate

Laos has made significant strides in reducing infant mortality over recent decades, though rates remain elevated compared to regional neighbors and global averages. The infant mortality rate in Laos stands at approximately 39 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births, reflecting ongoing challenges in healthcare access, nutrition, and maternal health services across the country. In the 1990s, infant mortality in Laos exceeded 100 deaths per 1,000 live births, making the subsequent decline a notable public health achievement. This improvement is largely attributed to expanded immunization programs, increased access to skilled birth attendants, improvements in oral rehydration therapy for diarrheal disease, and broader efforts to reduce extreme poverty. UNICEF and the World Health Organization have been active partners with the Lao government in driving many of these health interventions. Despite the progress, disparities persist between urban and rural populations. Infants born in rural and remote highland provinces face considerably higher mortality risks than those born in Vientiane or other urban centers. Ethnic minority communities, which are often located in geographically isolated areas with limited road access, experience disproportionately high infant death rates. Key causes of infant death include neonatal complications such as preterm birth and birth asphyxia, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, and malnutrition-related conditions. Malnutrition remains a contributing factor, as stunting and underweight rates among young children in Laos are among the highest in Southeast Asia. A malnourished infant is significantly more vulnerable to infection and less likely to survive common childhood illnesses. The Lao government has incorporated infant and child health targets into its national development plans, with goals aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals framework, which aims to reduce neonatal mortality to no more than 12 deaths per 1,000 live births in all countries by 2030. Reaching this benchmark will require sustained investment in rural healthcare infrastructure, trained community health workers, and continued emphasis on prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and newborns throughout the country.

Major Infectious Diseases

very high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Buddhist60.0%
• animist and other40.0%
• various Christian denominations1.5%

Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

<p>Some ethnic minority languages have never been codified in written form. A small percentage of older people and those who attended high school prior to 1975 speak French, which has been the language of international commerce in the past. Some English is spoken.</p><p> The official language is Lao, the native language of the lowland Lao which is used in all official communications and taught in schools. Other main languages include Thai, Hmong, and midland Lao.</P

• French
• Lao

Crime Information

Laos generally has a low rate of violent crime, but you should remain aware of your surroundings and exercise appropriate security precautions. Residential burglary is commonplace. The number of thefts and assaults in Laos has increased, and some have turned violent. Sexual assaults do occur in Laos. You should exercise caution, particularly after dark, at roadside restaurants, bars, and stalls. Foreigners are often victims of purse snatchings while they are dining or riding bicycles or motorcycles. Please be careful when carrying purses, bags, and other personal items. Local law enforcement responses to crimes, even violent crimes, are often limited. Foreigners attempting to report crimes have reported finding police stations closed, emergency telephone numbers unanswered, or policemen lacking transportation or authorization to investigate crimes that occur at night. If you move to Laos, please contact the U.S. Embassy Vientiane for security information. If you travel to Vang Vieng, be aware that some tourists have been robbed and sexually assaulted in that area. Many restaurants in the Vang Vieng area offer menu items, particularly “pizzas,” “shakes,” or “teas,” that may contain unknown substances or opiates. These products are often advertised as “happy” or “special” items. These unknown substances or opiates can be dangerous, causing serious illness or even death. Travelers in Vang Vieng have been fined and detained for purchasing, possessing, or using illegal substances. In recent years, foreigners, including U.S. citizens, have died in Laos after using illegal drugs, such as methamphetamines, opium, or heroin. The potency of some of these drugs can be several times that of similar substances found in the United States. Please exercise caution on overnight bus trips, particularly on buses travelling to/from Vietnam. The Embassy has received reports of scams and thefts of personal belongings on these trips. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them, you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Laos, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. There are also some things that might be legal in Laos, but still illegal in the United States. For example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with minors or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Laos, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Arrest notifications in Laos: If you are arrested in Laos, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the Embassy.