Part I - Background on Population and Development Issues in the Lao PDR

Many countries of the world, especially the developing countries, view population issues with the utmost urgency. High rate of population growth hampers the development of various sectors. Population change in many countries depends to a large degree on the formulation and implementation of national population policies. 

In this regard, governments must take into account the formulation of policies for both quantitative and qualitative change of the population, as this is considered an important policy along with other sectoral development policies.

The 1995 Population Census of the Lao PDR puts the population at 4.6 million inhabitants. When compared to land area, it still shows a low density of 19.3 persons per square kilometer. However, it has a young age structure with 44 per cent of the population under 15 years of age, and 52 per cent in the working age~. This represents an important potential for the country's development if this human resource can be fully developed.

The 1995 Population Census of the Lao PDR puts the population at 4.6 million inhabitants. When compared to land area, it still shows a low density of 19.3 persons per square kilometer. However, it has a young age structure with 44 per cent of the population under 15 years of age, and 52 per cent in the working ages. This represents an important potential for the country's development if this human resource can be fully developed.

The Lao PDR faces several problems relating to population. The average life expectancy at birth is only 51 years; the infant mortality rate (IMR) is 104 per 1,000 live births; the mortality rate in children under 5 years of age (CMR) is 170 per 1,000 live births; and the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of women during their reproductive years is 656 per 100,000 live births. In addition, the total fertility rate (TFR) is high at 5.6 children per woman. These factors constitute major obstacles to the development of women, and childhood malnutrition and poor health contribute to the very high mortality rate in children under five years of age.

Children between 5 to 9 years of age constitute 15.2 per cent of the total population, and this requires a substantial investment in primary school education. However, the net primary school enrollment rate is only 76 per cent, and the literacy rate is 72.5 per cent. These constraints limit human resource development.

The average annual rate of population growth is 2.5 per cent. At this rate of population growth, the Lao population is expected to increase to 5.2 million by the year 2000; to 6.8 million by the year 2010, and to 8.7 million by the year 2020. Continuing growth of population will require sufficient food, public services, including education and health- care, and progress in other sectors to meet the populations' needs.

The Central Executive Committee's Report to the Sixth Party Congress in 1996 stated that, "the Population Policy shall be actively implemented in order to make the population growth correspond to economic growth. Upgrade the knowledge level and hygiene concepts of the population; train professional labor and staff to meet the urgent demand of national development; solve social problems along with economic development, and to gradually foster civil society and justice ".

The Government's 1991-95 Medium-Term Development Policy and Investment Programme also recognized the adverse consequences of high fertility on the health of Lao women and children, as well as on the economic wellbeing of the family. It further stated that a large number of children poses severe health problems for Lao women and locks them in a cycle of poverty and poor health; hinders their participation in socio- economic development and creates health problems for their children as well. Thus, the situation calls for measures to reduce the fertility rate, and enable women to participate in development and improve their own, as well their children's well-being.

Articles 24 and 27 of the Lao PDR Constitution state that both females and males have equal rights in political, economic, cultural and social fields; and family affairs. Lao citizens have the freedom of settlement and movement as provided by law. Therefore, attention should be paid to both equity and development. Women and minorities should receive equal treatment in terms of legal rights, economic and social opportunities.

To reduce urban congestion and rural depopulation, the 1996-2000 Socio-Economic Development Plan introduced a policy to create Priority Rural Integrated Development Areas (PRDA). This plan provides for the creation of conditions for sustainable development in the Lao PDR; for access to land and water sources, improvement of rural infrastructure and social services and making financial services available in rural areas.

The National Birth Spacing Policy was adopted in 1995. The document recognized the importance of population policy in achieving development objectives and stated that the Government is aware of the important linkage between population growth and economic development and realizes the importance of incorporating population issues into national development planning. To improve maternal and child health and the quality of family life, the policy recommended that the number of children born to a woman should not be so large as to impair the health of the mother and place her at high risk for adverse outcomes. So far, family planning services are available as a means of child spacing for health reasons and for the overall reduction of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.