Laos Cities

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Laos Cities by Population

23 cities shown of 23 total Laos cities that are over 1,000 in population...

1. Vientiane 196,731
2. Pakxe 88,332
3. Savannakhet 66,553
4. Louangphrabang 47,378
5. Xam Nua 38,992
6. Ban Phonsavan 37,507
7. Thakhek 26,200
8. Muang Xai 25,000

9. Muang Vangviang 25,000
10. Muang Pakxan 21,967
11. Ban Houakhoua 15,500
12. Khong 15,000
13. Phongsali 13,500
14. Xaignabouli 13,500
15. Champasak 12,994
16. Ban Houayxay 12,500

17. Muang Phon-Hong 10,112
18. Salavan 5,521
19. Lamam 4,463
20. Attapu 4,297
21. Ban Nahin 3,466
22. Louang Namtha 3,225
23. Phou Pialong 1,705

Laos History

In the Lao language, the country's name is Meuang Lao"". The Imperial French, who made the country part of French Indochina in 1893, spelled it with a final silent ""s"

i.e. ""Laos"". The usual adjectival form is ""Lao""

e.g. ""the Lao economy""

not the ""Laotian"" economy--although ""Laotian"" is used to describe the people of Laos to avoid confusion with the Lao ethnic group."""

Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang, founded in the fourteenth century by Fa Ngum, himself descended from a long line of Lao kings, tracking back to Khoun Boulom. Lan-Xang prospered until the eighteenth century, when the kingdom was divided into three principalities, which eventually came under Siamese suzerainty. In the 19th century, Luang Prabang was incorporated into the 'Protectorate' of French Indochina, and shortly thereafter, the Kingdom of Champasak and the territory of Vientiane were also added to the protectorate. Under the French, Vientiane once again became the capital of a unified Lao state. Following a brief Japanese occupation during World War II, the country declared its independence in 1945, but the French under De Gaulle re-asserted their control and only in 1950 was Laos granted semi-autonomy as an associated state"" within the French Union. Moreover, the French remained in de facto control until 1954, when Laos gained full independence as a constitutional monarchy. Under a special exemption to the Geneva Convention, a French military training mission continued to support the Royal Laos Army. In 1955, the U.S. Department of Defense created a special Programs Evaluation Office to replace French support of the Royal Lao Army against the communist Pathet Lao as part of the U.S. containment policy."