Provinces of Laos

Laos is divided into 17 provinces (Lao ແຂວງ, pronounced [kʰwɛ̌ːŋ], khwaeng, khoeng, qwang or khoueng) and 1 prefecture, the Vientiane capital city municipality (ນະຄອນຫຼວງ, nakhon luang, or Na Kone Luang Vientiane). The special administrative zone (ເຂດພິເສດ, khet phiset), Xaisomboun, created in 1994, was dissolved on 13 January 2006.^[1]

Provinces ແຂວງ Khoeng
Category	Unitary state
Location	Lao People's Democratic Republic
Number	17
Populations	98,000 (Xaisomboun) – 1,004,000 (Savannakhét)
Areas	3,920 km2 (1,510 sq mi) (Vientiane) – 21,774 km2 (8,407 sq mi) (Savannakhét)
Subdivisions	District

List

Location	Name	Capital	Population (2023 census)	Area (km2)	Population density	ISO
	Attapeu province	Samakkhixay District (Attapeu)	153,000	10,320	14	LA-AT
	Bokeo province	Houayxay District (Ban Houayxay)	198,000	6,196	29	LA-BK
	Bolikhamxai province	Pakxan District (Pakxan)	287,000	14,863	18	LA-BL
	Champasak province	Pakse District (Pakse)	706,000	15,415	45	LA-CH
	Houaphanh province	Xam Neua District (Xam Neua)	302,000	16,500	18	LA-HO
	Khammouane province	Thakhek District (Thakhek)	397,000	16,315	24	LA-KH
	Luang Namtha province	Namtha District (Luang Namtha)	182,000	9,325	19	LA-LM
	Luang Prabang province	Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang)	444,000	16,875	26	LA-LP
	Oudomxay province	Xay District (Muang Xay)	313,000	15,370	20	LA-OU
	Phongsaly province	Phongsaly District (Phongsali)	192,000	16,270	11	LA-PH
	Salavan province	Salavan District (Salavan)	410,000	10,691	37	LA-SL
	Savannakhet province	Khanthaboury District (Savannakhet)	1,004,000	21,774	45	LA-SV
	Vientiane province	Phonhong District (Phonhong)	435,000	18,526	23	LA-VI
	Vientiane Prefecture	Vientiane	836,000	3,920	209	LA-VT
	Sainyabuli province	Xayabury District (Sainyabuli)	395,000	16,389	23	LA-XA
	Sekong province	La Mam District (Sekong)	124,000	7,665	15	LA-XE
	Xaisomboun province	Anouvong District (Ban Mouang Cha)	98,000	4,506	19	LA-XS
	Xiangkhouang province	Pek District (Phonsavan)	254,000	15,880	15	LA-XI

Population

The population of each province in 2023 is given in the census data. The population of Laos in 2023 is 6,730,000.^[2]

See also

• List of provinces of Laos by Human Development Index
• ISO 3166-2:LA