Provinces of Laos

Laos
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Laos is divided into provinces (Lao ແຂວງ, pronounced [kʰwɛ̌ːŋ], khoeng, qwang or khoueng) and 1 prefecture (kampheng nakhon) plus 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 January 13 2006.[1]

Distribution of provinces (updated after late 2013)

Location Name Capital Population (2015 census) Area (km²) Population Density ISO
Attapu Province
 Samakkhixay District
(Attapeu)		 139,628 10,320 11 LA-AT
Bokèo Province
 Houayxay District
(Ban Houayxay)		 179,243 6,196 24 LA-BK
Bolikhamxai Province
 Paksane District
(Pakxan)		 273,691 14,863 14 LA-BL
Champasak Province
 Pakse District
(Pakse)		 694,023 15,415 37 LA-CH
Houaphan Province
 Xamneua District
(Xam Neua)		 289,393 16,500 20 LA-HO
Khammouan Province
 Thakhek District
(Thakhek)		 392,052 16,315 22 LA-KH
Luang Namtha Province
 Namtha District
(Luang Namtha)		 175,753 9,325 16 LA-LM
Louangphabang Province
 Louangphrabang District
(Luang Prabang)		 431,889 16,875 24 LA-LP
Oudômxai Province
 Xay District
(Muang Xay)		 307,622 15,370 18 LA-OU
Phôngsali Province
 Phongsaly District
(Phongsali)		 177,989 16,270 12 LA-PH
Salavan Province
 Salavan District
(Salavan)		 396,942 10,691 31 LA-SL
Savannakhét Province Khanthabouly District
(Savannakhet)		 969,697 21,774 33 LA-SV
#Update map (politicaly changed since 2014) Vientiane Province Phonhong District
(Phonhong)		 419,090 15,927 23 LA-VI
Vientiane (Viengchan) Capital Vientiane 820,940 3,920 180 LA-VT
Xaignabouli Province
 Xayabury District
(Sainyabuli)		 381,376 16,389 23 LA-XA
Xékong Province
 Lamarm District
(Sekong)		 113,048 7,665 11 LA-XE
#Update map (politicaly changed since 2014) Xaisomboun Province
 Anouvong District
(Anouvong)		 85,168 8,300 10 LA-XS
#Update map (politicaly changed since 2014) Xiangkhouang Province
 Pek District
(Phonsavan)		 244,684 15,880 18 LA-XI

Prior to 2006 dissolution of Xaisomboun in 2006

Provinces of Laos
  1. Attapue
  2. Bokeo
  3. Bolikhamxai
  4. Champasak
  5. Huaphan (Huaphanh)
  6. Khammuan
  7. Luang Namtha
  8. Luangphabang
  9. Oudomxai
  10. Phongsali
  11. Salavan
  12. Savannakhet
  13. Vientiane Prefecture and Vientiane Capital (municipality)
  14. Vientiane Province
  15. Xaiyabuli
  16. Xaisomboun Province (Province was created in the late 2013)
  17. Sekong
  18. Xiangkhuang

While transliterates spelling may differ, the nomenclature used in the 2005 census is as follows: Phongsaly, Luangnamtha, Oudomxay, Bokeo, Luangprabang, Huaphanh, Xayaboury, Xiengkhuang, Vientiane Province, Borikhamxay, Khammuane, Savannakhet, Saravane, Sekong, Champasack, Attapeu, Xaysomboon. [2]

Population

The population of each province in 2005 is given in the census data, [3] ranging from the largest (Savannakhet) to smallest (Sekong).

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 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) South (from Khammuane to Champasack).

References

See also

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