Key Stats
| Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Continent: | Asia |
| Capital: | Vientiane |
| Population: | 7,736,681 |
| % Urban: | 36.9 % |
| Population Under 15 Yrs: | 32.3 % |
| Official Language: | Lao |
| Languages: | 89 |
| Literacy Rate: | 73 % |
| Life Expectancy: | 68.1 yrs (173/236) |
| HDI Ranking: | 140 / 189 |
| % Christian: | 3.4 % |
| % Evangelical: | 2.6 % |
| Largest Religion: | Buddhist |
| % Largest Religion: | 57.3 % |
| People Groups: | 126 |
| Least Reached People Groups: | 96 |
| % Unevangelized: | 53 % |
| Persecution Ranking: | 31 / 50 |
Laos
Praise God for rapid church growth, even under government restrictions and persecution! Indigenous Laotians lead almost all churches and evangelism efforts. The government recognizes 2 Protestant groups. The largest is the Lao Evangelical Church, where most of the Christian growth occurs. Growth also happens through “underground” house groups. Over 90% of all trained leaders left Laos in 1975, and most congregations lack a trained pastor. Pray urgently for leaders both in the recognized churches and in the house church networks. Pray that new believers will grow strong in faith, and not fall away. The Church suffers through persecution, but recognizes that it drives them to prayer and total dependence on God.
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Content taken or adapted from Operation World, 7th Edition (2010) and Pray for the World (2015). Both books are published by InterVarsity Press. All rights reserved.