Provinces of Laos

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is divided into 17 provinces (Lao ແຂວງ, pronounced [kʰwɛ̌ːŋ], khoeng, qwang or khoueng) and one prefecture, the Vientiane capital city municipality (ນະຄອນຫຼວງ, nakhon louang, or Na Kone Luang Vientiane). The special administrative zone (ເຂດພິເສດ, khet phiset), Xaisomboun, created in 1994, was dissolved on 13 January 2006.[1] In 2013, parts of the former special administrative zone was reestablished as Xaisomboun province.

Provinces
ແຂວງ
Khoeong
CategoryUnitary state
LocationLao People's Democratic Republic
Number17
Populations98,000 (Xaisomboun) – 1,004,000 (Savannakhét)
Areas3,920 km2 (1,510 sq mi) (Vientiane) – 21,774 km2 (8,407 sq mi) (Savannakhét)
Government
Subdivisions
Administrative divisions
of Laos
First-level
Second-level
Third-level
  • Village

Provinces and prefectures of Laos

Location Name Capital Population (2023 census) Area (km2) Population density ISO
Attapeu province
 Samakkhixay District
(Attapeu)		 153,000 10,320 14 LA-AT
Bokeo province
 Houayxay District
(Ban Houayxay)		 198,000 6,196 29 LA-BK
Bolikhamxai province
 Pakxan District
(Pakxan)		 287,000 14,863 18 LA-BL
Champasak province
 Pakse District
(Pakse)		 706,000 15,415 45 LA-CH
Houaphanh province
 Xam Neua District
(Xam Neua)		 302,000 16,500 18 LA-HO
Khammouane province
 Thakhek District
(Thakhek)		 397,000 16,315 24 LA-KH
Luang Namtha province
 Namtha District
(Luang Namtha)		 182,000 9,325 19 LA-LM
Luang Prabang province
 Luang Prabang
(Luang Prabang)		 444,000 16,875 26 LA-LP
Oudomxay province
 Xay District
(Muang Xay)		 313,000 15,370 20 LA-OU
Phongsaly province
 Phongsaly District
(Phongsali)		 192,000 16,270 11 LA-PH
Salavan province
 Salavan District
(Salavan)		 410,000 10,691 37 LA-SL
Savannakhet province Khanthaboury District
(Savannakhet)		 1,004,000 21,774 45 LA-SV
Vientiane province Phonhong District
(Phonhong)		 435,000 18,526 23 LA-VI
Vientiane Prefecture Vientiane 836,000 3,920 209 LA-VT
Sainyabuli province
 Xayabury District
(Sainyabuli)		 395,000 16,389 23 LA-XA
Sekong province
 La Mam District
(Sekong)		 124,000 7,665 15 LA-XE
Xaisomboun province
 Anouvong District
(Anouvong)		 98,000 4,506 19 LA-XS
Xiangkhouang province
 Pek District
(Phonsavan)		 254,000 15,880 15 LA-XI

Population

The population of each province in 2023 is given in the census data. The population of Laos in 2023 is 6,730,000.[2]

History

In 1989 Vientiane prefecture was split from Vientiane province and the capital of Vientiane province moved from Vientiane to Muang Phôn-Hông. In 1994 Xaisômboun khetphiset (special region) was formed from parts of the Bolikhamxai, Vientiane, and Xiangkhoang provinces. In 2006 Xaisomboun special region was dissolved and the Longsan, Xaysomboun, Phun, and Hom districts added to Vientiane province, while Thathon district was transferred to Xiengkhuang province.

Further divisions

The provinces are then subdivided into districts (muang) and villages (baan).

Geography

The provinces are grouped geographically into 3 strata, North (from Phongsaly to Saiyabouly, Luang Prabang and Xiengkhuang), Central (Vientiane and Bolikhamxay) and South (from Khammuane to Champasack).

See also

References
  1. "Laos Provinces". Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  2. "Results of Population and Housing Census 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-11-10.


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