Asian Development Bank and Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Fact Sheet

Abstract

Updated yearly, this ADB Country Fact Sheet provides social and economic indicators on the Lao People's Democratic Republic as well as concise information on ADB's operations in the country and contact information. The Sixth Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan, 2006–2010 (NSEDP6) provides a coherent development framework for prioritizing the agriculture and natural resources, education, health (including water supply), and infrastructure sectors and accelerating reforms in key thematic areas (capacity development and governance, private sector development, environment and gender mainstreaming, and regional integration). A midterm review of the NSEDP6 in 2008 showed significant progress toward meeting the planned targets—gross domestic product (GDP) per capita reached $840 (2008), poverty incidence declined to 28% in 2008 from 33.5% in 2002, and a steady progress toward meeting the income-related Millennium Development Goals. The review affirmed that sustainable economic growth, accelerated social development, and poverty reduction remain the strategic objectives of the socioeconomic development strategy of the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).