Country Profile: Laos

Country Profile: Laos

Geographies of Development: Presentation 1

Development Agencies

References

IndexMundi (2016) Laos Country Profile. Available at: www.indexmundi.com/countryprofile/laos

BBC News, (2017). Laos Profile. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15355605

Countryside Animal Clinic (2013) Leptospirosis Available at:https://countrysideanimalclinic.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/what-is-leptospirosis/

The World Bank (2017) East Asia and Pacific on the rise Available at: http://blogs.worldbank.org/team/helene-carlsson-rex

National University of Laos (2013) The need for sustainable renewable energy in Lao PDR. Available at: www.seeforum.net/countryreport/laopdr.html

'French Protectorate of Laos' (2016) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Protectorate_of_Laos (Accessed: 24 January 2017)

Grimes, D. (2013) 'The Colonisation of Laos' [PowerPoint Presentation]. Available at: http://prezi.com/wkjccba4djnt/the-colonisation-of-laos/ (Accessed: 23 January 2017)

• Before the Indochina wars, sources listed more than 60 different population groups
• Population dispersed or killed after wars (reducing the population groups)
• Later officially grouped into 3 Categories: Lao Loum (Lowland Lao), Lao Theung (Lao of the Mountain Slopes) and Lao Soung (Lao of the Mountain Tops)

Helen Carlsson, Gender equality in Laos: first impressions can be deceptive. The World Bank.

Women appeared empowered initially, but with greater insight found significant gender inequalities:

• Women were not involved in decision making
• Harder for women to obtain credit become managers

Economic Inequality

Poorest 5th share of national income has fallen

1992- 9.3%

2008- 7.6%

Source: Index Mundi

UN Agencies Continue to Boost Development in Laos (2017) Available at: http://laotiantimes.com/2016/12/13/un-agencies-continue-boost-development-laos/ (Accessed: 24 January 2017)

All 3 UN Nations are starting their new cycle of 5 year programming, with the goal of boosting the development of Laos.

The programme concentrates on:

• what work is done for and with young people.

Overall goal: ensure that children, especially the most disadvantaged, fully enjoy their rights to survival, development and protection.

Source: World Bank Blogs

Natural resources include:

• Timber
• Tin
• Gold
• Gemstones
• Hydropower

Source: Swiss Cooperation

Source: GIA

Flooding and drought have a greater impact in rural areas where economic livelihoods are primarily in agriculture and food security is an issue.

Lao Peoples Democratic Republic

Source: Pinterest

Colonising Laos led to the first Indochina war, with Vietnam, against France.

The main reason for France conquering Laos is because they wanted all of their natural resources.

The French also colonised Laos because they were angry at Vietnam for killing 7 French missionaries.

France benefited the most as they exploited the majority of Laos' natural resources.

President

Bounnhang Vorachith

Infectious disease epidemics

Source: Wikipedia

Communist state backed by Vietnam and China. Since its establishment in 1975, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) has been controlled by the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) which is the only legal political party.

Its local government:

The country is divided into 16 provinces which are subdivided further into districts and villages

Source: Wikipedia

Poor living conditions and a lack of sanitation for many people has resulted in infectious diseases such as Leptospirosis spreading.

Source:Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Source: AsiandoGlobal.net

Prime Minister

Thongloun Sisoulith

Source: Countryside Animal Clinic

Source: Wikipedia

Key Historical Dates

Source: Viet Vision Travel

1. 1893- Laos becomes a French protectorate until 1945

2. 1946- French rule over Laos resumed

3. 1950- Laos is granted semi-autonomy

4. 1953- Independence restored after the end of French rule.

5. 1960- Laos subject to extensive aerial bombardment

6. 1973- Vietnamese ceasefire agreement divides Laos between communists and royalists

7. 1975- Pathet Lao renamed the Lao People Front

8. 1986- Laos introduces market reforms

• •Known for its mountainous terrain, French colonial architecture, hill tribe settlements and Buddhist monasteries

• One of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, Laos has little industry and relies on foreign aid

Agriculture, mostly subsistence rice farming dominates the economy

Outside the capital, many live without electricity or access to basic services.

• Capital City: Vientiane

• Population: 6.802 million

The republic of Lao is split according to altitude, from lowland, midland and upland Laotians.

• Laos and Millennium Development Goals - Made progress on halving poverty, reducing hunger, and improving education and health outcomes. Certain MDGs remain off track, most crucially on nutrition.

• Major Religion: Buddhism

• Major Languages: Lao, French and English

Source:BBC News

Source: BBC News

Source: World Bank

• No Direct access to the sea
• Home to the Mekong River (worlds 12th largest river)
• The Mekong River acts as trans boundary.

• The terrain is characterized by 3 distinct regions- mountains, plateaus and plains
• Elevations are typically above 500m with narrow river valleys and low agricultural potential

Source: MapHill

Source:OperationWorld

A1: Courtney Lunness, Nathan O'Boyle and Orla Thompson