Provinces of Laos

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.

Distribution of provinces (updated after late 2013)

Location	Name	Capital	Population	Area (km²)	Population Density	ISO
	Attapu Province	Samakkhixay District (Attapeu)	112,097	10,320	11	LA-AT
	Bokèo Province	Houayxay District (Ban Houayxay)	145,216	6,196	24	LA-BK
	Bolikhamxai Province	Paksane District (Pakxan)	225,272	14,863	14	LA-BL
	Champasak Province	Pakse District (Pakse)	607,333	15,415	37	LA-CH
	Houaphan Province	Xamneua District (Xam Neua)	280,898	16,500	20	LA-HO
	Khammouan Province	Thakhek District (Thakhek)	337,314	16,315	22	LA-KH
	Luang Namtha Province	Namtha District (Luang Namtha)	145,289	9,325	16	LA-LM
	Louangphabang Province	Louangphrabang District (Luang Prabang)	407,012	16,875	24	LA-LP
	Oudômxai Province	Xay District (Muang Xay)	265,128	15,370	18	LA-OU
	Phôngsali Province	Phongsaly District (Phongsali)	165,926	16,270	12	LA-PH
	Salavan Province	Salavan District (Salavan)	324,303	10,691	31	LA-SL
	Savannakhét Province	Khanthabouly District (Savannakhet)	825,879	21,774	33	LA-SV
#Update map (politicaly changed since 2014)	Vientiane Province	Phonhong District (Phonhong)	388,833	15,927	23	LA-VI
	Vientiane (Viengchan) Capital	Vientiane	698,254	3,920	180	LA-VT
	Xaignabouli Province	Xayabury District (Sainyabuli)	338,646	16,389	23	LA-XA
	Xékong Province	Lamarm District (Sekong)	84,985	7,665	11	LA-XE
#Update map (politicaly changed since 2014)	Xaisomboun Province	Anouvong District (Anouvong)	82,000	8,300	10	LA-XS
#Update map (politicaly changed since 2014)	Xiangkhouang Province	Pek District (Phonsavan)	229,521	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.

Population

The population of each province in 2005 is given in the census data, 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).

See also

• ISO 3166-2:LA

External links

• CityMayors.com article