The HIV/AIDS/STI situation in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abstract Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a landlocked country with a population of 5.5 million and a total land area of 236,800 square kilometers. It has a population density of 23.3. It borders Thailand, Myanmar, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Its population distribution is 54.9% below the age of 20 years, and 27.8% aged between 20 and 39 years (NSC, 2002). Women comprise 49.5% of the overall population.1National Statistics Center, Basic Statics, 2002; National Statics Center, Population Census.