According to 3rjewelry, Laos is a country located in Asia. Laos is the least populous and ethnically most complex country of Indochina, as well as being the least densely populated (27.51 residents / km²). The population is mostly made up of Laos (99.6%). The most ancient substratum, settled in Laos perhaps from the Neolithic, is represented by proto-Indo-Chinese tribes, denominated in Laotian kha (literally “slaves”, because in ancient times they were dominated by the Thais and the Meo); originally from the South, driven from low and fertile lands by the advent of stronger and more evolved groups from the N, the kha took refuge on the wooded heights where they lived practicing itinerant agriculture, resorting to the burning of forest areas (ray) to procure new agricultural land to replace the one now exploited (towards the end of the twentieth century there was a progressive sedentarization of this component of the population). From the century X various populations of Thai lineage descended from China to Laos whose most numerous and culturally evolved representatives are the Lao, who mainly occupy the lower areas and maintain customs and traditions of the different groups to which they belong. Finally from the middle of the century. XVIII, also from China, tribes that speak Burmese-Tibetan languages have infiltrated: they are mostly distributed in the range between 1000 and 1400 m of altitude in the NE provinces (Louangnamtha, Louangphabang and Phôngsali). The most representative tribes are those of the meo and yao. Foreign minorities (especially Chinese and Vietnamese) are concentrated in urban centers. Many Laotians emigrate to Thailand, refugees or in search of work; since 1975, 200,000 meo have fled from Laos. Laotians have a particular village-centered social structure. Once the village chief (or nan-ban) represented the undisputed authority both for the villagers and for individuals.
Since 1975 this role has been played by a conventional unit of people, chaired by a leader who in turn must answer to the higher authorities. The infant mortality rate, which was 62 ‰ in 2005, although slightly down, remains particularly high, settling at 54 ‰ in 2012. The distribution of the population in the territory records greater densities in the provinces along the Mekong basin, on the border with Thailand; the rest of the territory is instead less suitable for human settlement as it is mountainous. About 65% of the population is rural and continues to live in villages that have maintained their traditional character: located along a watercourse or in any case a communication route, they are made up of houses of wood and bamboo often resting on raised platforms, with very sharp roofs, covered with straw, protruding to form verandas. The activity of the village is linked to fishing and agriculture: fish, rice, vegetables and fruit ensure the food needs. The living conditions of the population are precarious; the demographic pyramid is squeezed down and life expectancy is decidedly low. Despite the importance accorded to school education, the illiteracy rate present in the country has always been particularly high, due to both the uneven conformation of the territory, which prevented the agglomeration of the urban settlement, and the period of civil war that has hit the country. Since 1975, the state has reorganized the school system, running in parallel a literacy campaign which has led to a decrease in the illiteracy rate. The main centers of the country are the historic royal residence Louangphabang, founded in the century. XIV when the kingdom of Lan Ch’ang was established, and especially Vientiane, the ancient Vieng Chan, destroyed and rebuilt several times, whose development, started during the colonial period, when the city became the seat of the main administrative, economic and financial of Laos, is favored by the happy position for communications. Other cities are and especially Vientiane, the ancient Vieng Chan, destroyed and rebuilt several times, whose development, which began during the colonial period, when the city became the seat of the main administrative, economic and financial activities of Laos, is favored by the happy position for communications . Other cities are and especially Vientiane, the ancient Vieng Chan, destroyed and rebuilt several times, whose development, which began during the colonial period, when the city became the seat of the main administrative, economic and financial activities of Laos, is favored by the happy position for communications. Other cities are Savannakhét and Paksé, located along the middle course of the Mekong, road communication nodes with Thailand and Viet Nam. Sam Neua, in the province of Houaphan, is the main center of the northeastern area.
