Flag of Laos
The flag of the communist state Laos has rather unconventional design compared to the others communist flags. Instead of the typical star, there is a white circle located in the middle of a wide blue stripe. In addition, the blue bar is bordered by two narrower red stripes. White circle supposedly symbolizes the unity of the country or the moon shining over the Mekong River, which is represented by the blue stripe. The red color stands for a blood shed by Lao population during the fights for their freedom. The flag was created in 1945, when the independence of Laos was proclaimed. Officially, it has not been adopted until 1975. In the meantime, a red flag with three white elephants was used by the feudal kingdom.
Country information
| Sovereign State | Yes |
|---|---|
| Country codes | LA, LAO (ISO 3166-1) |
| Official name | Lao People's Democratic Republic |
| Capital city | Vientiane |
| Continent | Asia |
| Member of | United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
| Population | 7 123 205 (2019) |
| Total area | 236 800 km2 |
| Highest point | Phou Bia (2 817 m, 9 242 ft) |
| Lowest point | Mekong (70 m, 230 ft) |
| GDP per capita | $ 2 568 (World Bank, 2018) |
| Currency | Lao kip (₭, LAK) |
| Calling code | +856 |
| Internet TLD | .la |
