Laos

Exact population: 6,368,481 (July 2006 est.)
Literacy: Total population: 66.4%; male: 77.4%; female: 55.5%
Ethnicities: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Land boundaries: Total: 5,083 km; border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Terrain: Mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Extremes: Lowest point: Mekong River 70 m; highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Imports: Thailand 60.5%, China 10.3%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4% (2004)
Exports: Thailand 19.3%, Vietnam 13.4%, France 8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 5% (2004)
Industries: Copper, tin, and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement

Source: CIA World Factbook