Country analysis report: Lao PDR 2015

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a land-locked, ethnically diverse and mountainous country with an estimated population at 6.8 million. It has the distinction of having the highest total fertility rate (TFR) among ASEAN countries in recent years. With one of the youngest populations in the region, Lao PDR is projected to benefit from the “demographic dividend” to theeconomy in the medium-term. However,this will be realized only if young women and young men are better equipped with the appropriate skills and knowledge, and new jobs are able to keep pace with the growth of the working age population.