ssure groups and leaders: noncommunist political
groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador VANG Rattanavong
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN
embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546

Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue
(double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue
band

Economy

Economy--overview: The government of Laos?one of the few remaining
official communist states--has been decentralizing control and
encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting
from an extremely low base, have been striking--growth averaged 7% in
1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it
fell victim to the financial crisis in the region beginning in 1997.
Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has
no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and
internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few
urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and
provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is glutinous
rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food,
but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in
various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy
will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international
sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid
from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many
developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper
efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.

GDP: purchasing power parity--$6.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)

GDP--per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,260 (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector:
agriculture: 51%
industry: 21%
services: 28% (1998 est.)

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