The Human Truth Foundation

Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic)

https://www.humantruth.info/laos.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#laos

Laos
Lao People's Democratic Republic
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index155th best
CapitalVientiane
Land Area 230 800km21
LocationAsia
Population7.1m2
Life Expectancy68.06yrs (2017)3
GNI$7 700 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesLA, LAO, 4185
Internet Domain.la6
CurrencyKip (LAK)7
Telephone+8568

1. Overview

Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverLaos, long a forgotten backwater, combines some of the best elements of Southeast Asia in one bite-sized destination. Pockets of pristine environment, a kaleidoscope of diverse cultures and quite possibly the most chilled-out people on earth have earned Laos cult status among travellers. Imagine a country where your pulse slows, smiles are genuine and the locals are still curious about you.Village life is refreshingly simple, and even in Vientiane it´s hard to believe this sort of languid riverfront life exists in a capital city. Magical Luang Prabang bears witness to hundreds of saffron-robed monks gliding through the streets in search of alms; it´s one of the region´s iconic images.Away from the cities, it´s easy to make a quick detour off the beaten track and end up in a fairytale landscape with jagged limestone cliffs, brooding jungle and the snaking Mekong River as a backdrop. Community-based trekking combines these natural attractions with a village homestay. The Lao people are wonderfully welcoming hosts and there is no better way to get to know their culture than by sharing their lives.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Laos National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
138Sao Tome & Principe0.618
139Namibia0.615
140=Vanuatu0.607
140=Laos0.607
140=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.607
143Nepal0.602
144Swaziland0.597
145Equatorial Guinea0.596
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
120Uzbekistan$7 917
121Cuba$7 879
122Vietnam$7 867
123Laos$7 700
124Swaziland$7 679
125Morocco$7 303
126Tonga$6 822
127India$6 590
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
152Madagascar113.4
153Ethiopia113.9
154Micronesia114.0
155Laos114.3
156Benin114.3
157Sierra Leone114.4
158Cameroon114.7
159Syria115.3
Asia Avg88.2
World Avg87.9
q=196.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Laos's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Laos's population is predicted to rise to 7.754 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.58. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
101Togo7.9m
102Sierra Leone7.7m
103Hong Kong7.4m
104Laos7.1m
105Bulgaria7.1m
106Paraguay7.0m
107Lebanon6.9m
108Libya6.7m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
129Guatemala69.2
130Moldova68.8
131Nepal68.4
132Laos68.1
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)67.7
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
92Cuba1.45
93India2.55
94Germany1.44
95Laos2.58
96Malaysia2.58
97Hungary1.42
98Romania1.42
99Japan1.40
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
51UAE07.7
52Oman07.8
53Jordan08.0
54Laos08.1
55Timor-Leste (E. Timor)08.2
56Belize08.3
57Gabon08.5
58Pakistan08.6
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
162Mozambique0.8%
163Jamaica0.8%
164El Salvador0.7%
165Laos0.7%
166Nicaragua0.7%
167Nigeria0.6%
168Algeria0.6%
169Mongolia0.6%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
98Netherlands6.0%
99Italy5.8%
100Benin5.8%
101Laos5.7%
102Turkey5.6%
103Comoros5.6%
104Congo, (Brazzaville)5.6%
105Togo5.4%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Laos's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#antisemitism #equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Asia (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Hong Kong24.3
2Taiwan28.2
3Japan41.9
...
26Jordan102.0
27Cambodia102.3
28Kuwait106.5
29Laos108.1
30Maldives110.4
31=Indonesia111.0
32Uzbekistan111.1
33Bahrain112.7
34Bangladesh113.0
Asia Avg99.9
q=51.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
131Kuwait106.5
132Nigeria106.9
133Togo107.6
134Laos108.1
135Zambia108.6
136Maldives110.4
137=Algeria111.0
137=Indonesia111.0
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
19
Pos.2009
Treaties19
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
153Swaziland11
154=Zimbabwe11
155Saudi Arabia10
156=Laos10
156=Solomon Islands10
156=Qatar10
156=Vatican City10
156=India10
Asia Avg12.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
20
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty20
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
97Afghanistan10.23
98Dominican Rep.10.24
99Kuwait10.36
100Laos10.53
101Cambodia10.56
102Ghana10.64
103Croatia10.65
104Zambia10.81
Asia Avg10.97
World Avg10.02
q=195.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
21
Pos.2014
Rank21
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
106Malawi106
107Thailand107
108Lebanon108
109Laos109
110Ivory Coast110
111=Ukraine111
111=Senegal111
111=Colombia111
Asia Avg94.6
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Press Freedom
Lower is better
22
Pos.201322
1Finland638
2Netherlands648
3Norway652
...
164Bahrain6275
165Equatorial Guinea6720
166Djibouti6740
167Laos6799
168Yemen6922
169Sudan7006
170Cuba7164
171Vietnam7178
Asia Avg4378
World Avg3249
q=178.
Slavery
Lower is better
23
Pos.2018
% Victims23
1Japan0.03
2=Canada0.05
2=Taiwan0.05
...
143Macedonia0.87
144Swaziland0.88
145Thailand0.89
146Laos0.94
147Papua New Guinea1.03
148=Belarus1.09
148=Brunei1.09
150Myanmar (Burma)1.10
Asia Avg0.79
World Avg0.65
q=167.

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Laos stated:

Prominent human rights defenders remained imprisoned. There was no progress in the investigation of various cases of enforced disappearance of activists and members of ethnic minorities. Members of the ChaoFa Hmong ethnic minority were continually blocked from adequate access to food, water, sanitation and healthcare. Trans-boundary hydropower projects and other business activities raised serious human rights concerns, including forced eviction, ill-treatment and human trafficking.

"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)24

Gender Equality:

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Laos and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting. Laos is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
25
Pos.201525
1Switzerland0.04
2Denmark0.04
3Netherlands0.04
...
103Nicaragua0.46
104Paraguay0.46
105Indonesia0.47
106Laos0.47
107Dominican Rep.0.47
108Namibia0.47
109Burundi0.47
110Bhutan0.48
Asia Avg0.36
World Avg0.36
q=159.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.Total
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
113=Egypt1956
113=Comoros1956
115Malaysia1957
116=Laos1958
116=Hungary1958
116=Chad1958
116=Nigeria1958
116=Burkina Faso1958
Asia Avg1907
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

Anti-Semite Opinions
Lower is better
26
Pos.2014
%26
1Laos0
2Philippines3
3Sweden4
4Netherlands5
5Vietnam6
6UK8
7=Denmark9
7=USA9
9Tanzania12
10=Thailand13
10=Czechia13
12Canada14
Asia Avg48.2
World Avg36.8
q=101.
LGBT Equality
Higher is better
27
Pos.2017
Score27
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
90=Micronesia20
90=Armenia20
92Mozambique17
93=Laos15
93=Haiti15
93=Azerbaijan15
93=Equatorial Guinea15
93=Burkina Faso15
Asia Avg-02.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
28
Pos.202128
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
88Switzerland3.0
89=Belize3.0
89=Lesotho3.0
89=Laos3.0
89=Grenada3.0
89=Finland3.0
89=Panama3.0
89=Spain3.0
Asia Avg3.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Laos's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
...
42=Azerbaijan100.0
43Syria101.3
44=Afghanistan103.8
45Timor-Leste (E. Timor)105.6
46Yemen112.0
47Philippines112.9
48Laos115.9
49Palestine116.7
50Iraq130.9
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
171Micronesia114.2
172Argentina114.9
173Central African Rep.115.5
174Laos115.9
175Guinea-Bissau116.4
176Palestine116.7
177Cameroon117.8
178Burkina Faso118.1
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives30. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau30.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean30, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa30.

For more, see:

Health:

Laos is a pretty unhealthy country. And finally, it does worse than average in its fertility rate13, its smoking rate31, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance32 (one of the highest in Asia), its adolescent birth rate25, its average life expectancy11, its immunizations take-up33 and in its alcohol consumption rate34 (one of the worst in Asia). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016. Life expectancy in Laos in 1990 was 53.7yrs, lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +14.4yrs in the 30 years from then, almost double the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
129Guatemala69.2
130Moldova68.8
131Nepal68.4
132Laos68.1
133Timor-Leste (E. Timor)67.7
134Sao Tome & Principe67.6
135Indonesia67.6
136Kiribati67.4
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
34
Pos.2016
Per Capita34
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
150=Swaziland9.9
151Spain10.0
152S. Korea10.2
153=Laos10.4
153=Greece10.4
153=Denmark10.4
156Cook Islands10.6
157=Australia10.6
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
92Cuba1.45
93India2.55
94Germany1.44
95Laos2.58
96Malaysia2.58
97Hungary1.42
98Romania1.42
99Japan1.40
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
31
Pos.201431
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
109Papua New Guinea 826
110UK 827
111Sweden 831
112Laos 836
113Iran 869
114Thailand 895
115Turkmenistan 92535
116Chile 930
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
120Seychelles120
121Guinea-Bissau121
122Argentina122
123Laos123
124Antigua & Barbuda124
125Burkina Faso125
126Mauritius126
127Congo, DR127
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
36
Pos.2016
%36
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
18Myanmar (Burma)24.8
19Rwanda25.1
20Congo, DR25.3
21Laos25.4
22Kenya25.5
23Central African Rep.26.2
24Mozambique26.4
25Guinea26.6
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
25
Pos.2015
Per 100025
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
126Philippines61.7
127Mexico62.8
128Argentina63.8
129Laos64.1
130Honduras65.0
131El Salvador65.2
132S. Sudan65.9
133Belize65.9
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
33
Pos.2015
Avg %33
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
145Zambia84.2
146Congo, (Brazzaville)83.6
147Cameroon83.3
148Laos83.3
149Djibouti82.6
150Uganda82.5
151Comoros81.8
152Marshall Islands81.8
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Laos's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
36Kyrgyzstan103.8
37Qatar104.0
38Saudi Arabia104.4
39Laos104.5
40Oman104.7
41Turkmenistan110.8
42Timor-Leste (E. Timor)114.3
43UAE114.4
44Kuwait115.4
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
145Kyrgyzstan103.8
146Qatar104.0
147Saudi Arabia104.4
148Laos104.5
149Oman104.7
150Moldova104.8
151Botswana106.8
152S. Africa106.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.
With regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Laos comes 148th in the world. This rank is calculated from 5 data sets. Laos does better than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population38 and in annual meat consumption per person39. And finally, it does worse than average in terms of its environmental performance40, how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in its forested percent change 2000-202041.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
41
Pos.Total41
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
170Madagascar-4.6%
171Togo-4.7%
172Zambia-4.8%
173Laos-4.8%
174Zimbabwe-5.1%
175Panama-5.2%
176Samoa-5.7%
177Eritrea-5.7%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
40
Pos.201840
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
150Cambodia43.2
151Solomon Islands43.2
152Iraq43.2
153Laos42.9
154Burkina Faso42.8
155Sierra Leone42.5
156Gambia42.4
157Congo, (Brazzaville)42.4
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
159Qatar1996 Nov 19
160Bahrain1996 Nov 28
161Turkmenistan1996 Dec 17
162Laos1996 Dec 19
163Haiti1996 Dec 24
164Croatia1997 Jan 05
165Belgium1997 Feb 20
166Dominican Rep.1997 Feb 23
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better38
Pos.2011
%38
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
47Sudan46.9%
48Malaysia46.6%
49Mozambique46.5%
50Laos45.3%
51Slovenia45.1%
52Spain44.8%
53Tanzania44.2%
54Bosnia & Herzegovina44.0%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
39
Pos.2021
kg39
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
52Sao Tome & Principe28.3
53Maldives28.8
54Egypt29.1
55Laos29.8
56Botswana30.1
57Nicaragua31.5
58Iran31.6
59Morocco32.1
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Laos's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
...
41Nepal110.8
42Bhutan112.3
43Bangladesh112.9
44Laos115.2
45Iraq121.8
46Syria123.5
47Myanmar (Burma)127.0
48Timor-Leste (E. Timor)129.0
49Yemen134.4
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
150Rwanda112.3
151Bangladesh112.9
152Suriname114.4
153Laos115.2
154Cape Verde116.3
155Vanuatu117.0
156Nicaragua117.7
157Swaziland118.0
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
43
Pos.201843
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
125Syria41.0%
126Sao Tome & Principe40.8%
127Togo40.5%
128Laos40.4%
129Algeria38.9%
130Guatemala37.8%
131Pakistan37.2%
132Cameroon37.2%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
44
Pos.2021
Years44
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
164Marshall Islands10.2
165Mozambique10.2
166Uganda10.1
167Laos10.1
168Madagascar10.1
169Honduras10.1
170Nigeria10.1
171Congo, DR9.8
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
97St Vincent & Grenadines97
98Zimbabwe98
99Panama99
100Laos100
101Cameroon101
102Peru102
103Cape Verde103
104Swaziland104
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
IQ
Higher is better45
Pos.200645
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
57=Kyrgyzstan90
57=Chile90
59Costa Rica89
60=Laos89
61Ecuador88
62=Mexico88
63Brazil87
64=Bolivia87
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
46
Pos.201646
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
161=Mauritania17%
161=S. Sudan17%
163Gambia17%
164Laos16%
165Namibia16%
166Turkmenistan15%
167Bangladesh13%
168Iraq13%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IT Security
Lower is better
47
Pos.201347
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
35Ivory Coast0.82
36Ethiopia0.84
37Iran0.85
38Laos0.86
39Spain0.88
40Kuwait0.93
41Saudi Arabia0.93
42Malaysia0.96
Asia Avg1.08
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
48
Pos.2017
Ratio48
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
102=Colombia0.0
102=Ghana0.0
102=Yemen0.0
102=Laos0.0
102=Malta0.0
102=Turkmenistan0.0
102=Bangladesh0.0
102=Qatar0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
49
Pos.2022
%49
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
114=Italy29.0
114=Armenia29.0
116Tunisia28.0
117Laos27.0
118Portugal26.0
119Lebanon24.0
120Egypt23.0
121S. Korea22.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
50
Pos.2022
Points50
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
124Dominican Rep.32.0
125=Niger32.0
126Uzbekistan31.0
127=Laos31.0
127=Mexico31.0
127=Bolivia31.0
130Egypt30.0
131=Mauritania30.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.

Thoughout the 2000s, Laos's score on the Corruption Perception Index declined terribly; it was amongst the 10 countries with the worse rise in perceived corruption that decade.

Happiness
Higher is better
51
Pos.2018
Score51
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
107Ivory Coast4.7
108Ghana4.7
109Senegal4.6
110Laos4.6
111Tunisia4.6
112Albania4.6
113Sierra Leone4.6
114Congo, (Brazzaville)4.6
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
142Malawi142
143Benin143
144Cameroon144
145Laos145
146Nigeria146
147Equatorial Guinea147
148Angola148
149Zambia149
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
109Thailand109
110Ecuador110
111Malawi111
112Laos112
113China113
114S. Africa114
115Cape Verde115
116Russia116
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
52
Pos.2023
Score52
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
43S. Korea1.76
44Mongolia1.77
45Montenegro1.77
46Laos1.78
47Sierra Leone1.79
48Oman1.79
49Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.80
50Uruguay1.80
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
102Lesotho102
103Antigua & Barbuda103
104Latvia104
105Laos105
106Mozambique106
107Poland107
108Ukraine108
109Belgium109
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
156Ivory Coast156
157St Lucia157
158Vietnam158
159Laos159
160Equatorial Guinea160
161Fiji161
162Tonga162
163Brunei163
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
53
Pos.2019
Score53
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
53=Vietnam1.00
53=Montenegro1.00
55Taiwan1.01
56Laos1.03
57Armenia1.17
58Senegal1.19
59Morocco1.22
60Guatemala1.33
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better54
Pos.201954
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
136Namibia22.10
137=Kenya22.50
137=Bolivia22.50
139Laos22.60
140=Congo, (Brazzaville)22.80
140=Myanmar (Burma)22.80
140=Gabon22.80
143Turkmenistan23.40
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
55
Pos.2017
%55
1Ukraine25.0
2=Belarus25.4
2=Slovenia25.4
...
68Gambia35.9
69Greece36.0
70Spain36.2
71Laos36.4
72Thailand36.5
73=Fiji36.7
73=Yemen36.7
75Solomon Islands37.1
Asia Avg35.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
56
Pos.2018
Severity56
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
48Honduras.090
49Sao Tome & Principe.092
50Bolivia.094
51Laos.108
52Congo, (Brazzaville).112
53India.123
54Guatemala.134
55Zimbabwe.137
Asia Avg.084
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)57
Pos.Higher is better
%57
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
47=Cambodia7
48Moldova6
49=Italy6
50Laos5
51=Ireland5
51=Mozambique5
53Zimbabwe4
54=Namibia4
54=Iran4
54=Mexico4
54=Portugal4
54=Romania4
54=Argentina4
54=Georgia4
54=Uzbekistan4
62Lebanon3
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below58:

Christian1.5%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist66%
Folk Religion30.7%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.9%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (2005 census)59.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)60, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Laos states:

The constitution provides for freedom of religion or belief. However, other laws and policies restrict this right. The prime minister's Decree on Religious Practice (Decree 92) is the principal legal instrument defining rules for religious practice; it institutionalizes the government's role as the final arbiter of permissible religious activities. Although the government does not recognize an official state religion, the government's exemption of Buddhism from many of the Decree 92 restrictions, sponsorship of Buddhist facilities, incorporation of Buddhist ritual and ceremony in state functions, and promotion of Buddhism as an element of the country's cultural and spiritual identity give Theravada Buddhism an elevated status61.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)62

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