Interesting Laos Facts
Laos is a landlocked country located in South-Eastern Asia where it is bordered by Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It encompasses 236,800 km2 of land. The estimated population of Laos is in excess of 6,858,160.
Find out interesting Laos facts and information about this Asian country with our fact file for kids. Discover important facts about the population, location, size, climate, currency, flag, continent, language, people, culture, geography, landscape and landmarks of Laos.
Identify important information about Asia with our interesting Laos facts for kids based on questions such as: What continent is Laos in? What is the culture of Laos like? What are the major cities of Laos? What is the main language of Laos? What is the capital city of Laos?
Laos Fact File: Continent: Asia * Country Name(s): Laos, Lao People's Democratic Republic * Location: South-Eastern Asia * Bordering: Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam * Capital City: Vientiane * Size: 236,800 km2 * Estimated Population: over 6,858,160 * Currency: Lao kip (LAK) * Language(s): Lao * Country Code: +856
Interesting Laos Facts for Kids
Interesting Facts for Kids 1: Size & location facts
Laos is located on the continent of Asia, where it has a landlocked position and is bordered by Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). Asia is the largest continent in the world, it has 48 countries, with some countries belonging to both Asia and Europe. It spans a total area of 43,820,000 km2 and forms 29.5% of the world's landmass. Laos is a landlocked country that covers a total area of approximately 236,800 km2. It is a medium size country on the mainland continent of Asia.
Interesting Facts for Kids 2: Population facts
The population of this Asian country is in excess of 6,858,160 people. The majority of Laos' inhabitants reside in Vientiane which is the country's most populous city. Laos has an average population when compared to most other countries across the world, its overall population density is approximately 26 people per sq km. The estimated population of Asia is approximately 4,393,296,000 inhabitants, making it the continent with the largest population in the world. The continents in order of population, starting with highest population first, are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia (Oceania Region) and Antarctica. The total population of the entire world is in excess of 7.6 billion people.
Interesting Facts for Kids 3: Capital & major cities
The capital of Laos is Vientiane. The names of other major cities located in this country are Pakse, Thakhek, Savannakhét, Luang Prabang and Xam Nua.
Interesting Facts for Kids 4: Country borders
The following details provide a guide to Laos' approximate border lengths:
Burma 238 km, Cambodia 555 km, China 475 km, Thailand 1,845 km, Vietnam 2,161 km.
Interesting Facts for Kids 5: Climate and geography facts
Laos has a hot tropical monsoon climate with a rainy season that occurs from May to November. The geography of Laos is dominated by mountains and thick forest regions, some areas of plateau and plains. The Mekong is a major river system that occurs on the border of Laos and Thailand. The lowest point of Laos is the Mekong River at 70m, and the highest point of elevation is Phu Bia at 2,817m.
Interesting Facts for Kids 6: Natural Resources of Laos
Natural resources can be defined as materials and substances that occur naturally on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. An individual country's natural resources can depend on many factors including the climate, geography and location. Some countries, such as Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada, are rich with natural resources, where as others have practically none. Food, construction and transport are three primary examples of uses of natural resources. The following information provides examples of these uses: fish occurs naturally in streams, rivers, lakes and oceans, and can be caught for food consumption. Wood/timber can be extracted from forests for construction purposes, i.e. to build homes and furniture. Crude oils can be refined into different kinds of fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. The natural resources of Laos include timber, hydropower (water power), gypsum, tin, gold and gemstones.
Interesting Facts for Kids 7: Language facts
The official language of Laos is Lao. Other languages that are used in this country include French and English.
Interesting Facts for Kids 8: Religion facts
The primary religion of Laos is Buddhist at approximately 64% of the population. The remaining population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.
Interesting Facts for Kids 9: Symbols of Laos
Every country has its own unique culture, history and identity. Flags, symbols, emblems, mottos, songs, anthems and colors are used by countries worldwide to represent national pride and identity. These national symbols are formed through the unique history of a nation and are symbolic of both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, colors, songs and mottos reflect the past, present and future aspirations of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can represent a combination of things that are important to a country such as birds, animals, plants, geographical features, tools of agriculture, crops, and tools of war. Here are some important facts on the symbols, songs and colors of Laos:
National symbol(s): elephant
National colors: red, white and blue
National Anthem/Song: Pheng Xat Lao (Translation: Hymn of the Lao People)
National Holiday(s): Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)