Lao PDR is a small, sparsely populated, landlocked country with a rich but vulnerable natural resource base - water, forests, and minerals. It covers an area of 236,800 square kilometres and shares borders with Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Geographic conditions, such as mountainous regions, and the low population density across much of the country restrict both the quantity and quality of agricultural land and pose difficulties in the development of trade, social infrastructure, and transport and communications links. Nevertheless, Lao PDR is located at the geographic centre of the dynamic and prospering Greater Mekong Sub-region, and as such, has the potential to provide a strategic resource base and land-link to its bordering neighbours (UNESCO 2008).
The Lao population (6.2 million in 2010) is ethnically diverse with 49 officially recognized ethnic groups, each with their own customs and language. The ethnic groups are broadly categorized in terms of four major ethno-linguistic families: Lao-Tai (Tai-Kadai), Austro-Asiatic, Hmong-Yu Mien and Sino-Tibetan. Lao-Tai make up 65% of the population, Austro-Asiatic 22%, Hmong-Yu Mien 9% and Sino-Tibetan 3%. The population is scattered across 10,552 villages, with an average village size of approximately 500 inhabitants. A typical village has some 80 households with an average size of 5.9 persons (UNESCO 2008). Approximately 36.8% of the population is under the age of 15 while 10.1% are over the age of 60, and the sex ratio is 99.7 males per 100 females. Life expectancy is estimated at 68.4 years for females and 65.3 years for males. The urban population remains relatively small, estimated at 33.2%, but growing by an average rate of 4.9% per year (UN Data n.d.).
GDP growth is robust in the country (8.4% in 2010 (World Bank n.d.(a))) and the economy is in the process of diversification. Recent high levels of growth are in large part due to foreign investment inflows in mining and hydro-power, and growing mineral exports. The service sector is also expanding greatly as the private sector and the tourism industry continues to grow (UNESCO 2008). Although its GDP share is declining, agriculture is still the largest sector in the Lao economy, contributing 31% to GDP in 2010 (World Bank n.d.(b)) and employing nearly 80% of the labour force (UNESCO 2008).
Economic growth has resulted in a substantial reduction in poverty during the past decade; however poverty rates remain high at 26% (Central Intelligence Agency n.d.).
The country adopted an independent socialist government in 1975, following decades of civil war and heavy involvement in the larger Indochina war in the eastern and northeastern provinces. Lao PDR is a single-party country and a unitary state. The Government is run by the Council of Ministers, whose decrees provide the main legislative basis for government operations. Political power rests with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), whose Politburo and Central Committee are the organs for decision-making. Their decisions are ratified by party congresses held at 5 year intervals (UNESCO 2008).
Lao PDR is comprised of 17 provinces (Vientiane Capital and 16 provinces) and 143 districts. The central government has been steadily devolving decision-making and financial management powers to the provinces, districts and villages, a move supported by the Prime Minister’s Decree on Deconcentration. This gives the provincial governments a high degree of autonomy over resources, expenditures and services (UNESCO 2008).
Despite economic development, Lao PDR is ranked 138 of 187 countries in terms of human development (UN 2011) and poverty remains one of the major challenges facing the country, especially in rural areas. Poverty is twice as high in rural areas compared to urban areas, and non-Lao-Tai ethnic groups make up most of those living in poverty. The upland non-Lao-Tai ethnic communities also suffer from high rates of infant and maternal mortality, lower access to health and education services, higher illiteracy, lower access to electricity and clean water and less involvement in the market economy (UNESCO 2008).
The geographical conditions in Lao PDR contribute to difficulties in the supply of school buildings and facilities, teaching and learning materials and teachers in remote areas. Ethnic diversity also has great implications for educational provision in terms of language of instruction and the recruitment of teachers who are from the same ethnic group as the students (UNESCO 2008).
Furthermore, women in Lao PDR are particularly vulnerable. Compared to men, women have limited access to land, food, education and health care, and they tend to work longer hours. Women also have a far lower average literacy rate than men (63% and 82% respectively) (UNESCO 2008, Central Intelligence Agency n.d.).
