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Family receiving health services at clinic supported by Concern. Photo : Laos , Concern Worldwide |
Laos has been through remarkable stages of development in the last two decades. In only 17 years, life expectancy has increased by 13.5 years while the development ranking—tracked by the United Nations Human Development Index—has increased 18 places. In 2009, Concern worked closely with the government in drafting the first legal mechanism dealing with civil society in the history of Laos.
Concern’s work in Laos
Concern has been working in Laos since 1992 and last year implemented programs in livelihoods and health.
- LIVELIHOODS—Reducing poverty and creating opportunity for 50,715 people
- HEALTH—Improving quality and accessibility of health services for 99,455 people
Laos at a Glance
Area: 237,000 sq km
Population: 6.1 m
GDP per Capita: US $2,165
Infant mortality (per thousand births): 77
Life Expectancy: 64.6
Living with HIV and AIDS: 5,500
Literacy Rate: 72.7%
Access to safe water: 60%
Human Development Rank: 133 (out of 182)
Global Hunger Rank/Index*: 51 / 19