Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Its population was estimated to be around 6.5 million in 2012. A third (33%) of the country's population lives below the international poverty line which means living on less than U.S. $1.25 per day.

Fighters from the Democratic Forces of Syria prepare their weapons in the southwestern countryside of Hasaka, Syria February 17, 2016. Picture taken February 17, 2016. (Photo by Rodi Said/Reuters)

Supporters of former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders hold up posters at a “Black Men For Bernie” rally to gain support for third party candidates and protest the DNC during the 2016 Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon/AFP Photo)

Vegetables, wood and charcoal are loaded onto the roof of a battered Peugeot on November 7, 2018 in Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. From the port of Matadi to the capital Kinshasa, a 350 km road crosses the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Photo by Junior D. Kannah/AFP Photo)

Sunday night, Lauren Watts searches for her dog in Mayflower, Arkansas., after a tornado struck the town. (Photo by Benjamin Krain/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Yolanda Sutter dresses up her dog Star to show their support for Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg at the Viva Villa restaurant in San Antonio, Texas on January 11, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg kicks off his Texas bus tour. (Photo by Mark Felix/AFP Photo)

Kurdish guard women from the civilian protection unit which supports the Democratic Forces of Syria, cheer near the Syrian town of al Houl in Hasaka province, after the Democratic Forces of Syria took control of the area, November 14, 2015. A U.S.-backed Syrian rebel alliance on Friday captured the town of al Houl in Hasaka province, which had been held by Islamic State militants, a spokesman for the Kurdish fighters, part of the grouping, said. It was the first significant advance against IS by the Democratic Forces of Syria, which was formed last month. (Photo by Rodi Said/Reuters)

Hundreds of volunteers stand at Goma International Airport receiving instructions before boarding a plane that will take them to a training center after responding to Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi's call to join the army to go to the front lines to fight against the M23 rebellion (March 23 Movement) in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, on November 14, 2022. (Photo by Guerchom Ndebo/AFP Photo)