Population
In 2009, the total population was an estimated 6.1 million inhabitants of whom around 68 percent lived in rural areas (Table 1). During the period 1999-2009 the average annual growth rate was 1.6 percent. The average population density is 26 inhabitants/km2, which is amongst the lowest in the region. The lowest population density is in the southern provinces of Attapu and Xekong near the Vietnamese border and the highest in Savannakhet or Champasack provinces.
In 2008, access to improved drinking water sources reached 57 percent (72 and 51 percent for urban and rural population respectively) and 53 percent had sanitation coverage (86 and 38 percent for urban and rural population respectively).