Lao People's Democratic Republic

Year

DEMOGRAPHICS, GENDER AND POVERTY

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Ministry of Health
Simuang Road, Vientiane
Lao People's Democratic Republic
856 (0)21 217607
856 (0)21 214003
pomdohp@laotel.com (for Department of Prevention and Hygiene)
WHO Representative in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
That Luang Rd,
Ban Phonxay, Vientiane,
Lao People's Democratic Republic
P.O. Box 343,
Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Tel:856 (0)21 413431, 414264
Fax:856 (0)21 413432
Office hours:0730H - 1600H
wr-lao@lao.wpro.who.int

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic has a population of 5.7 million, a population growth rate of 2.8%, and a sparse population density of 23.3 per square kilometre (km²⁾. The topography breaks into lowland areas along the Mekong River, which depend predominantly on paddy rice, and highland areas which depend on upland rice and the gathering of non-timber forest products for livelihoods. The population is young (44.1%< 15 years), with a total fertility rate of 4.9. The nation is rural (80%) with the beginnings of a rural-to-urban shift.

There are 47 distinct ethnic groups identified in the 1995 census. The ethnic Lao comprise 52.5% of the total and predominate in the lowlands, while ethnic minorities predominate in the highlands, although mixing is common. The highlands have more poverty, worse health indicators, and fewer services available for multiple reasons, including remoteness, lower educational levels, and increasing land pressure, which limits food self-sufficiency. Ethnic diversity presents language problems for health systems.

Women have lower literacy rates than men, and girls have lower school attendance rates than boys. These gaps are accentuated in the rural and highland areas. There is decreased treatment-seeking behaviour among women when ill, particularly when located at a distance from health facilities. There is no evidence of differential mortality rates between boys and girls. Female life expectancy is slightly higher than that of males.

The official poverty rate has fallen steadily (46% in 1992/1993, 39% in 1997/1998, 32% in 2002/2003). Urban poverty (25.5%) is less than rural poverty in areas with roads (30.5%), which is less than poverty in road-less rural areas (47.8%). Lowland areas have less poverty (22.9%) than highland areas (56.5%). The decrease in the national income share of the poorest quarter of the population fell from 9.2% in 1992/1993 to 8.1% in 2002/2003.

Disclaimer: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply the expression of an opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or areas or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.