Lao People's Democratic Republic (also known as Lao PDR or Laos) is one of the least developed countries in the world, ranked 133 out of 177 countries in the 2006 UN Human Development Index. The gross domestic income stands just over US$300 per capita and almost 40% of the six million people live below the poverty line. Eighty percent of the population live in rural areas, many of whom do not have access to basic services such as health and education. Emerging social problems such as unemployment, drug abuse, HIV and AIDS and human trafficking are aggravating livelihood insecurity amongst many Lao communities, particularly affecting children and young people who make up half the population.

Save the Children was one of the first international NGOs invited to work in Laos in the 1980’s. 

Our programs in the country include: