The Lao People's Democratic Republic health system review

Overview

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country with a population of 6.4 million, where the majority of the workforce is engaged in agriculture. As a result of rapid economic growth, poverty reduction has been impressive.The country was classified by the World Bank in 2011 as a lower-middle-income country, with a gross national income (GNI) of US$ 1010 per capita. Between 1980 and 2010, life expectancy at birth increased by 18 years, from 49 to 67. The proportion of the population living below the national poverty line fell from 45% in 1992 to 27.6% in 2008.