Country Economic Review: Laos

Abstract

The gross domestic product (GDP) has continued to grow after a slowdown in 1998. The real GDP growth rate was 7.3 percent in 1999 and 5.9 percent in 2000. Growth in the agriculture sector has been healthy at 8.2 percent in 1999 and 5.1 percent in 2000, and growth is balanced among the sectors. Agriculture led the recovery in 1999, and industry and energy production (largely for export) were major contributors to growth in 1999 and especially in 2000.