Laos
Asia · 16 specs
Direct Answer
Laos (LA / LAO / 418) operates on a 230 V, 50 Hz electrical grid using Type A, B, C, E, F sockets. Traffic drives on the right (RHT). The official currency is the Lao Kip (LAK, ₭), country calling code is +856, emergency dispatch is 1191 (Police) / 1190 (Fire) / 1195 (Ambulance), and paper standard is ISO 216 A4.
Source: National Standards / ISO 3166-1 / IEC World Plugs · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Laos ISO 3166-1 |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | LA |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | LAO |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 418 UN M49 (Code 142) |
| Country Calling Code | +856 ITU-T E.164 |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 |
| Internet ccTLD | .la IANA Registry |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | Lao Kip (LAK, ₭) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V, 50 Hz National Grid Standard |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type A, B, C, E, F |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Right-Hand Traffic (RHT / LHD) Vienna/Geneva Conventions |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) Standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) Standard |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 1191 (Police) / 1190 (Fire) / 1195 (Ambulance) Emergency Dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 5 Digits (NNNNN, e.g. 01000 Vientiane) National Postal Standard |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+7 (ICT–Indochina Time) No DST |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V, 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type A, B, C, E, F. In practical terms this covers Type A (ungrounded 2-flat-pin, NEMA 1-15), Type B (grounded 3-pin, NEMA 5-15), Type C (ungrounded 2-round-pin Europlug, 2.5 A), Type E (grounded French 2-round-pin with earth pin, CEE 7/5), and Type F (grounded German Schuko 2-round-pin, CEE 7/4, 16 A).
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +856. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 1191 (Police) / 1190 (Fire) / 1195 (Ambulance). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the right (RHT) with Left-Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the Lao Kip (LAK, ₭).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: UTC+7 (ICT–Indochina Time).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 5 Digits (NNNNN, e.g. 01000 Vientiane).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Laos.