🌍 GlobeIQ ← Back to game

Laos

Asia · 7.5 million

About Laos

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a sovereign country located in Asia, specifically within the South-Eastern Asia subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Vientiane, and the country is home to approximately 7.6 million people. In its native language, the country is known as “ສປປລາວ”. Lao serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Laos. The official currency in circulation is the Lao kip (₭), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Laos is widely recognised for Luang Prabang's monasteries, the Plain of Jars and Mekong river life. People from Laos are referred to as Laotian.

Geography & climate

Laos covers approximately 236,800 km² of territory, making it a mid-sized country by land area. It shares land borders with 5 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Laos sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 18.0° N, 105.0° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+07:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of Laos can be summarised as: mekong highlands & lowlands with tropical monsoon. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 7.6 million inhabitants, Laos is a modestly populated country. The principal spoken language is Lao, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Locals refer to their homeland as “ສປປລາວ”, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Laotian, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Lao kip (₭) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Laos should familiarise themselves with the capital, Vientiane, the local time zone (UTC+07:00), the local currency (Lao kip). The international dialling prefix is +856, which is required when phoning a Laos number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .la, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Laos is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Laos is generally classified within the Asia region and more specifically the South-Eastern Asia subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "Southeast Asia" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.

Bordering countries

Laos shares land borders with 5 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

More ordnance rained down per capita during the Vietnam War than on all of Europe in WWII — unexploded bombs still claim victims today.

Laos in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Laos appears as a tougher puzzle reserved for geography fans who can pick up subtler hints. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Laos carries the personality tags “🛕 Mekong Monasteries” and “🏺 Plain of Jars”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Laos to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

Play today's GlobeIQ puzzle →