Natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
Environment-current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography-note: landlocked
@Laos:People
Population: 5,260,842 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 1,205,210; female 1,174,323) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,318,061; female 1,393,386) 65 years and over: 3% (male 77,388; female 92,474) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.76% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 40.58 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.97 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)