Laos

Overview

Official name

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Capital

Vientiane

Region

Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Area

236,800 km² · landlocked

Coordinates

18.00, 105.00

Languages

Lao

Currency

Lao kip (LAK ₭)

Calling code · domain

+856 · .la

ISO codes

LA / LAO

Borders

Myanmar Cambodia China Thailand Vietnam

Map

Demographics

Macroeconomy

Laos ranks #139 in the world by nominal GDP (2025). Full ranking →

Business environment & logistics (micro)

The Logistics Performance Index (LPI) and import clearance time are published by the World Bank per survey round; total tax rate comes from the discontinued Doing Business data (2020).

Provinces, states & regions (18)

Province: 17 · Prefecture: 1

• Attapu LA-AT
• Bokèo LA-BK
• Bolikhamxai LA-BL
• Champasak LA-CH
• Houaphan LA-HO
• Khammouan LA-KH
• Louang Namtha LA-LM
• Louangphabang LA-LP
• Oudômxai LA-OU
• Phôngsali LA-PH
• Salavan LA-SL
• Savannakhét LA-SV
• Viangchan LA-VI
• Viangchan LA-VT
• Xaignabouli LA-XA
• Xaisômboun LA-XS
• Xiangkhouang LA-XI
• Xékong LA-XE

Source: ISO 3166-2 (Debian iso-codes)

Seaports & logistics

Landlocked – cargo moves through neighbouring countries’ ports.

International shipping →

FTAs & trade blocs

Vietnam and Laos share 9 FTA(s) – goods meeting the rules of origin enjoy preferential duties:

• ACFTA – ASEAN–China Free Trade Area
• ATIGA – ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement
• AJCEP – ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership
• AKFTA – ASEAN–Korea Free Trade Area
• AANZFTA – ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area
• AIFTA – ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement
• AHKFTA – ASEAN–Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement
• VN-LAO – Viet Nam–Lao PDR Trade Agreement
• RCEP – Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Bloc membership

• ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations
• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Membership compiled as of October 2026 (full members); check each bloc’s official site for legal precision.

Trade agreements in force (12)

Laos is party to 12 regional/bilateral trade agreements in force (per the WTO). Agreements with a “Preferential rates” button are FTAs that Vietnam is also party to.

Agreement	Type / coverage	In force	Partners
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Preferential rates Not in WTO database Entry into force differs by party (1 January 2022 for the first group, later for Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines).	FTA Goods & Services	1 Jan 2022	+4
ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) Preferential rates In force for some parties	EIA Services	5 Apr 2021
ASEAN - Hong Kong, China Preferential rates	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	11 Jun 2019
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Preferential rates	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	17 May 2010
ASEAN - Australia - New Zealand Preferential rates	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	1 Jan 2010	+1
ASEAN - India Preferential rates	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	1 Jan 2010
ASEAN - Korea, Republic of Preferential rates	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	1 Jan 2010
ASEAN - Japan Preferential rates	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	1 Dec 2008
ASEAN - China Preferential rates	FTA & EIA Goods & Services	1 Jan 2005
APTA - Accession of China	PSA Goods	1 Jan 2002
Lao People's Democratic Republic - Thailand	PSA Goods	20 Jun 1991	Thailand
Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)	PSA & EIA Goods & Services	17 Jun 1976

Source: WTO Regional Trade Agreements Database (retrieved 14 Oct 2026) plus additional agreements maintained by the administrator. Lists agreements notified to the WTO and in force.

Import regulations

Hải quan nước thành viên ASEAN / ASEAN national customs ↗

Global Trade Helpdesk ↗Market Access Map ↗WTO Tariff & Trade Data ↗

Sourcing from Vietnam

Buyers in Laos can find Vietnamese suppliers by industry, in the factory directory and at international exhibitions in Vietnam:

Steel & steel structure manufacturing →International exhibitions in VietnamContact Vietnam duties on goods from Laos