Laos

Situated on the Indochinese Peninsula as Southeast Asia's sole landlocked nation, Laos is bordered by Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, covering a total area of 236,800 square kilometers. The country's economy, anchored by its capital Vientiane, demonstrates steady growth with a projected 2025 nominal GDP of $16.32 billion and a per capita income of $2,100, reflecting its status as an emerging market. Demographically, the population of nearly 8 million is predominantly Lao, with significant ethnic diversity including Khmu, Hmong, and Tai groups, while the national economy relies heavily on agriculture, hydropower, and tourism centered around UNESCO World Heritage sites like Luang Prabang. As a unitary people's democratic republic, Laos maintains a strategic focus on infrastructure development and regional integration to sustain its economic trajectory within the ASEAN community.