teracy: 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

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Lao People's Democratic Republic

_#_Type: Communist state

_#_Capital: Vientiane

_#_Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and
plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural);
Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang
Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Saravan, Savannakhet,
Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri, Xiangkhoang

_#_Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)

_#_Constitution: draft constitution under discussion since 1976

_#_Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: National Day (proclamation of the Lao People's
Democratic Republic), 2 December (1975)

_#_Executive branch: president, chairman and four vice chairmen of the
Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: Supreme People's Assembly

_#_Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--President KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN (since 15
August 1991);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers General
Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN, party
chairman;
includes Lao Patriotic Front and Alliance Committee of Patriotic
Neutralist Forces;
other parties moribund

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

Supreme People's Assembly--last held on 26 March 1989 (next to be
held NA); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(79 total) number of seats by party NA

_#_Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groups
moribund; most leaders have fled the country

_#_Member of: ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires LINTHONG PHETSAVAN;
Chancery at 2222 S Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 332-6416 or 6417;

US--Charge d'Affaires Charles B. SALMON, Jr.; Embassy at Rue
Bartholonie, Vientiane (mailing address is B. P. 114