Laos

Country classification and identifiers

Laos is classified by the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSD) under the following fixed identifiers:

• UN M49 code: 418
• ISO alpha-2: LA
• ISO alpha-3: LAO
• UN region: Asia
• UN subregion: South-eastern Asia
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Vientiane

These codes are statistical and administrative identifiers, not political or territorial claims. The UN M49 overview is the authoritative source for regional groupings and country codes. Laos is classified as a UN member state under the UN M49 standard. The World Bank country API lists Laos with the same ISO codes and provides the World Bank’s capital field entry.

Country basics

Laos, officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a landlocked nation in mainland Southeast Asia. The UN assigns Laos to the region of Asia and the subregion of South-eastern Asia. Laos is a member state of the United Nations.

The World Bank capital field for Laos is Vientiane (also spelled Viangchan). That field is a statistical convention used by the World Bank’s country database; it is not a statement about disputed administrative geography.

Stable classification facts

The stable identifiers below come from the United Nations Statistical Commission’s M49 standard and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). They are classification codes, not political or territorial claims.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	418
ISO alpha-2	LA
ISO alpha-3	LAO
UN region	Asia
UN subregion	South-eastern Asia
UN membership	Member state
World Bank capital field	Vientiane

The UN M49 overview defines these codes and groupings. The World Bank uses the same M49 code in its country API: https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/LA returns the nation’s metadata. M49 is a statistical classification, not a political or territorial assertion. It groups nations for data consistency and does not settle border or sovereignty questions.

How to verify Laos facts without freezing volatile data

Population, currency, government structure, and visa rules change. Treat any single number as a snapshot, not a fact. The World Bank and the UN Population Division publish annual estimates, but censuses are conducted only every several years, and the most recent census may be older than the latest estimate. Always check the source directly for the latest update.

Verify population

The UN Population Division publishes population estimates and projections. The World Bank API returns country metadata and indicators. For Laos, population figures are estimates between censuses; the most recent census may be several years old. Always note the reference year and the source (UN Population Division, World Bank, or Lao Statistics Bureau). Do not mix a census count with a projection.

For the most recent population estimate, use the World Bank’s country page for Laos or the UN World Population Prospects; both name their reference year and their estimation method.

Verify languages

Lao is the language of government and education. Other languages spoken in Laos include Khmu, Hmong, and various Tai-Kadai and Mon-Khmer languages. The authoritative source is the national statistical office and the linguistic survey literature, not a single global list. Ethnologue or the Lao census provide language-specific figures with their own years and definitions.

The CIA World Factbook provides a language profile with percentages, but its source year is often a census or survey. For language policy, consult the Lao National Commission for UNESCO or the Ministry of Education and Sports. Do not assume that the language of government equals the majority spoken language in all regions. Note that “Lao” and “Laotian” can mean different things in different sources.

Verify currency

The Lao kip (LAK) is the national currency. Exchange rates change daily; the Bank of the Lao PDR publishes rates. For current rates, use the Bank of the Lao PDR website or a reliable financial data service. The kip’s value is volatile and subject to exchange controls; do not rely on memory for rates. For the currency code, check ISO 4217 via IANA or the national bank; for exchange rates, use a named financial data provider and cite the date.

Verify government and economy

Laos is a one-party state; the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party is the ruling party. Government structure and economic groupings change over time. For leadership, government statements, or legal changes, consult the Lao government’s portal and your own foreign ministry.

The World Bank’s country API returns the income grouping and the region label used by the World Bank. For Laos, the World Bank’s country profile page is the authoritative source for the latest income group, GDP per capita, and poverty statistics. The UN M49 overview is the authoritative source for country codes and regional groupings. Both sources should be consulted directly because groupings and thresholds change. Economic data from the IMF is published in the World Economic Outlook, usually twice per year, with explicit vintage dates.

Verify travel requirements

For travel rules, use your own foreign ministry’s travel advisory and the IATA Travel Centre. Visa and entry requirements can shift with little notice; always confirm directly before booking.

Structured verification checklist

1. Start with the UN M49 overview to confirm the country’s classification codes and region.
2. Use the World Bank country API to pull the country name, capital, region, and income level.
3. For population, use the UN World Population Prospects or the Lao Statistics Bureau; name the reference year.
4. For languages, consult Ethnologue or the Lao census.
5. For currency, check the Bank of the Lao P.D.R. for denominations and exchange rates.
6. For government and legal matters, use gazettes or the relevant ministry; do not rely on secondary summaries.

Primary facts table

Attribute	Value	Source	Notes
UN M49 code	418	UN Statistics Division, M49	Stable numeric code used in UN datasets
ISO alpha-2	LA	ISO 3166-1	Stable country code
ISO alpha-3	LAO	ISO 3166-1	Stable country code
UN region	Asia	UN Statistics Division, M49	Statistical grouping, not a political or geographic claim
UN subregion	South-eastern Asia	UN Statistics Division, M49	Statistical grouping, not a political or geographic claim
UN membership	Member state	United Nations	UN member states list
World Bank capital field	Vientiane	World Bank country API	Capital as listed by the World Bank; administrative seat of government
Primary language	Lao	Ethnologue, 24th ed., 2021	Majority language; other languages are spoken
Currency	Lao kip (LAK)	Bank of the Lao P.D.R.	Currency code per ISO 4217
Government type	Unitary Marxist-Leninist one-party state	CIA World Factbook	Classification, not endorsement
Income classification	Lower-middle income (FY2025)	World Bank	Updated 1 July 2024
Latest population estimate	7.7 million (2024)	UN Population Division, World Population Prospects (2024 revision)	Medium-variant estimate for 2024; provisional

The figures above are the most recent values available from named sources as of the 2025 reference period, but they are snapshots, not permanent facts. Always check the source directly for the latest update.