IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Laos

Lao People's Democratic Republic

7,664,990
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2023)

4,280,000
Registered Voters (as of None)

98.40%
Average Turnout

5
Elections in our database

V-Dem* Score: 0.134
Regimes of the World Classification: Closed Autocracy
*Varieties of Democracy Electoral Democracy Index (2024)

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: July 17, 1980
Ratified Date: Aug. 14, 1981

SIGI* Score: 25.1
Level of Discrimination: Low
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: Jan. 15, 2008
Ratified Date: Sept. 25, 2009

HDI* Score: 0.617
Category: Medium
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Laotian National Assembly	Sapha Heng Xat	Assembly

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: President Thongloun SISOULITH (since 22 March 2021)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sonexay SIPHANDONE (since 30 December 2022)
Assembly: unicameral National Assembly (Sapha Heng Xat) with 161 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The President is elected by the National Assembly to serve a 5-year term.
The Prime Minister is nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly.
In the National Assembly, 161 members are elected by plurality vote in multi-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms. Members are elected from a list of candidates selected by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

Elections

2021-02-21 | Status: Held
Laotian National Assembly
Votes 4,053,151
Registered 4,280,000
Turnout 94.7

2016-03-20 | Status: Held
Laotian National Assembly
Votes 3,657,026
Registered 3,733,932
Turnout 97.94

2011-04-30 | Status: Held
Laotian National Assembly
Votes 3,230,000
Registered 3,240,000
Turnout 99.69

2006-04-30 | Status: Held
Laotian National Assembly
Votes 2,819,904
Registered 2,826,580
Turnout 99.76

2002-02-24 | Status: Held
Laotian National Assembly
Votes 2,543,403
Registered 2,545,838
Turnout 99.9

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Laotian National Assembly	2021-02-21	Held	4,053,151	4,280,000	94.7
Laotian National Assembly	2016-03-20	Held	3,657,026	3,733,932	97.94
Laotian National Assembly	2011-04-30	Held	3,230,000	3,240,000	99.69
Laotian National Assembly	2006-04-30	Held	2,819,904	2,826,580	99.76
Laotian National Assembly	2002-02-24	Held	2,543,403	2,545,838	99.9

Voter Turnout

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