The predominant religion of Laos is Theravada Buddhism.

Buddhism was the state religion of the

prerepublic kingdom of Laos, and the organization of the community of monks and novices, the clergy
(sangha), paralleled the political hierarchy. Buddhists—largely lowland Lao—account for about half the
country’s people. Some two-fifths of the population, primarily the Lao Theung and Lao Soung groups,
follow non-Buddhist local religions. Buddhism and local religion are not necessarily mutually exclusive,
however; there is both a syncretic practice of and a general tolerance for local religious traditions within
the broader Buddhist community.

Similarly, some of the upland peoples, especially those who have migrated from southern China, mix
Confucian ideas with Buddhism and local religions. The Vietnamese, who live both in the cities and in
the northeastern rural areas, practice a mixture of Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism.

Other smaller religious communities include Christians, Muslims, and followers of the Bahāʾī faith.
Although the country’s constitution provides for freedom of religion in theory, the government restricts
this right in practice, particularly with respect to the minority religions. Since some heavy-handed
attempts in the aftermath of 1975 to take over the sangha, which was perceived as a rival grassroots
organization, and the subsequent flight of many monks abroad, the government has treaded carefully.
The regime has patronized a revival of Buddhist culture and merit making and has also tolerated the
practice of many unique religious traditions that it earlier had publicly discouraged as “superstitious.”

Government and society

Constitutional framework
Since its establishment in December 1975, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) has been
effectively controlled by the communist Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP). This party, in alliance
with the Vietnamese communists, carried out the revolution that ended in its seizure of power and the
abolition of the monarchy. Top government positions—beginning with the president, who is head of
state, and the prime minister, who is the head of government—are selected from high-ranking party
members who constitute a Central Committee with the Politburo at the head.

The constitution of 1991, which declares the party to be the “leading nucleus” of the political system,
provides for a National Assembly, the members of which are elected to five-year terms. The National
Assembly elects the president and vice president and approves presidential appointments of the prime
minister and members of the cabinet (Council of Ministers). The president and ministers serve five-year
terms.

Local government

The country is divided into some 16 provinces, as well as the Vientiane municipality and the Xaisomboun
special zone; the provinces are subdivided further into districts and villages. Governors of provinces and
the mayor of Vientiane are appointed by the president, and lower-level local administrators, including
deputy provincial governors, deputy mayors, and district chiefs, are named by the prime minister.
Villages are led by village heads. At each level of local government, there are party committees and
administrative committees, often headed by the same individuals. Local administrations have
considerable autonomy in economic matters.

One example from the late 1990s is “Hak lae phukphan” (“Love and Ties”) by the prolific Duangsai
Luangphasi. In this story a woman’s parents oblige her to end her relationship with the man she loves in
order to marry a suitor from a wealthier family. When she is diagnosed with a terminal illness, her suitor
promptly abandons her, and she is happy to be reunited with her true love.