Please note this is a Working Document
Profile last updated: 21 December 2011
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (hereafter Lao PDR) is a landlocked country in South-East Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west (UNESCO 2008).
The Lao population (6.2 million in 2008) is diverse with 49 officially recognized ethnic groups, each with their own customs and language. Geographically, Lao is a sparsely populated country, comprised of heavily forested areas and mountains. From an education development perspective, these conditions can contribute to difficulties in the supplying school buildings, facilities, materials and even teachers. Ethnic diversity also has great implications for education in terms of language of instruction and the inclusion of culturally relevant curriculum and pedagogy in instruction (UNESCO 2008).
| Quick Facts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (millions)* | 6.2 | Rural Population (%) | 67 |
| GDP per capita (PPP US$) | 2,573 | Adult HIV prevalence (%) | 0.2 |
| Primary Gross Enrolment (%) | 121 | Life Expectancy (years) | 67 |
| Primary Net Enrolment (%) | 89 | Adult Literacy (%) | --- |
| Out of School Children (%) | 11 | HDI** | 0.524 |
| Public Spending on Education as % of GDP | 3.3 | EDI*** | 0.761 |
