Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma).With a population of around 7,574,000, Laos is one of the most scarcely populated countries in Southeast Asia. The most densely populated area is the capital, Vientiane, with large communities found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border.
Laos is one of the world's few socialist states openly endorsing communism. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and the Head of State is the President. The most powerful political position is the General Secretary who controls the Politburo and the Secretariat, Laos' top decision-making bodies. While Lao PDR has halved poverty, reduced malnutrition and improved education and health over the last 20 years, economic growth has now slowed and there is a danger that some of the gains previously made could be reversed.
The Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) including the Lao People's Army (LPA), has around 30,000 active-duty troops. The LPAF is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced, with military spending at only 0.2% of GDP. Since 2010, China and Russia have been the leading suppliers of military equipment to Laos. However, most heavy weapons are remnants from the former Soviet Union and are largely inoperable. Laos's main security partners are Vietnam and China.