Location:
Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 236,800 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 230,800 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 6,000 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 85

Area - comparative:
about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries:
total: 5,274 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (5): Burma 238 km, Cambodia 555 km, China 475 km, Thailand 1,845 km, Vietnam 2,161 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation:
mean elevation: 710 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use:
agricultural land: 10.6% arable land 6.2%; permanent crops 0.7%; permanent pasture 3.7%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 67.9%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 21.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
3,100 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population - distribution:
most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia

Natural hazards:
floods, droughts

Environment - current issues:
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand