Table of contents
0B
Table of contents ..................................................................................................................................................... i
List of tables ........................................................................................................................................................... ii
List of figures ........................................................................................................................................................ iii
1
SURVEY METHODOLOGY........................................................................................................................ 1
1.1
Scope and Purpose of the Survey ............................................................................................ 1
1.2
Sample Design and Selection .................................................................................................. 2
1.2.1 First Step: Description of Sample Village ..................................................................................... 2
1.2.2 Second Step: Selection of Sample Household ............................................................................... 2
1.3 Methodology and Main Contents of the Survey ............................................................................... 4
1.4 Terms, Concepts and Definition of Words used in the Survey ........................................................ 6
1.5 Reliability of the Data ....................................................................................................................... 8
2
3
Household in the LAO PDR .......................................................................................................................... 9
CONSUMPTION AND RICE INTAKE OF HOUSEHOLD ...................................................................... 13
3.1 Consumption ................................................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Daily Intake of Rice and Some Certain Food Items ....................................................................... 25
4
POSSIBILITY TO ACCESS AND USE OF SAFE WATER
RESOURCES AND SERVICES ............. 34
4.1 Usage of Clean Water Resources and Decease Prevention............................................................. 34
4.2 Health Services ............................................................................................................................... 35
4.3 Health Care and Health Behavior ................................................................................................... 38
4.4 Education ........................................................................................................................................ 43
4.5 Knowledge ...................................................................................................................................... 45
4.6 Land and Productive Assets ............................................................................................................ 50
4.7 Infrastructure .................................................................................................................................. 50
5
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF HOUSEHOLD ............................................................................................. 53
5.1 Main Activity of Population aged 10 Year or More by Province and Region 2007/2008 .............. 53
5.2 Agricultural Production .................................................................................................................. 56
5.3 Household Business ........................................................................................................................ 65
5.4 Productivity ..................................................................................................................................... 67
5.5 Restriction (Barrier) ........................................................................................................................ 69
5.6 Household Investment and Construction ........................................................................................ 70
5.7 Possession of Goods ....................................................................................................................... 72
5.8 Sustainable Land Use ...................................................................................................................... 74
6
TIME USE ................................................................................................................................................... 76
i
List of tables
1B
Table i : Number Sample for Survey ......................................................................................................................................... 2
Table ii: Sample allocation over survey months ....................................................................................................................... 3
Table iii: Number of sample villages in each stratum ................................................................................................................ 4
Table 2.1: Household size and number of households by provinces and regions in 2007/08 .................................................... 9
Table 2.2: Average household size by type of area in 2007/08 ................................................................................................ 10
Table 2.3: Number of households by province and type of area in 2007/08, 1000 households ............................................... 11
Table 2.4: Dependency rates and average number of consumption units, by province and region 2007/2008. ....................... 12
Table 3.1: Household consumption by group of goods and services. Monthly average consumption in thousand Kip. .......... 14
Table 3.2: Percent of total consumption by groups of goods and services in 1992/93, 1997/98, 2002/03 and 2007/08. ......... 15
Table 3.3: Percentage share of food consumption by item group in 1992/93, 1997/98, 2002/03 and 2007/08. ....................... 16
Table 3.4: Percentage share of total consumption by areas in 2007/08 for selected items. ...................................................... 16
Table 3.5: Percentage share of total consumption by region in 2007/08.Selected items .......................................................... 17
Table 3.6: Percentage share of main items to total consumption in urban areas in 2007/08. ................................................... 17
Table 3.7: Percentage share of main items to total consumption in rural areas with access to road in 2007/08....................... 18
Table 3.8: Percentage share of main items to total consumption in rural areas without access to road in 2007/2008.............. 18
Table 3.9: Household consumption, by provinces and regions. Total monthly household averages and percent own
production. ............................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Table 3.10: Household consumption, by provinces and regions. Percent consumption per main group of goods and services.
................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Table 3.11: Household consumption by group of goods and services. Total and monthly household averages. (Percentages)
................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21
Table 3.12: Household consumption by group of goods and services in 2007/08. Monthly averages (1000 Kip) and
percentages of total consumption, by region. ........................................................................................................................... 22
Table 3.13: Household consumption by region and group of goods and services in 2007/08. percentages of total. ................ 23
Table 3.14: Household Consumption by region and group of goods and services in 2007/08 ................................................. 24
Table 3.15: Daily rice intake in grams per person by urban/rural in 1997/98, 2002/03 and 2007/08...................................... 25
Table 3.16: Daily rice intake in grams per person by province and region in 2007/08 ............................................................ 26
Table 3.17: Weekly intake in grams per person of meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, by region in 2007/08 ............................ 26
Table 3.18: Household consumption by group of goods and services in 2007/08. Monthly averages (1000 Kip) .................. 27
Table 3.19: Comparison of average consumption of goods and services by province in 2002/03 and 2007/08. (1000 kip) ... 28
Table 3.20: Percent of food consumption by type of product and provinces in 2007/2008. .................................................... 29
Table 3.21: Percent of total food consumption by province in 2007/2008 ............................................................................... 30
Table 3.22: Percent of consumption in urban areas by provinces in 2007/2008. ..................................................................... 31
Table 3.23: Percent of consumption in rural areas with access to road area by provinces in 2007/2008. ................................ 32
Table 3.24: Percent of consumption in rural areas without access to road by provinces in 2007/2008. .................................. 33
Table 4.1: Health environment and prevention by provinces and regions in 2007/08 ............................................................. 35
Table 4.2: Access to health services by province and region in 2007/08. ................................................................................ 36
Table 4.3: Access to health services in villages ....................................................................................................................... 37
Table 4.4 : Temporary health problems in the past 4 weeks by Provinces and regions in 2007/08 ......................................... 38
Table 4.5: Per cent of people with long term illness or disability ............................................................................................ 40
Table 4.6: Visits to health care facilities to obtain health care in the past 4 weeks .................................................................. 41
Table 4.7: Health seeking behavior 2007/08 ............................................................................................................................ 42
Table 4.8: Educational services and quality. (2007-08) ........................................................................................................... 44
Table 4.9: Net school enrolment (%) among children 6-15 years old by sex and by province and urban/rural areas. (2007-08)
................................................................................................................................................................................................. 45
Table 4.10: Time for Education by Provinces and regions in 2007/08 ................................................................................... 47
Table 4.11: School attendance, population 6+ years of age. Percentages ................................................................................ 48
Table 4.12: Literacy rate, population 15 + ............................................................................................................................... 48
Table 4.13: Highest level of education completed by sex and region, population 6+ .............................................................. 49
Table 4.14. Highest level of education completed by region and sex. Population aged 6 +. 2002/03...................................... 49
Table 4.15: Percent of households with access to land, and productive assets by provinces and regions in 2007/08. ............. 50
Table 4.16: Selected indicators by provinces and regions , % of villages or KM .................................................................... 52
Table4.17:Percent villages having electricity in 2007/08 and 2002/03 .................................................................................... 52
Table 5.1: Main economic activities for population 10+, by Provinces and regions 2007/08 .................................................. 54
Table 5.2: Total hours worked in different sectors as percent of total hours............................................................................ 55
Table 5.3: Agricultural production, by province and region in 2002/03. Annual income and costs, 1000 Kip/household ...... 57
ii
Table 5.4: Income generating activities (persons 10+ years of age) ........................................................................................ 57
Table 5.5: Proportion of total production sold at the market (%) ............................................................................................. 58
Table 5.6 Agricultural operated land in last agricultural season, 1000 hectares ...................................................................... 59
Table 5.7 Harvested hectares of rice and production of paddy rice in last agricultural season ................................................ 60
Table 5.8: Total Number of livestock by type and by province in 1000 heads ........................................................................ 61
Table 5.9: Average number of livestock per household by type and by province. .................................................................. 62
Table 5.10: Total number of poultry raised during last 4 weeks, 1000 heads .......................................................................... 63
Table 5.11: Average number of poultry per household raised during last 4 weeks. ................................................................. 64
Table 5.12: Per cent of households operating a business ......................................................................................................... 66
Table 5.13: Household business, by region , 1000 Kip/business household per month ........................................................... 66
Table 5.14: Household businesses, in charge of operation ...................................................................................................... 67
Table 5.15: Household businesses by number of employees and number of household members usually working in the
business.................................................................................................................................................................................... 67
Table 5.16: Productivity (revenue per hours of work) by sector and by provinces and regions.. Revenue and hours in millions
per month. (Persons 10+) ......................................................................................................................................................... 68
Table 5.17: Most important restrictions for not earning more money, by provinces and regions in 2007/08. Percent of
villages having the restriction .................................................................................................................................................. 70
Table 5.18 : Average investment/construction per household by type and by province, 1000 Kip.......................................... 71
Table 5.19: Total Investment in residential buildings, agriculture buildings and business buildings in 2007/08: Million Kip
................................................................................................................................................................................................. 72
Table 5.20: Possession of durable goods 2007/08 and 2002/03. Percent of households. ......................................................... 73
Table 5.21: Possession of durable goods, per cent of households by provinces and regions 2007/08. .................................... 74
Table 5.22: Agricultural practices, by provinces and regions 2007/08, % of villages ............................................................. 75
Table 6.1: Time use for economic activities, by provinces and regions in 2007/08, hours per day. ....................................... 76
Table 6.2: Time use by sex, hours per day ............................................................................................................................... 77
Table 6.3: Time use on main activities by sex, hours per day .................................................................................................. 78
Table 6.4:Time use by type of area, hours per day .................................................................................................................. 79
Table 6.5:Time use on main activities by type of area, hours per day ..................................................................................... 80
List of figures
2B
Figure 1: Household size ...................................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 2: Percentage of food consumption and own produced food..................................................................... 13
Figure 3: Percent of people with long term illness or disability ........................................................................... 39
Figure 4: Visits to health care facilities in the past 4 weeks, per 1000 inhabitants ............................................... 41
Figure 5: % of population age 15+ that can read and write without difficulty or with some difficulty ................ 48
Figure 6: % working hours, urban ........................................................................................................................ 53
Figure 7: Percent of hours worked In rural with road ........................................................................................ 56
Figure 8: Percent of hours worked In rural without road ...................................................................................... 56
Figure 9 : Households agriculture production ...................................................................................................... 58
Figure 10: Agriculture production for market ...................................................................................................... 59
Figure 11: production for consumption ................................................................................................................ 59
Figure 12: Percent of household use fertilizer ...................................................................................................... 65
Figure13: Percent of household use Pesticides ..................................................................................................... 65
Figure 14: Time use for ativity business ............................................................................................................... 78
iii
1 SURVEY METHODOLOGY
3B
1.1 Scope and Purpose of the Survey
9B
The fourth expenditure and consumption survey (LECS 4) in Lao PDR is a survey in terms of
socio-economy at the household echelon. This survey is conducted in every 5 years. The present
round of surveys started from 1992 and the main statistical collection unit is the household. This
survey is a sample survey which is carried out in every province and district over the whole country.
The survey was undertaken from April 2007 to March 2008 (for a period of 12 months), in order to be
able to provide data on expenditure and consumption covering all seasons and relating to aspects of
every area and region in the Lao PDR.
The purpose of the expenditure and consumption survey (LECS) is to estimate the
expenditure and consumption of household as well as production, investment, accumulation
and other socio-economic aspects of the households in the formal and informal sector of the
economy.
The results of expenditure and consumption survey in Lao PDR will provide
necessary data to be used for calculation of various indicators and are intended for socioeconomic planning. It will also provide data for calculation of GDP, definition of poverty
line, data on nutrition and other important information. The LECS surveys are the most
important surveys in the statistical data collection system of Lao PDR.
The main objectives of this survey are:
-
Estimation at macro level for national accounts, including private consumption,
household investment, production and income from agriculture and household
business;
-
Structure of household consumption (weight system) for consumption price index
calculation (CPI);
-
Estimation on labor force;
-
Nutrition statistic;
-
Poverty statistics and statistics of income distribution.
The sample size of LECS 4 is composed of 8.304 household from 518 villages. The
villages are the same villages as in the survey LECS 3. In every village 16 households were
selected in the sample. The field work was conducted for a period of 12 months starting from
April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008. People undertaking the survey (enumerators) are always
being on place in the village during the month the survey is undertaken in the respective
village.
1
1.2 Sample Design and Selection
10B
1.2.1 First Step: Description of Sample Village
31B
The survey design for the LECS 4 uses the same methodology and sampling
technique as used in the LECS 3. The sample selection is conducted in two steps. The first
step is selection of sample villages using the zoom selection methodology according to the
proportion of the population (PPS). Village unit is distributed according to the following
echelon: village classified by province, district, rural area with access to road and rural area
without access to road. The number of sample villages in each province is in between 17 to
48 villages depending on the number of villages, and the number of households in every
survey area (see Table i).
Table i : Number Sample for Survey
Target
LECS 1
(92/93)
LECS 2
(97/98)
LECS 3
(02/03)
LECS 4
(07/08)
Villages
147
450
540
518
2 937
8 882
8 092
8 296
Households
Comparing the last two surveys, LECS 3 and LECS 4, the number of sample villages
is decreased from 540 to 518 villages. This is due to the situation of allocation and unification
of small villages into larger villages, which in past years has appeared in every province in
the whole country. In order to assure normal rule of distribution of sample, the number of
sample households has been from 15 to 16 per village.
Each month the number of sample villages is almost the same, because the sample has
been selected as zoom for every month.
1.2.2 Second Step: Selection of Sample Household
32B
In the present expenditure and consumption survey half of the number of households are the
same as households that were surveyed in the LECS 3, and the other half are new households
that previously were not surveyed. The selection of households in the sample uses the zoom
methodology on arbitrary and systematic basis. Selection of the 8 sample households from
the survey of LECS 3 uses the zoom methodology on arbitrary basis by taking part in a
lottery among LECS 3 households. New 8 sample household are selected among the other
2
households in the village using the same methodology. Together the number of sample
households in one village is 16. The selection of sample household is based on the number of
existing households in the village at the time of the conduction of the survey. If the village
has 16 or less households all households are covered by the survey,
Table ii: Sample allocation over survey months
Month
2007
2008
1
1
F
Villages
Households
Persons
April
45
752
4 364
May
42
672
3 993
June
43
688
3 907
July
43
686
4 083
August
43
688
3 872
September
43
688
3 781
October
42
672
3 797
November
42
688
4 111
December
44
688
3 979
January
43
688
4 227
February
43
682
3 938
March
45
704
3 973
Total
518
8 296
48 025
Remark: Number of village and household are actual sample in survey.
3
Table iii: Number of sample villages in each stratum
Code
Province
Urban
villages
Rural villages
with access to
road
Rural villages
without access to
road
Total
01
Vientiane C.
33
15
0
48
02
Phongsaly
3
8
13
24
03
Luangnamtha
5
13
5
23
04
Oudomxay
5
13
3
21
05
Bokeo
4
15
5
24
06
Luangprabang
5
19
10
34
07
Huaphanh
5
27
2
34
08
Xayabury
10
24
1
35
09
Xiengkhuang
5
17
3
25
10
Vientiane
17
21
0
38
11
Borikhamxay
3
16
4
23
12
Khammuane
5
28
1
34
13
Savannakhet
10
36
2
48
14
Saravane
4
30
2
36
15
Sekong
5
8
4
17
16
Champasack
9
17
10
36
17
Attapeu
2
12
4
18
130
319
69
518
Total
1.3 Methodology and Main Contents of the Survey
1B
Ministry of Planning and Investment authorized the Department of Statistics to
conduct the LECS survey, in cooperation with the division of planning and investment of
each province.
In this survey, data on expenditure and income was collected from households. Data
was collected during one month using the daily recording principle. All transactions were
captured in a diary and classified by kind of consumption, or by result of agricultural
production and business of the household. Data on purchase of goods with long life-time
(durables) such as furniture, television, automobile, motorcycle and others were also recorded
for the period of the past 12 months.
4
Data on time use was captured in the middle of the month for all household members
aged 10 years and higher.
The LECS 4 survey covers five main topics:

questions on expenditure and daily consumption of the household,

questions on the situation of the household,

questions on the time used of the household,

questions on prices in the market and in the shops,

questions concerning the village, for the chief of village.
The structure of the contents of the questionnaire is as followed:
Module
Diary
Household
questionnaire
Time use
Prices
Village
questionnaire
Contents
All household transactions during sampled months. Transactions
coded to consumption/expenditure, household business, agriculture
and investment outlays
- Household composition
Data specified for:
Household
- Parents
Non-household member
- Education
6 years and above
- Labour force participation
10 years and above
- Victimization
Household
- Nutrition
All household members
- Health check, measurements of heights and weights
- Possession of durables and assets values
Children 4 years and
below
Household
- Housing conditions – household
Household
- Construction activities – household
Household
- Household business
By business
- Agriculture – household
Household
- Health – evaluation of health, use of health services, health seeking
behavior, health costs
- Purchases and selling of durables during the last 12 months
All household members,
costs for household
Household
- Income and transfers – by all members of household
All household members
- Borrowing and lending – by household
Household
Time spent recorded for a period of 24 hours in a sampled day for 22
activities
Prices for 92 basic goods and services recorded in nearest local
market
demograph
general economic conditions
10 years and above
-
access to services
-
prices
-
agriculture
All household members
Village
Data provided by village
heads on situations in
the village
5
1.4 Terms, Concepts and Definition of Words used in the Survey
12B
Household: is a group of people making common arrangements, searching for foods,
having a common house and conduct different daily activities in common. A normal
household consists of people having a link together such as: husband, wife, children and
father, mother. In some cases are also included people having no relative’s link such as: coliving or employee or worker who lives together in the household having different activities
in common.
U
U
Household with one person: is one person who lives alone in a house or in a part of a
house, searching for food and other necessary goods for living life for himself without
searching together with other people.
U
U
Household with many people: is a group with two peoples or more living together in
a house or in a part of a house, together searching for food and other necessary goods for
living life. Normally, the household like this is composed of: husband, wife, children,
relatives, co-living people.
U
U
Head of household: the head of household plays an important role and gets the
respect from the members of the household. In most case, she/he usually owns more income
than the other members of the household and is also looking for the welfare of the household.
The head of household may be male or female.
U
U
Household expenditure: includes purchase, or other exchange, of goods and services
in the market. Consumption of the household is equal to the expenditure of the household
plus the value of own produced goods. The difference between expenditure and consumption,
is basically consumption of own produced goods, free collected firewood and the use of
owner occupied houses.
U
U
CONSUMPTION = EXPENDITURE + VALUE OF OWN PRODUCED GOODS
The expenditure and consumption of different items are shown in values, and as
percentage of total expenditure/consumption. The change in consumption between periods
may have its cause from change of volumes (quantities) and the variation of price.
Quantities consumed: have been captured. However, quantities are not easy to add
together as the unit of quantities varies a lot (kg, liter, bundle, etc). Consumption quantities
(or eating quantities) are essential for nutrition analysis. Household food consumption is not
exactly the same as “eating”, but more or less the same for a period of a whole year. The
amount of “eating” is measured with rice intake (in grams per persons) and intake of fish and
vegetables. Changes in consumption volumes can also be obtained by deflating values with
U
U
6
proper price indices. Therefore, prices for basic goods and main services are collected in the
survey.
Household income: is the sum of income from all sources that household members
have. It contains wages and social benefits, pensions, dividends and royalties received,
transfers from abroad in cash or kind, entrepreneurial income from household businesses and
agriculture, fishery and forestry.
U
U
Entrepreneurial income: is defined as income less current operational costs. This
income is supposed to cover owners’ remunerations, payments for work done by other (nonpaid) household members, financing of investments and profit.
U
U
Household savings: is defined as household total income less expenditure and less
the value of own produced food.
U
U
Household production: is captured both in the diary and in other household survey
modules but in different ways. The recording of transactions in the diary provides estimation
of production values, the running costs and entrepreneurial income. The entrepreneurial
income should be large enough (if profitable) to cover investments and remuneration for the
owner and other unpaid household members, interest and repayments of loan taken for the
operations and profit.
U
U
Production in agriculture is also captured in the household module in terms of farming
area operated, main output planted, harvested and output, livestock by number and
disposition of livestock, poultry, etc.
Information on household businesses is also found in the household module which
also provides for classification according to activity.
Household assets value: this item is captured for the first time in the fourth
Household expenditure and consumption survey. Households have provided data of the value
of their land, buildings, and durables such as motor vehicles, etc. and the value of specific
agriculture assets such as livestock.
U
U
Person as an employee: is a person who works for someone else outside the own
household and receives salary for that. People working in own business or agriculture is selfemployed and do not get a salary but take a share of the entrepreneurial income.
U
U
7
1.5 Reliability of the Data
13B
The data in this report are based on the findings from the survey. Therefore, the
sampling errors are the main issue concerning reliability. Sampling errors have been
calculated for some important variables based on the confidence of 95% (“margin of errors”).
All confidence intervals are in absolute figures (number of digit). The household
consumption is (2.170.7 thousand kips) and with a confidence interval of 5% it means that
there is a 95% confidence that the true value lies between 2.158.3 kips and 2.183.0 kips.
Data quality is depending on sampling errors, data entry errors, coding errors and
measurement errors. Although a lot of effort has been made to “clean” data from various
errors, there may be still some left, but those will not influence the results more than
marginally. When judging the quality, it has to be remembered that the survey in many
aspects touches upon concepts of household economy that are difficult to assess, and not
immediately clear. Therefore, data translation and data reading may be subject to some
interpretation.
In some tables errors margins are presented in order for the reader be able to interpret data
adequately.
Prior to the survey, training for data collectors (enumerator) and supervisors was
organized in order to have a common understanding about the contents. The training was
carried out in two steps:
+ Prior to the field survey, the training for the supervisor or the manager at province
level was organized at the Department of Statistics for a period of 5 days. Participants from
all 17 provinces attended the training.
+ Training for the field officers (enumerators) at the province level was organized for
a period of 11 days. This training was set up at 4 places: first place in Xayabury for 8
northern provinces, second place in Vientiane Capital for 2 central part provinces, third place
in Savannakhet for 3 central part provinces and fourth place in Champasack province for 4
southern provinces.
Data collection is carried out for each household during one month. A diary is used
for daily recording of each transaction for expenditure and consumption. For other parts of
the survey the enumerator makes interviews with members of the household.
Manuals are available to give guidelines to enumerators and supervisors. Supervisors from
Department of statistics and officers from planning and investment division of the province
are constantly checking the field work.
After completing field data collection, the supervisor (central level) from the
Department of Statistics monitors checks for missing data and data coincidence. An
international coding system is used for systematic data entry into computer data bases in
8
order to assure data compliance and to make it convenient to summarize by for example:
province or region, or by variable.
Data photo scanning system is a technique that partly has been used for data entry
during this survey, in order to reduce errors due to manual data entry mistakes. This
technique is convenient and timesaving both for data entry and for amendment. However,
some errors may still remain, but it is considered being an acceptable level in term of
statistical errors.
2 Household in the LAO PDR
4B
According to the fourth Household expenditure and consumption survey in
2007/2008, it can be noted that the number of households in Lao PDR is 985.000 and that the
average household size is 5.7 (±0.03) persons/household. Compared to the third Household
expenditure and consumption survey in 2002/2003 the household size has decreased by
nearly 6.1%. This number indicates that the Lao households know about family planning in
order to have birth spacing.
Table 2.1: Household size and number of households by provinces and regions in
2007/08
Number of
households
2007/08
(1000
households)
Number of
households
2002/03
(1000
households)
Household
size
LECS
2007/08
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
985
302
683
867
240
627
5.7
5.4
5.8
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
305
29
28
44
27
69
44
64
478
125
39
77
40
63
134
201
58
14
109
20
266
25
23
38
25
61
37
58
423
111
30
62
38
55
122
178
51
12
97
17
5.9
6.0
5.9
6.4
5.0
5.9
7.0
5.3
5.5
5.2
6.3
5.6
5.1
5.3
5.8
5.7
6.1
6.7
5.5
5.5
Confidence
interval
(margin of
error)























Household
size
LECS
2002/03
Confidence
interval
(margin of
error)
0.0
0.1
0.0
6.1
5.8
6.2
 0.1
 0.2
 0.1
0.1
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.1
0.3
6.2
6.5
6.0
6.5
5.4
6.3
7.3
5.6
6.0
5.7
7.4
5.9
5.6
5.8
6.3
5.9
6.0
6.4
5.9
5.9




















0.2
0.4
0.3
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.5
0.2
0.4
9
Normally, households in the rural areas are larger than households in urban areas. The
average household size in the rural is 5,8 and in urban areas 5,4. If we look over the country,
we can see that the northern region has the largest average household size of 5,9
persons/household. Huaphanh province has the largest average household size, 7,0, but the
tendency, compared to the third Household expenditure and consumption survey, is
decreasing. The same situation prevails for many provinces with the exception of Xekong
and Saravanh provinces where the tendency is slightly increasing(see Table 2.1). Comparing
urban and rural villages, the rural households without access to road has the largest average
household size of 5,9, and rural villages without access to road in the northern region are
having the largest household size of 6,2 persons/household (see Table 2.2).
Table 2.2: Average household size by type of area in 2007/08
Urban
Lao PDR
North
Center
South
5.4
5.3
5.4
5.3
Rural with
access to road
5.8
6.0
5.6
6.0
Rural without
access to road
5.9
6.2
6.1
5.4
Total
5.7
5.9
5.5
5.7
Household size
Figure 1: Household size
Figure 1: Average household size
6.0
5.9
5.8
5.7
5.6
Percent
5
6
7
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.2
5.1
5.0
Urban
Rural w ith access
to road
Rural w ithout
access to road
Total
A majority of households in Lao PDR, 69% of all Lao households, are situated in the
rural areas. This indicates that the development of the country is still low. People are still
depending on nature for their living life, and access to infrastructure services is still low.
Comparing between regions in the country, it can be noted that the northern region has the
10
highest share of the population living in rural areas, namely 80%. Looking by province,
however, it can be seen that Saravan province has the highest proportion of rural households,
91%, followed by Phongsaly with 88%, while Vientiane Capital has the lowest share of 35%
(see Table 2.3). In all, the number of population living in the rural areas in Lao PDR is still
high. Comparing to the third Household expenditure and consumption survey in 2002/2003, it
can be seen that number of households living in the rural areas in Lao PDR has a tendency to
decrease.
Table 2.3: Number of households by province and type of area in 2007/08, 1000
households
Urban
Lao PDR
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
Rural areas
with access
to road
302
62
4
5
10
4
16
5
19
199
81
9
19
8
14
68
41
5
3
28
5
590
196
10
17
31
20
38
37
43
268
44
26
58
28
47
65
126
51
8
54
14
Rural areas
without
access to
road
93
48
15
6
3
3
16
2
2
11
0
4
0
4
2
2
34
2
3
27
2
Total
% Rural
areas
985
305
29
28
44
27
69
44
64
478
125
39
77
40
63
134
201
58
14
109
20
69
80
88
82
78
87
77
89
70
58
35
77
75
79
78
50
79
91
77
74
76
Table 2.4 shows the dependency ratio 2 and the average number of consumption units. In Lao
PDR, the total dependency ratio is 0,7. In the urban and rural areas, it is 0,5 and 0,8
respectively. The region with the highest dependency ratio, is the southern region
where it is 0,8 3 .
F
F
F
F
2
The dependency ratio is the number of children below age 15 plus the number of people above 64 years of age divided by
the number of persons in the household age 15-64. It indicates the burden of those of working age to be responsible for the
children and aging population.
3
Average number of consumption unit is calculated as 1 for the first adult in the household 0,9 for other adults, 0,4 for
children below age 7 and 0,7 for children aged 7-15. The consumption unit approach reflects the fact that members of a
household can share some expenses and small children needs less food than an adult or a teenager.
11
The lowest dependency ratio is found in
the central region where it is 0,6.
Dependency ratio
Looking on the province level it is found
that the dependency has slightly decreased
in all provinces since 1997/1998, while the
proportion of people in work has increased
constantly.
Percent
0.4
0.5 - 0.7
0.8 - 1.0
The average consumption unit in Lao PDR
is 4,7. In the urban areas, it is 4,7 and in
the rural areas 4,8. Compared to the
previous survey, it has slightly increased.
Table 2.4: Dependency rates and average number of consumption units, by province
and region 2007/2008.
Dependency ratio
Average no. of
consumption unit
Dependency ratio
Average no. of
consumption unit
2007/08
2007/08
2002/03
2002/03
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
0.7
0.5
0.8
4.7
4.7
4.8
0.8
0.6
0.9
4.5
4.5
4.6
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.9
0.6
0.6
0.4
0.9
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
0.7
0.7
4.8
4.9
4.8
5.1
4.2
4.8
5.6
4.5
4.7
4.6
5.0
4.6
4.3
4.3
4.9
4.7
4.8
5.3
4.5
4.6
0.9
0.9
0.7
0.9
0.8
0.9
1.1
0.7
0.7
0.5
1.1
0.8
0.8
0.9
0.8
0.9
0.9
1
0.8
0.9
4.6
4.8
4.5
4.8
4
4.6
5.3
4.3
4.6
4.5
5.3
4.4
4.3
4.3
4.7
4.4
4.4
4.6
4.4
4.3
12
3 CONSUMPTION AND RICE INTAKE OF HOUSEHOLD
5B
3.1 Consumption
14B
Consumption is one important indicator to measure the welfare of the people.
Especially for more developing countries, the consumption and the expenditure are
considered as key factors for measurement and evaluation of the welfare, rather than using
the revenue, because consumption does not vary so quickly. Normally, the volume of
consumption and the volume of demand of the people do not change a lot. Price changes and
changes in revenue are causes for the change.
The result of the fourth Household expenditure and consumption survey shows that in
Lao PDR the average level of household consumption per month has increased from 1.09
million kips in 2002-03 to 2.17 million kips in 2007-08 or is augmented about 1.9 times. A
high share of Lao households expenses goes to expenditure on foods which represents 22.7%
of all consumption. The consumption of the own produced products represents 23.4%, while
expenditure on communication, transport and telecommunication stand for19.8% and living
facilities stands for12.6% of the consumption (see table 3.1).
Figure 2: Percentage of food consumption and own produced food
Figure 2: Percent of food consum ption and ow n products
in food
45.0
40.0
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Urban
Rural w ith access
to road
% Food consumption
Rural w ithout
access to road
Percent of food expenditure
Percent
10 - 12
13 - 22
23 - 34
% of ow n products in food
13
Table 3.1: Household consumption by group of goods and services. Monthly average
consumption in thousand Kip.
Table 3.2 shows changes in type of consumption of Lao people during the last 15 years
starting from 1992-93 until 2007-08. In the 1990th, consumption of food was the dominating
consumption item with a proportion of the total consumption of more than 60%. It can be
noted that this expenditure is decreasing from 64.3% in 1992-93 to 46.1% in 2007-2008. At
the same time, the consumption of own produced food is also decreasing, e.g. decrease from
38% in 1992-93 to 23.4% of total consumption in 2007-08. The expenditure ratio on foods,
paid by cash, is still on the same level e.g. about 26% in the first three surveys and decreasing
a little bit according to the result of the survey in 2007-08.
When the share of food consumption is decreasing, the share of consumption of other
items is increased. Notable is that the consumption of transport and telecommunication
services has highly increased, from 6% to almost 20%, during the 15 year period. In addition,
the consumption of living facilities, especially construction and maintenance of the house has
increased. This expenditure has an increasing proportion compared to the total consumption
(7% in the 1990th and 12% in the 2000th).
14
Table 3.2: Percent of total consumption by groups of goods and services in 1992/93,
1997/98, 2002/03 and 2007/08.
The expenditure on education and recreation activities are also increasing as a
proportion of total consumption, while the consumption of alcohol and tobacco as well as
medical care has a decreasing share. This may indicate that Lao people has reduced smoking
and drinking alcohol which, if true, is good for the health. In general, over the past 5 years,
Lao people has change its consumption and has more turned to the consumption of goods and
services than foods. This implies that the living conditions of the people has been improved,
and it indicates that Lao people are on the path of overcoming poverty, step by step.
Typically, poor people have to spend a higher share of their consumption on food.
The fourth household expenditure survey, as well as earlier surveys provides for more
detailed data, complete enough to do analysis of the living situation of Lao households,
especially in terms of food consumption. The dominant item in food consumption is rice,
which stands for around 40% of all consumption dedicated to food (see Table 3.3).
15
Table 3.3: Percentage share of food consumption by item group in 1992/93, 1997/98,
2002/03 and 2007/08.
Tables 3.3 to Table 3.5 show the rice consumption of Lao people. It represents 38.7%
of food consumption in 2007-08. 10 years before, the rice consumption covers more than
46%. Comparing years in the 2000th and in the 1990th, the tendency is decreasing. Instead
Lao people consume more meat and fish. At the same time, Lao people consume more readymade food or outside food.
Table 3.4: Percentage share of total consumption by areas in 2007/08 for selected items.
Product
Food consumption
Rice
Meat
Fish
% of own products in food
Transport
Rural areas with Rural areas without
access to road
access to road
Urban
38.6
10.1
8.7
4.9
50.3
22.8
10.7
6.7
60.5
27.7
13.7
7.5
22.0
19.7
64.8
20.8
75.7
11.5
16
Table 3.5: Percentage share of total consumption by region in 2007/08.Selected items
Product
Food consumption
Rice
Meat
Fish
% of own products in food
Transport
North
46.3
20.5
11.8
4.2




0.1
0.1
0.3
0.2
63.6  0.1
23.5  1.4
Center
South




49.6  0.1
20.7  0.1
9.3  0.3
7.8  0.1
44.7
15.4
9.4
6.3
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1
42.4  0.1
18  0.6
54.0  0.1
18.4  1.2
Comparing the consumption between urban and rural areas, urban area people have a
food consumption ratio of 38.6%, rural area with access to road has a ratio of 50.3% and
rural area without access to road a food ratio of 60.5%. Rice consumption ratio and
consumption ratio of self produced products is lower in urban than in rural areas. At the same
time, households in the urban areas spend more on transport; as well as on consumption of
meat and fish than rural household do (see Table 3.4).
Comparing the structure of food consumption to the total consumption between
northern region, central region, and southern region, the household in the northern region has
a food share of 46.3%, slightly more than the central part (44.7%) and less than southern part
(49.6%), while consumption of fish varies between 4.2% in the northern part, 6.3% in the
central part and 7.8% in the southern part. Lao Household in rural and in urban whether they
are in north, center or south has similar consumption pattern such as more food consumption
than non-food item. Urban south household spend more cash on rice ( 13%), on meat
(10.3%) and fish (6.9%) compared to urban center and urban south households, particularly
rural without access to road. Their own produced food share takes more than 30% of total
consumption and expenditures. The reason for that high own food consumption is because
they are much more rely on forest and self subsistence agriculture. The rural household with
access to road in northern part of Laos spends on transportation(25% of total consumption
expenditure) more than other regions, in contrast rural household without road access in
northern part has much less expenditure on transportation(6.4%) compared to center(9.5%)
and south(16.6%). See table 3.6 to 3.8
Table 3.6: Percentage share of main items to total consumption in urban areas in
2007/08.
Urban
Product
Food consumption
Rice
Meat
Fish
North
34.3  0.2
12.5  0.2
9.6  0.3
3.8  0.6
% of own products in food 35.2  0.3
Transport
25.4  2.0
Center
37.6  0.1
9.0  0.2
8.2  0.2
4.9  0.2
18.7  0.3
19.2
 0.8
South
46.6  0.2
13.8  0.3
10.5  0.5
6.9  0.3
21.9  0.6
13.4
 1.1
17
Table 3.7: Percentage share of main items to total consumption in rural areas with
access to road in 2007/08
Rural with access to road
Product
Food consumption
Rice
Meat
Fish
% of own products in food
Transport
North
26.9  0.1
Center
54.8  0.1
22.1
11.8
4.2
69.6
25.1
23.0
10.8
8.0
62.0
17.5





0.1
0.3
0.2
0.1
1.9





0.1
0.3
0.1
0.1
1.0
South
50.4  0.1
23.3  0.2
8.8  0.3
7.9  0.2
63.6  0.1
21.0  1.7
Table 3.8: Percentage share of main items to total consumption in rural areas without
access to road in 2007/2008
Rural without access to road
Product
Food consumption
Rice
Meat
Fish
% of own products in food
Transport
North
68.7  0.3
33.4  0.2
19.2  0.9
5.0  0.5
82.8  0.2
6.4  2.0
Center
68.5  0.7
31.8  0.2
12.5  0.5
10.5  0.1
84.7  0.4
9.5  0.6
South
51.3  0.3
21.7  0.3
9.2  0.8
9.0  0.3
64.5  0.3
16.6  1.5
Table 3.9 shows the average level of consumption per month and household by
province. The provinces with the highest average consumption per household in 2007-08 are
Vientiane Capital, Xayabury province, Savannakhet province, Champasack province,
Luangprabang province and Borikhamxay province. In those provinces the average monthly
household consumption is between 2.0 million kips and 3.2 million kips. The provinces with
the least monthly household consumption are Phongsaly province, Bokeo province,
Huaphanh province, Saravanh province and Xekong province. In these provinces the average
monthly consumption lies between 1.2 million kip and 1.4 million kips. The difference in
consumption depends both on the difference in price and difference in quantity. This is why
poverty can not be directly measured but need deeper studies.
In general the northern households are more self subsistence compare to center and south
household and they like to spend their income for repairing and constructing new dwelling.
The expenditure of provinces is differing from another. Phongsaly, Boeko and Luangprabang
have more expenditure on education and health while Huanphanh, Xayaboury and
Khammuane have lowest on the said expenditures. The share of spending on education and
18
health is also low at national level. It covered only 1.7% of total consumption expenditures.
Furthermore household in Xiengkhuang, Khammuane and Savannakhet even have much less
spending on education and health, less than 1 %, Huanphanh, Luangnamtha, Vientiane and
Attapeu provinces have more share expenditure on that mentioned item compare to other
provinces(see table 3.10). Consumption pattern by item group, by area and by region can be
seen in the table 3.11 to 3.24 in this report.
Table 3.9: Household consumption, by provinces and regions. Total monthly household
averages and percent own production.
Total monthly
consumption (1000 Kip)
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
2170.7
2950.2
1826.1


North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
1975.7
1258.6
1654.6
1734.9
1279.0
2177.6
1471.5
3035.4
2389.1
3183.1
2191.0
1857.5
2019.1
1871.8
2365.0
1948.0
1455.9
1518.7
2299.5
1759.7
Percent own
production
23.4
8.5
33.9



5.0
7.2
6.5

0.1
0.2
0.1




















10.6
27.0
27.9
17.9
28.0
16.8
18.4
18.2
6.4
10.9
21.4
12.1
21.9
19.8
10.5
8.6
18.7
34.1
10.3
21.0
29.5
50.5
34.1
37.8
42.0
21.6
48.8
18.5
19.0
5.3
30.0
26.8
26.2
32.8
22.5
26.8
42.5
35.3
20.2
30.4




















0.1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.4
0.4
0.2
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.7
0.2
0.4
19
Table 3.10: Household consumption, by provinces and regions. Percent consumption
per main group of goods and services.
20
Table 3.11: Household consumption by group of goods and services. Total and monthly
household averages. (Percentages)
LECS 1992/93
LECS 1997/98
LECS 2002/03
Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
of grand of group of grand
of
of grand of group
Group of goods and services
total
total
total
group
total
total
26
100
27 total
100
Food expenditure
26
100
5
17
7
27
Rice
4
15
1
5
1
5
Other cereals and bread
1
5
8
29
7
25
Meat
8
31
3
11
3
10
Fish
3
12
1
3
1
2
Milk, cheese and eggs
1
2
0
1
0
1
Oils and fats
0
1
1
3
1
3
Fruits
3
11
3
10
2
8
Vegetables and potatoes
1
4
1
4
1
2
Sugar and sweets
1
3
1
4
1
3
Non-alcoholic beverage coffee & tea
1
3
1
6
1
5
Other food
1
5
2
9
3
9
Meals
3
10
38
100
34
100
Own produced food
29
100
23
60
21
61
Own produced rice
16
54
.
.
0
0
Own produced other grains
0
0
4
11
3
9
Own produced meat
4
15
4
11
5
16
Own produced fish
4
15
0
1
0
1
Own produced fruits
0
1
3
8
3
10
Own produced vegetables
4
13
3
9
1
4
Other own produced
1
2
4
100
3
100
Clothing and footwear
2
100
7
100
7
100
Housing
13
100
0
0
0
0
Rent of houses
0
0
5
66
5
67
Imputed rent
9
68
1
18
1
15
Firewood collected
3
20
1
15
1
18
Water, electricity
2
12
4
100
5
100
Household utensils and operations
4
100
2
100
2
100
Medical care
2
100
7
100
11
100
Transport and communications
12
100
1
100
1
100
Education
1
100
3
100
1
100
Personal care
2
100
4
100
6
100
Recreation
4
100
3
100
3
100
Alcohol and tobacco
3
100
1
100
1
100
Others
3
100
100
100
100
100
Total consumption
100
100
LECS 2007/08
Monthly
consumption
per
Percent Percent household
of grand of group (1000 kip)
total
total
492.5
22.7
100.0
71.4
3.3
14.5
26.2
1.2
5.3
155.6
7.2
31.6
64.0
2.9
13.0
13.7
0.6
2.8
2.3
0.1
0.5
19.9
0.9
4.0
44.0
2.0
8.9
6.9
0.3
1.4
14.5
0.7
2.9
16.9
0.8
3.4
57.2
2.6
11.6
507.0
23.4
100.0
315.6
14.5
62.3
0.8
0.0
0.2
63.1
2.9
12.4
66.3
3.1
13.1
3.2
0.1
0.6
51.1
2.4
10.1
6.8
0.3
1.3
43.7
2.0
100.0
273.7
12.6
100.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
200.2
9.2
73.1
40.2
1.9
14.7
33.2
1.5
12.1
93.3
4.3
100.0
38.9
1.8
100.0
429.9
19.8
100.0
27.9
1.3
100.0
56.3
2.6
100.0
105.9
4.9
100.0
49.2
2.3
100.0
52.4
2.4
100.0
100.0
100.0
2170.7
21
Table 3.12: Household consumption by group of goods and services in 2007/08. Monthly
averages (1000 Kip) and percentages of total consumption, by region.
Rural
Total
Urban
Group of goods and services
with access to road
Without access to road
Average
%
Average
%
Average
%
Average
%
887.0
30.1
335.6
17.7
206.6
14.7
492.5
22.7
131.0
4.4
47.5
2.5
29.6
2.1
71.4
3.3
45.0
1.5
19.1
1.0
9.7
0.7
26.2
1.2
Meat
235.6
8.0
125.8
6.6
84.6
6.0
155.6
7.2
Fish
112.3
3.8
45.4
2.4
24.8
1.8
64.0
2.9
28.1
1.0
7.8
0.4
4.6
0.3
13.7
0.6
4.5
0.2
1.4
0.1
0.7
0.0
2.3
0.1
Fruits
45.4
1.5
9.3
0.5
4.4
0.3
19.9
0.9
Vegetables
86.0
2.9
26.8
1.4
16.8
1.2
44.0
2.0
Sugar and sweets
12.8
0.4
4.4
0.2
3.6
0.3
6.9
0.3
Non-alcoholic beverages, coffee & tea
31.0
1.0
7.6
0.4
4.3
0.3
14.5
0.7
Food expenditure
Rice
Other cereals and bread
Milk, cheese and eggs
Oils and fats
Other foods
22.9
0.8
14.5
0.8
13.0
0.9
16.9
0.8
132.6
4.5
26.0
1.4
10.5
0.7
57.2
2.6
Own produced food
251.8
8.5
615.9
32.6
644.5
45.8
507.0
23.4
Rice own produced
169.4
5.7
383.3
20.3
360.6
25.6
315.6
14.5
0.2
0.0
1.0
0.1
1.8
0.1
0.8
0.0
Meat own produced
21.9
0.7
76.9
4.1
108.9
7.7
63.1
2.9
Fish own produced
33.1
1.1
81.0
4.3
80.7
5.7
66.3
3.1
Fruits own produced
1.9
0.1
3.7
0.2
4.9
0.3
3.2
0.1
22.4
0.8
62.3
3.3
73.6
5.2
51.1
2.4
2.8
0.1
7.7
0.4
14.0
1.0
6.8
0.3
Meals
Other own grain products
Vegetables own produced
Other own products
Clothing, footwear, tailoring
Housing
Rent of houses
Imputed rent
59.0
2.0
39.0
2.1
23.9
1.7
43.7
2.0
507.2
17.2
178.7
9.4
118.4
8.4
273.7
12.6
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
422.5
14.3
110.4
5.8
48.2
3.4
200.2
9.2
Fetched firewood
19.2
0.7
47.1
2.5
64.1
4.6
40.2
1.9
Water, electricity, etc
65.3
2.2
21.1
1.1
6.2
0.4
33.2
1.5
144.8
4.9
75.8
4.0
36.8
2.6
93.3
4.3
54.0
1.8
33.9
1.8
21.7
1.5
38.9
1.8
Household utensils and operations
Medical care
Transport and communications
582.3
19.7
393.9
20.8
162.4
11.5
429.9
19.8
Education
53.6
1.8
17.6
0.9
9.4
0.7
27.9
1.3
Personal care
76.9
2.6
47.9
2.5
43.1
3.1
56.3
2.6
193.6
6.6
69.0
3.6
55.2
3.9
105.9
4.9
65.6
2.2
43.7
2.3
30.8
2.2
49.2
2.3
Recreation
Alcohol and tobacco
Others
Total consumption
74.5
2.5
40.9
2.2
53.5
3.8
52.4
2.4
2950.2
100.0
1891.9
100.0
1406.5
100.0
2170.7
100.0
22
Table 3.13: Household consumption by region and group of goods and services in
2007/08. percentages of total.
23
Table 3.14: Household Consumption by region and group of goods and services in
2007/08
Group of goods and services
Food expenditure
North
Monthly
% of
average
total
(1000 Kip)
Center
Monthly
% of
average
total
(1000 Kip)
South
Monthly
% of
average
total
(1000 Kip)
332.8
16.8
614.8
25.7
444.7
22.8
Rice
48.3
2.4
81.6
3.4
82.4
4.2
Other cereals and bread
19.4
1.0
33.5
1.4
18.9
1.0
Meat
138.5
7.0
178.2
7.5
127.9
6.6
Fish
30.4
1.5
81.0
3.4
74.3
3.8
Milk, cheese and eggs
8.4
0.4
19.1
0.8
8.8
0.4
Oils and fats
2.2
0.1
2.9
0.1
1.0
0.1
Fruits
9.1
0.5
29.2
1.2
14.4
0.7
24.7
1.3
56.6
2.4
43.5
2.2
Sugar and sweets
5.0
0.3
8.0
0.3
6.9
0.4
Non-alcoholic beverages, coffee & tea
5.4
0.3
20.7
0.9
13.3
0.7
Other foods
13.9
0.7
18.3
0.8
18.3
0.9
Meals
27.3
1.4
85.7
3.6
35.0
1.8
Own produced food
582.2
29.5
452.8
19.0
521.4
26.8
Rice own produced
356.7
18.1
287.1
12.0
320.9
16.5
Vegetables
Other own grain products
1.1
0.1
0.4
0.0
1.4
0.1
Meat own produced
95.4
4.8
46.6
2.0
53.1
2.7
Fish own produced
51.9
2.6
70.6
3.0
77.8
4.0
2.8
0.1
3.3
0.1
3.8
0.2
65.7
3.3
41.3
1.7
52.3
2.7
8.6
0.4
3.5
0.1
12.1
0.6
43.7
2.2
48.0
2.0
33.7
1.7
229.4
11.6
344.5
14.4
172.7
8.9
Fruits own produced
Vegetables own produced
Other own products
Clothing, footwear, tailoring
Housing
Rent of houses
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
122.1
6.2
286.3
12.0
114.6
5.9
Fetched firewood
76.4
3.9
18.6
0.8
36.6
1.9
Water, electricity, etc
30.9
1.6
39.7
1.7
21.6
1.1
Household utensils and operations
73.2
3.7
110.9
4.6
82.0
4.2
Medical care
31.2
1.6
44.6
1.9
37.0
1.9
Imputed rent
Transport and communications
464.6
23.5
437.9
18.3
358.4
18.4
Education
29.5
1.5
30.1
1.3
20.2
1.0
Personal care
52.7
2.7
53.7
2.2
68.1
3.5
Recreation
66.7
3.4
140.8
5.9
82.4
4.2
Alcohol and tobacco
37.9
1.9
54.0
2.3
54.9
2.8
Others
31.7
1.6
57.1
2.4
72.4
3.7
1975.7
100.0
2389.1
100.0
1948.0
100.0
Total consumption
24
3.2 Daily Intake of Rice and Some Certain Food Items
15B
The rice intake is considered as an important component of the consumption of Lao
people, because rice is the main food. Since the LECS 2 survey in 1997-98, the household
survey program aims at collecting data on the volume of de facto rice eating among Lao
people. Data that can be classified by different criteria as for example age group. The result
of the survey indicates that over the past 10 years, Lao people are consuming rice in almost
the same volume, only decreased a little bit since 1997-1998 (from about 582 g to 569 g per
day and person in 2007-2008). This means that one Lao person has an average daily intake
of about 600 g of cooked rice. It can be noted that people living in urban areas shows a
tendency to have increased their rice eating from 493 g per day in 1997-98 to 553 g per day
in 2007-08. More rice eating does not necessarily mean that the welfare of the population is
better. Rather, it may be an indicator to show a lack of other kind of food. In addition, if we
have a look on poverty, it may tell that more people eat more rice then more people get poor
in food.
Table 3.15: Daily rice intake in grams per person by urban/rural in 1997/98, 2002/03
and 2007/08
0-4
5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-49
50+
All
Rural
Rural
areas
Urban
areas
without
areas with road
road
access
access
Lao PDR
2007/08
307
468
588
664
675
683
598
569
533
Urban
244
399
525
595
581
592
549
498
533
Rural
324
486
610
695
725
725
623
598
Lao PDR
2002/03
298
464
579
664
677
678
571
575
Urban
260
404
505
567
556
566
510
509
Rural
304
476
600
698
721
713
591
594
Lao PDR
1997/98
272
461
601
697
715
722
583
582
Urban
237
392
503
577
568
572
481
493
Rural
277
473
621
725
750
755
602
600
606
655
606
655
509
595
591
493
590
608
25
Table 3.16: Daily rice intake in grams per person by province and region in 2007/08
Table 3.17: Weekly intake in grams per person of meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, by
region in 2007/08
Region/area
Meat
Fish
Vegetables
Fruit
Lao PDR
409
477
877
516
North
442
345
1197
492
Center
400
542
764
547
South
379
522
661
479
Urban
475
526
783
666
Rural with road access
379
453
894
447
Rural without road access
379
466
1079
470
26
Food expenditure
Own produced food
Clothing and footwear
Housing
Hhs utensils operations
Medical care
Transport and comm.
Education
Personal care
Recreation
Alcohol and tobacco
Others
Total
Table 3.18: Household consumption by group of goods and services in 2007/08. Monthly
averages (1000 Kip)
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
492.5
507.0
43.7
273.7
93.3
38.9
429.9
27.9
56.3
105.9
49.2
52.4
2170.7
887.0
251.8
59.0
507.2
144.8
54.0
582.3
53.6
76.9
193.6
65.6
74.5
2950.2
318.1
619.8
37.0
170.5
70.6
32.2
362.5
16.5
47.2
67.1
41.9
42.6
1826.1
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
332.8
582.2
43.7
229.4
73.2
31.2
464.6
29.5
52.7
66.7
37.9
31.7
1975.7
179.3
635.0
30.7
161.4
19.8
34.7
113.6
8.9
8.6
25.7
31.6
9.2
1258.6
280.2
564.6
31.6
243.6
68.0
30.1
267.7
44.0
15.8
33.0
45.8
30.4
1654.6
260.9
655.1
59.4
171.5
107.3
17.6
282.4
23.9
28.6
55.2
32.6
40.4
1734.9
232.6
536.9
18.6
167.2
46.2
24.2
136.1
9.9
22.0
43.8
23.3
18.2
1279.0
487.3
471.3
48.7
304.9
75.7
56.0
502.4
18.3
43.0
81.3
46.3
42.4
2177.6
168.6
718.8
31.3
157.9
46.7
10.9
216.9
37.9
9.9
57.1
12.9
2.6
1471.5
463.3
561.3
57.9
288.0
103.1
29.8
1107.2
51.2
158.9
108.6
55.4
50.8
3035.4
614.8
452.8
48.0
344.6
110.9
44.6
437.9
30.1
53.7
140.8
54.0
57.1
2389.1
993.0
169.5
62.0
574.9
167.7
66.5
672.4
53.7
78.2
210.4
72.5
62.5
3183.1
377.6
657.1
61.1
171.4
56.9
21.3
520.0
9.4
72.6
103.2
36.6
103.9
2191.0
438.1
497.6
38.7
249.5
102.4
35.9
233.9
40.5
32.9
105.7
56.2
26.0
1857.5
501.2
528.4
35.0
258.5
116.7
40.1
330.9
31.0
38.1
59.4
55.3
24.5
2019.1
391.2
614.8
25.3
331.6
66.6
18.9
259.1
10.1
9.3
46.5
45.2
53.2
1871.8
571.9
532.6
50.9
267.4
97.8
49.3
427.8
17.1
62.6
175.6
44.2
67.8
2365.0
444.7
521.4
33.7
172.7
82.0
37.0
358.4
20.2
68.1
82.4
54.9
72.4
1948.0
255.9
618.7
17.5
123.0
57.1
20.9
179.1
13.5
57.2
39.7
35.6
37.7
1455.9
366.8
536.7
29.9
150.8
44.7
21.1
211.6
17.1
38.4
37.3
46.1
18.3
1518.7
561.9
465.2
40.3
196.4
98.0
48.7
509.8
19.8
79.9
107.5
66.9
105.2
2299.5
408.3
534.6
46.8
202.8
92.3
31.1
159.2
43.9
56.1
100.4
52.2
32.0
1759.7
27
Table 3.19: Comparison of average consumption of goods and services by province in
2002/03 and 2007/08. (1000 kip)
2002/2003
2007/2008
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
1089.4
1703
854.3
+
+
+
0.3
0.5
0.2
2170.7
2950.2
1826.1
+
+
+
0.3
0.4
0.4
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
975.5
762.5
1028.6
802.6
821.8
1116.9
939.2
1100.6
1236.7
1898.9
1043.5
1189.5
961.5
872.3
960.7
909.3
683.8
803.7
1053.3
837.9
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
0.5
1.3
1.4
0.7
1.1
1.4
1
0.8
0.8
0.6
1
0.8
1.2
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.9
1.5
0.4
1.5
1975.7
1258.6
1654.6
1734.9
1279
2177.6
1471.5
3035.4
2389.1
3183.1
2191
1857.5
2019.1
1871.8
2365
1948
1455.9
1518.7
2299.5
1759.7
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
0.6
1.1
1.4
0.9
1.2
1
0.8
1.5
1.4
1
1.5
0.6
0.9
1
0.7
0.8
0.8
1.7
0.7
1.1
28
Rice
Other cereals and bread
Meat
Fish
Milk, cheese and eggs
Oils and fats
Fruits
Vegetables
Sugar and sweets
Non-alcoholic beverages, coffee & tea
Meals
Other foods
Total
Table 3.20: Percent of food consumption by type of product and provinces in 2007/2008.
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
38.7
26.4
45.4
2.7
4
2
21.9
22.6
21.5
13
12.8
13.2
1.4
2.5
0.8
0.2
0.4
0.1
2.3
4.1
1.3
9.5
9.5
9.5
0.7
1.1
0.5
1.4
2.7
0.8
5.7
11.6
2.5
2.4
2.3
2.4
100
100
100
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
44.3
46.1
46.9
48.2
41.9
40.1
51.1
41.1
34.5
21.2
46.5
37.9
36.9
44.9
37.6
41.8
52.3
44.4
36.7
41.7
2.2
1.4
2
1
2.1
3.2
2.3
2.5
3.2
4.6
2.2
2.6
2.4
2.2
3
2.1
1
1.6
2.5
3.2
25.6
23.4
25.9
25.5
24.7
25.3
23.3
28.2
21.1
22.4
27.9
25.8
21.3
16.9
17.3
18.7
15.2
25.3
19.5
19.5
9
11.8
6.9
7.8
9.5
7
10.6
10.3
14.2
12.5
8.8
14.3
17.3
18.5
14.7
15.8
14.4
9.7
17.1
15.5
0.9
0.6
0.9
0.5
1.1
1.3
0.1
1.3
1.8
3.2
0.5
1.2
1.8
0.7
1.5
0.9
0.3
0.4
1.3
0.7
0.2
0.2
0.6
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.5
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
1.3
0.4
0.8
1
1.1
1.7
0.9
1.8
3
5
1.4
1.6
2.8
1.4
3
1.9
1
1.1
2.4
1.8
9.9
12.2
10.7
10.4
14.8
9.7
8.8
7.7
9.2
8.4
7.8
8
10.1
10.5
10.1
9.9
10.1
11.6
9.7
9.5
0.6
0.2
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.8
0.2
0.8
0.8
1.2
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.7
0.7
0.5
0.4
0.9
0.6
0.6
0.1
0.4
0.2
0.5
1.1
0.1
0.9
1.9
3.5
0.7
1.5
0.9
0.7
1.8
1.4
0.4
0.5
2
1.1
3
0.3
1.5
2.1
1.5
7.4
0.3
2.6
8
15.4
1.8
4.2
3.2
1.8
8.3
3.6
2.3
1.4
4.7
2.4
2.5
3.3
2.9
2.8
2.2
2
2.3
2.5
2
2
1.8
2.3
2.7
2
1.9
3.1
2.6
3.4
3.2
3.9
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
29
Rice
Meat
46.0
38.6
51.4
19.8
19.7
19.9
17.8
10.2
23.3
10.1
8.7
11.0
6.0
4.9
6.8
50.7
22.1
66.1
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
46.3
64.7
51.1
52.8
60.2
44.0
60.3
33.8
44.7
36.5
47.2
50.4
51.0
53.7
46.7
49.6
60.1
59.5
44.7
53.6
23.5
9.0
16.2
16.3
10.6
23.1
14.7
36.5
18.3
21.1
23.7
12.6
16.4
13.8
18.1
18.4
12.3
13.9
22.2
9.0
20.5
29.8
24.0
25.4
25.2
17.6
30.8
13.9
15.4
7.8
22.0
19.1
18.8
24.1
17.6
20.7
31.4
26.4
16.4
22.3
11.8
15.1
13.2
13.5
14.8
11.1
14.0
9.5
9.4
8.2
13.2
13.0
10.9
9.1
8.1
9.3
9.1
15.1
8.7
10.4
4.2
7.6
3.5
4.1
5.7
3.1
6.4
3.5
6.3
4.6
4.1
7.2
8.8
9.9
6.8
7.8
8.6
5.8
7.6
8.3
63.6
78.0
66.8
71.5
69.8
49.2
81.0
54.8
67.1
71.7
63.5
53.2
51.3
61.1
48.2
40.8
70.7
59.4
45.3
56.7
% Own produced food
Transport and communications
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
Fish
Total foods comsumption
Table 3.21: Percent of total food consumption by province in 2007/2008
30
Table 3.22: Percent of consumption in urban areas by provinces in 2007/2008.
Transport and communications
Rice
Meat
Fish
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
38.6
38.6
0
19.7
19.7
0
10.2
10.2
0
8.7
8.7
0
4.9
4.9
0
20.4
22.1
0
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
37.6
47.4
42.3
32.3
46.3
35.4
46.6
36.9
37.6
34.6
31.4
47.7
41.1
34.1
41.2
46.6
47.2
42.9
47.8
43
25.4
21.1
14.6
30.4
18.4
23.1
19.4
30.4
19.2
20.6
36.8
12.3
21.3
16.8
15.7
13.4
13.5
18.1
13.9
8.3
12.5
14.1
17.3
12
15.9
8.6
19.5
12.8
9
5.7
13.2
14.9
10.1
9.9
11.4
13.8
15.3
16.3
13.7
11.5
9.6
14.5
10.4
8
11.9
8.5
13.9
9.4
8.2
7.8
7.9
11.7
10.3
8.7
7.8
10.5
10.8
11.8
9.8
12.4
3.8
5.8
3
3.9
4.5
2.5
6
4.2
4.9
4.1
3.1
7.1
8.1
5.7
5.4
6.9
7.2
3.3
7.5
6.4
35.2
23.9
38.7
40.2
42.8
16.6
52.8
43.3
24.5
20.5
29.3
33.7
17.3
29.5
26.9
17.3
28.2
26.4
20.8
18.8
% Own produced food
Total foods comsumption
Urban
31
Table 3.23: Percent of consumption in rural areas with access to road area by provinces
in 2007/2008.
Rice
Meat
50.3
0.0
50.3
20.8
0.0
20.8
22.8
0.0
22.8
10.7
0.0
10.7
6.7
0.0
6.7
64.7
0.0
64.7
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
46.9
62.0
55.0
64.3
63.4
43.6
62.3
32.0
52.8
41.3
57.1
51.5
55.2
63.8
55.4
50.4
62.1
66.4
41.4
59.7
25.1
7.9
17.1
8.0
8.5
27.1
14.3
39.3
17.5
22.4
15.3
12.7
14.3
12.4
22.2
21.0
12.3
13.5
27.8
9.9
22.1
28.8
26.3
33.8
27.0
20.0
32.4
13.8
23.0
13.1
27.0
20.8
22.4
31.8
27.4
23.3
34.2
31.5
16.0
29.1
11.8
13.5
14.9
15.3
15.3
10.2
13.7
9.5
10.8
9.2
17.1
13.5
10.8
9.3
8.4
8.8
8.8
15.3
8.3
9.1
4.2
8.6
3.7
4.4
6.5
3.0
6.7
3.2
8.0
5.7
4.6
7.2
9.2
12.1
9.2
7.9
8.8
8.0
7.1
9.6
69.6
79.4
71.6
80.4
74.1
56.6
84.5
59.1
61.9
32.3
74.6
60.8
60.3
69.4
73.9
63.6
76.2
66.8
51.1
73.0
% Own produced food
Transport and communications
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
Fish
Total foods comsumption
Rural with access to road
32
Table 3.24: Percent of consumption in rural areas without access to road by provinces
in 2007/2008.
Rice
Meat
60.5
0.0
60.5
11.5
0.0
11.5
27.7
0.0
27.7
13.8
0.0
13.8
7.5
0.0
7.5
75.7
0.0
75.7
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayabury
Central
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
68.7
75.2
54.0
79.0
71.3
66.6
81.9
57.8
68.5
0.0
75.6
0.0
55.0
88.8
84.5
51.3
61.6
87.3
48.8
67.8
6.4
4.4
15.9
1.5
6.7
5.1
0.3
13.5
9.5
0.0
3.8
0.0
14.2
5.2
7.7
16.6
7.1
0.1
18.1
6.3
33.4
38.1
28.6
35.8
35.8
28.6
47.6
36.1
31.8
0.0
42.7
0.0
22.9
33.4
43.0
21.7
26.5
39.1
20.4
32.6
19.2
16.9
12.7
31.6
18.6
21.6
24.2
9.8
12.5
0.0
14.1
0.0
13.2
8.2
11.1
9.2
12.2
26.3
8.4
9.7
5.0
7.6
3.6
3.1
3.6
4.9
1.0
3.3
10.5
0.0
7.5
0.0
8.5
19.5
14.8
9.0
11.9
3.7
9.1
8.8
82.7
92.8
92.1
87.8
85.7
68.7
96.2
70.3
84.8
0.0
95.6
0.0
74.0
91.1
84.4
64.5
65.4
92.8
61.4
85.7
% Own produced food
Transport and communications
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural
Fish
Total foods comsumption
Rural without access to road
33
4 POSSIBILITY TO ACCESS AND USE OF SAFE WATER
RESOURCES AND SERVICES
6B
4.1 Usage of Clean Water Resources and Decease Prevention
16B
Safe water is defined as piped water inside or outside, protected well/borehole and
purified water. From the fourth Household consumption and expenditure survey in 2007/2008
(LECS 4), it can be noted that the percentage of population having access to safe water has
increased, compared to the third Household consumption and expenditure survey 2002/2003
(LECS 3), from 50% to 66% having safe water in the village (see Table 4.1). It can be noted
that Khammuane is the province where fewer households use safe water; only 37% of the
population have access to safe water in the village. In all urban areas 88% of the population
have access to safe water. In the rural areas with access to road 61% of the population use
safe water, and in the rural areas without access to road just 23% of the population have safe
water. Comparing among the three regions of the country, north, center and south, it is found
that the population in the southern region have less access to safe water than population in the
northern and central region.
Concerning decease prevention a fact is, that almost all Lao population have received
an injection preventing a decease. Many villages in Lao PDR have also been covered by antimalaria immunization programs. The population covered by such programs has increased
from 72% of the total population in 2002/2003 to 76% in 2007/2008. This means that the
access to health care has slightly improved.
Percent of Population without Toilet
Percent
2 - 12
13 - 44
45 - 80
34
Table 4.1: Health environment and prevention by provinces and regions in 2007/08
% of population
having:
% of population
without:
Safe water in
the village
Toilet
% of population covered by:
Immunization
program
Anti-malaria
program
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural with road
Rural without road
66
88
61
23
34
11
41
66
98
97
99
95
76
80
75
68
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
66
60
82
68
65
70
63
58
69
95
58
71
76
37
60
57
71
65
41
95
32
69
38
30
33
34
38
6
25
2
28
12
8
44
51
59
80
53
51
39
97
94
87
98
92
100
100
100
98
100
95
94
88
100
100
100
98
100
100
100
74
57
60
81
35
89
81
80
77
79
37
78
85
78
82
78
74
56
82
82
4.2 Health Services
17B
Access to health services for the population is important in order to stay in good
health. In Lao PDR 30% of the population have access to a pharmacy in the village. Out of
these, 92% of the pharmacies have been authorized by the health sector (see Table 4.2).
35
Table 4.2: Access to health services by province and region in 2007/08.
Percent of population with access in village to:
Pharmacy
Province/ region
Licensed
pharmacy
Medical kit Midwife
Traditional Health
practician volunteer
Medical staff
as caretaker
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural with road
Rural without road
30
60
19
3
92
99
80
100
53
26
65
65
51
39
57
50
38
36
40
35
56
43
60
72
45
82
31
12
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
22
2
8
9
9
36
3
52
36
65
24
41
25
20
20
29
15
9
34
55
91
100
100
100
100
93
100
87
92
94
79
93
100
87
89
93
100
100
91
90
64
80
56
61
72
55
67
65
47
20
72
45
81
47
54
53
60
56
43
82
48
9
79
25
36
43
26
92
45
28
38
32
47
70
58
69
50
24
84
75
29
25
32
33
15
21
27
44
38
29
24
24
37
28
63
52
43
7
63
51
66
61
67
56
57
72
57
75
45
30
53
24
79
28
65
68
68
43
74
51
30
7
24
24
24
41
12
51
56
76
30
61
52
34
54
39
23
26
45
61
Percent of Health volunteer
Pencent
24 - 30
31 - 61
62 - 79
Percent of Population using time to
nearest hospital
Pencent
0.0 - 4.3
4.4 - 16.0
16.1 - 45.5
36
For the whole country the survey 2007/2008 shows that 3 % of the population is
living 8 hours or more from the nearest hospital. This is a decrease from 5% in to the
2002/2003 survey. The population needing 8 hours or more to reach the nearest health center
is less than 1 out of 100 (0.9). Population has better access to health facilities. This especially
concerns those who are living in remote areas, for instance, in rural areas without access to
road where now only 3% of the population must use 8 hours or more to reach the nearest
hospital or health center. Population has difficulty to displace and use less time to reach the
health care facility (see Table 4.3) Surprising there are about 4.2% of total population in rural
without access spend more than 8 hours to reach the nearest hospital. In 2007/2008, while
that was only a proximately 1% in LECS3 and 1.3% in LECS2.
Table 4.3: Access to health services in villages
Per cent of people by distance to
nearest hospital
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural with road
Rural without road
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
Per cent of people by distance to
nearest health center
-10 KM
11-30
KM
31
KM-
-10 KM
11-30
KM
31
KM-
27.3
75.4
20.0
11.3
22.6
22.7
23.7
23.7
22.7
30.8
12.5
26.3
32.1
70.6
23.3
33.9
12.2
23.6
28.9
27.2
20.4
21.2
37.0
28.6
39.3
17.9
47.2
29.1
36.5
36.4
36.8
21.1
36.4
46.2
33.3
42.1
38.8
23.5
27.9
39.3
32.7
54.5
47.4
46.2
74.1
24.2
40.7
28.6
33.4
6.7
32.7
59.6
40.9
40.9
39.5
55.3
40.9
23.1
54.2
31.6
29.1
5.9
48.8
26.8
55.1
21.8
23.7
26.6
5.6
54.5
22.2
42.9
57.6
86.5
57.7
27.1
43.4
24.4
30.8
50.0
44.1
46.2
45.0
67.7
73.9
100.0
69.6
67.5
63.6
65.7
71.7
57.7
57.1
33.3
81.8
38.9
35.3
10.8
38.7
50.5
47.7
53.7
69.2
50.0
47.1
46.2
40.0
32.3
21.7
0.0
17.4
25.0
36.4
34.3
21.7
34.2
42.9
33.3
18.2
44.4
7.1
2.7
3.6
22.4
8.9
22.0
0.0
0.0
8.8
7.7
15.0
0.0
4.4
0.0
13.0
7.5
0.0
0.0
6.5
8.1
0.0
33.3
0.0
16.7
Per cent of people
having 8+ hours to:
Nearest
hospital
Nearest
health
center
3.0
0.0
4.2
3.0
4.9
22.9
5.2
5.3
0.6
2.1
4.1
1.2
1.6
0.0
14.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.8
3.4
2.0
25.6
0.0
7.4
0.9
0.0
1.3
0.8
1.5
6.8
3.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.7
0.0
0.4
0.0
4.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.8
0.0
7.6
0.0
2.4
37
4.3 Health Care and Health Behavior
18B
The LECS 4 survey has been asking questions regarding the health situation of
members in the household in order to measure the impact of health on the way of living in
general, and the result does not give any medical proof. Household members have just been
questioned whether they have any health problem or not. The result of the survey shows that
about 10% of the populations suffered from a health problem during the last 4 weeks.
Comparing to the third expenditure and consumption survey this is decreased from 14% (4
percentage units). This may tell that the Lao population has slightly improved health.
Comparing to the LECS 3 survey, it is noted that both men and women in the southern part
reports better health than people in other parts of the country. Many health projects in the
south may have contributed to this (see table 4.4).
Table 4.4 : Temporary health problems in the past 4 weeks by Provinces and regions in
2007/08
Per cent of population with temporary health
problems
Per cent of people with temp. health problems
disrupting work, etc.
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural w road
Rural wo road
11
10
10
16
10
10
9
13
10
10
9
15
47
41
48
50
45
40
46
48
46
40
47
49
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
12
8
14
9
13
12
10
15
13
8
15
8
9
10
7
6
11
18
19
8
11
8
12
8
11
11
9
10
11
8
16
10
9
9
7
5
11
18
13
9
11
8
13
8
12
12
10
13
12
8
15
9
9
9
7
5
11
18
16
9
48
56
35
61
25
55
66
37
43
42
47
41
32
48
48
49
41
66
48
30
48
50
37
49
28
54
72
38
40
43
35
38
33
42
50
47
37
57
49
44
48
54
36
56
27
55
69
38
42
43
40
39
32
45
49
48
39
61
48
37
38
Figure 3: Percent of people with long term illness or disability
Percent of Population having
temporary health
Women Men
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
Pencent
7 - 10
11 - 13
14 - 18
0.5
0.0
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural with Rural without
access to access to
road
road
North
Center
South
Table 4.5 shows the ratio of long sickness situation and disability. The 2007/2008
survey shows that in general, the share of women and men suffering from long term sickness
is almost the same: women 2.3% and men 2.4%. However, the long term sickness between
women and men differs when compared over provinces and regions of the country. People in
the southern region have the highest percentage of sickness, women 3.9% and men 4.0%.
Comparing to the LECS 3 survey in 2002/2003, it is noted that ratio of women and
men with long term sickness or disability have slightly decreased from 2.7% and 2.8%
respectively.
39
Table 4.5: Per cent of people with long term illness or disability
Table 4.6 shows visits to health care facilities during the last 4 weeks. The table
shows to what extent the population has received health control at health service stations or
other health care facilities during the past 4 weeks. Health care seeking has increased
compared to the household survey in 2002/2003 e.g. from 240/1000 people to 250/1000
people.
The population visit a private doctor, commune health volunteer or tradition a birth
attendant has decreased from 126/1000 people in 2002/2003 to 97/1000 people. In addition, it
also shows decrease of population visit traditional health practitioner or midwife has decrease
from LECS 3 from57/1000 people to 7/1000 people in LECS 4.
Comparing with the LECS 3 survey it can be noted that the share of population
visiting private doctor, commune health volunteer or birth attendant, or traditional health
practitioner shows a decreasing tendency in all areas and regions.
40
Table 4.6: Visits to health care facilities to obtain health care in the past 4 weeks
Type of health facility or provider
North
Center
Visits per 1000 inhabitants:
South
Urban
Rural
with road
Rural
without
road
Total
country
Health care facilities
234
254
263
292
223
292
250
Private doctor, commune health
volunteer or trained midwife
80
110
93
132
78
110
97
Traditional health practitioner or birth
attendant
4
3
18
3
8
6
7
Figure 4: Visits to health care facilities in the past 4 weeks, per 1000 inhabitants
900
800
700
Urban
600
Rural with road
500
400
Rural with out road
300
200
Lao PDR
100
0
The obtain health care 2002/03
The obtain health care 2007/08
41
Table 4.7: Health seeking behavior 2007/08
42
4.4 Education
19B
According to reports from of the chiefs of villages, 89% of the villages have primary
school, and that the school belongs to the village itself, and 18% of the villages have lower
secondary school. Comparing to the survey of 2002/2003, the number of villages with
primary school and lower secondary school has increased by 10%. However, primary school
and lower secondary school are not yet fully expanded throughout the country. Concerning
villages in rural areas without access to road, 88% have primary school and 3% have lower
secondary school (see Table 4.8).
Net school enrolment ratio is the number of children of a certain age that goes to
school, compared to the total number of children in the same age.
Percent of villages with primary school
Pencent
74 - 83
84 - 92
93 - 100
Percent of pupils per teacher
Pencent
12 - 15
16 - 21
22 - 27
43
Table 4.8: Educational services and quality. (2007-08)
Table 4.9 shows the net school enrolment ratio of children at age of 6 to 10 years and
from 11 to 15. It shows that for the country as a whole for both age groups, the enrolment is
somewhat higher for boys than for girls. Comparing to the survey of 2002/2003, the school
enrolment ratio has increased both for boys and for girls. In general, boy and girl in central
and southern of Laos have equally enrolled the school as the ratio of girl and boy at age of 6
to 10 years old differ by 3% and at age 11 to 15 years old differ by 5 %. Northern provinces
show the wider differences among by and girls. Central provinces have almost same ratio of
school attendance between boy and girl except Savannakhet. Southern part, a net primary
school attendance ratio differs from province to province only in Champasack girl attends
school as same as boy for both age groups.
44
Table 4.9: Net school enrolment (%) among children 6-15 years old by sex and by
province and urban/rural areas. (2007-08)
4.5 Knowledge
20B
Table 4.10 shows the number of year of education for population aged 6 and above
and the literacy rate of population 15 years and older. As an average number years of
education is differ for men and women. Men have spent longer time for education than
women, 9 and 7 years respectably. The pattern is the same in all provinces and when
comparing urban and rural areas. This shows that the access to knowledge is still lower for
women than for men. The literacy rate of the population at age of 15 and higher is 85% for
men and 70% for women. The literacy rate is higher in urban areas, 95% for men and 90%
for women. In all provinces, men have higher literacy rate than women. When comparing to
the last survey 5 years ago, it can be noted that education level has increased for both women
45
and men. It also shows that number of hours spent for education has increased and so has the
literacy rate.
Fenmale literacy rete 15 +
Pencent
44 - 53
54 - 70
71 - 94
Male literacy rete 15 +
Pencent
62 - 70
71 - 83
84 - 98
46
Table 4.10: Time for Education by Provinces and regions in 2007/08
Table 4.11 shows school attendance for the population of 6 years and more compared
to the situation 5 years earlier as measured in the LECS 3. The table indicates that the
proportion of the population who has never been to school has decreased from 23% to 21%.
However there is a big gap between women and men in the proportion of population, who has
never attended school. Of all women, 29% have never been to school compared to men of
which only 13% never attended school.
For the population at age of 6 to 20, the ratio of school attendance and ratio of children left
school between boy and girl are widely different but it shows a positive trend of girl’s
attendance and dropped down the ratio of girl never attendant school. However in general
boys have more opportunity to enrolled school than girl.
Table 4.12 shows that among the Lao population 64% states that they are able to read
and write Lao language without difficulties, for women the ratio is 56% and for men 72%. In
the urban areas 84% of the population can read and write, while in the rural areas with access
to road 60% can read and write and in the and rural area without access to road 45% of the
population 15 years or older are fully literate.
47
Table 4.11: School attendance, population 6+ years of age. Percentages
Table 4.12: Literacy rate, population 15 +
Figure 5: % of population age 15+ that can read and write without difficulty or with
some difficulty
100
90
80
70
60
Male
50
Female
40
30
20
10
0
Lao PDR
Urban
Rural with road
North
Rural with out road
Center
South
48
Table 4.13 shows the highest level of completed education for population at age of 6
and higher compared to the third expenditure and consumption survey in 2002/2003. The
number of population that completed the primary, lower secondary and upper secondary
school has increased, completed primary school from 15% to 20% and lower secondary from
4% to 10%. The ratio of school completion does not differ much between men and women.
The highest share of population with no completed education is found in the northern region,
24.3% (see Table 4.14). This Table indicates that the education in the northern region needs
to be improved.
Table 4.13: Highest level of education completed by sex and region, population 6+
Table 4.14. Highest level of education completed by region and sex. Population aged 6 +.
2002/03
49
4.6 Land and Productive Assets
21B
Land access is well distributed in Lao PDR. Almost 95% of households have their
own land and 100% of households have access to land. Looking by province it can be seen
that people in almost all provinces have equal ownership of land. Only Huaphanh province
has less land than other provinces, only 79% of the households own some land . Concerning
the agricultural assets, they are more scarce. Only 28% of households own tractors.
Comparing to LECS 3 survey in 2002/2003, it can be noted higher share of ownership of
agricultural assets such as: 2 wheel tractors, 4 wheel tractors, boats and land for agriculture.
Table 4.15: Percent of households with access to land, and productive assets by
provinces and regions in 2007/08.
4.7 Infrastructure
2B
About 61% of the villages in Lao PDR use electricity, including electricity from state
network, electricity produced by turbine, electricity fromm solar cell and electricity from
hydropower. Almost all villages in the urban areas use electricity. On the other hand only
26% of the rural villages without access to road have electricity. Almost half of the
50
population has no access to electricity . However the situation has improved, the share of
villages with access to electricity has increased from 33% in 2002/03 to 61% in 2007/08.
Almost all villages in Lao PDR in 2007/2008 have access to road to the village in the dry
season. 84% of all villages in 2007/2008 have accessed to road in raining season while in the
last 5 years only 54% of total villages can reachable during raining season. (See table 4.16)
Average distance to nearest road (Km),
LECS III
percent
0-3
4 - 10
11 - 16
Average distance to nearest road (Km),
LECS IV
percent
0 - 11
12 - 26
27 - 51
51
Table 4.16: Selected indicators by provinces and regions , % of villages or KM
Table 4.17:Percent villages having electricity in 2007/08 and 2002/03
52
5 ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF HOUSEHOLD
7B
5.1 Main Activity of Population aged 10 Year or More by Province and
Region 2007/2008
23B
The Lao population is highly dependent on agriculture. According to results of the survey,
66% of hours worked is spent on activities in own operated farm. However, this proportion
has decreased compared to the previous survey where a figure of 71% was reported. The
reason of decreasing agricultural activities is that a Lao household has turned on to additional
activities in order to increase their revenue. The proportion of household participate in waged
labor has increased compared to previous survey, from 10%to 14% in 2007/2008.
Looking at urban-rural areas, it seems clear that the opportunity to get an employment is
higher in the urban areas. In urban areas the population spends 27 % of their hours worked as
paid employee while the figure for rural areas is less than 10%.
Figure 6: % working hours, urban
Percent working as paid employee
Paid employee
27%
Non farm activity
35%
ò
Own operated farm
38%
Percent
3 - 10
11 - 17
18 - 32
53
Table 5.1: Main economic activities for population 10+, by Provinces and regions
2007/08
In addition, province with high density of population such as Vientiane Capital, Vientiane
province, Savannakhet, Champasack, Xayboury, Luangprabang and Luannamtha, have
proportion of household engaged as self- subsistence in agriculture less than 70% of total
household. Those households are running more non-farm activities compare to other
provinces. The remaining province people are more occupied with self employment in their
own farm operation (see Table 5.1).
This report also provides information about population of age 10 and higher who has reported
taken part in economic activities. Specific labor analysis concerning different age groups will
be undertaken additionally.
Most working hour are spent in agriculture and fishing sector, more than 62%, while
working hours in trade, hotels and restaurants represent 15%. Mining and electricity sectors
take less than 0.5% of hours worked. Comparing between men and woman by sector, there is
no substantial difference.
54
Table 5.2: Total hours worked in different sectors as percent of total hours
Figure 10. Population aged 10 years and above. Activities during the last 7 days
Working last 7 days
74.1%
Unknown
Not working last seven days
0
25.9%
Reasons for not working, % of economically not active population
Students
52.9
Home
Too old/
duties
retired
12.8
22.5
Handicapped Sick, family Waiting for
illness
1.4
2.3
Waiting for Other
recall by
busy
employer
season
1.0
4.3
2.8
Almost 3/4 of the population of age of 10 and higher has been participating in
economic activities during the past 7 days. However, almost 26% of the population has not
been working during the past 7 day. The main reason for not working is studies, 53% of the
unemployed are students, and 22,5% are too old or retired. Only a small proportion, 1%, are
waiting for a call from an employer.
55
5.2 Agricultural Production
24B
Table 5.3 shows households revenue from agriculture activities distributed by source
of revenue. Growing of crops, mainly rice, is the main income source. The average revenue
from crops, mainly rice, in the whole country is 8 million kips per year and household.
Second largest income source is meat, followed by vegetables and fruits. Households in rural
areas gain higher income from crops than household in urban areas. Among the provinces,
Xayaboury province has the highest revenue from crops, three times more than the average,
followed by Phongsaly province and Vientiane Capital.
Figure 7: Percent of hours worked
Paid employee
Paid
employee
9.0 %
9.0 %
Ow n
n
operatedOw
farm
operated
76.0 % farm
76.0 %
In rural with road
Non farm
activityNon
15.0farm
%
activity 15.0 %
Figure 8: Percent of hours worked In rural without road
Paid employee
7.0 %
Non farm
activity 11.0 %
Ow n
operated farm
82.0 %
56
Table 5.3: Agricultural production, by province and region in 2002/03. Annual income
and costs, 1000 Kip/household
Table 5.4: Income generating activities (persons 10+ years of age)
57
In total, revenue generated from agriculture is the main revenue of the population of
Lao PDR, and is an activity of Lao people undertaking for a long time. The agriculture
production is more for own final use than production for the market, which is is aiming at
generating revenue in cash.
The reason why revenue from crops is higher than revenue from other production(see
table 5.3) is due to increasing in production of crops. It takes higher share ( 54% ) in
agriculture production as shown in figure 9 below.
Figure 9 : Households agriculture production
Others, 9.0
Forestry, 1.0
Poultry, 5.0
Fish, 9.0
Grain, 54.0
Meat, 13.0
Vegetables and
Fruits, 9.0
In total production for market sale represent 49% of agriculture output, which is a
quite high compared to previous surveys. This demonstrates that households’ agriculture
production has increased.
Table 5.5: Proportion of total production sold at the market (%)
Figure 10 and 11 shows the structure of production for market sale and production for
consumption. Crops are important for both consumption and for marketing, which
contributed more than 48% and 61% respectively. Meat production (19% of production for
market) takes second important for market, while it present only 4% of total consumption.
Fish is significant for consumption of household but less share of production for the market
(4%).
58
Figure 10: Agriculture production for market
Figure 11: production for consumption
Others, 16.0
Others, 3.0
Forestry, 3.0
Poultry, 6.0
Poultry, 3.0
Grain, 48.0
Fish, 13.0
Fish, 4.0
Meat, 6.0
Meat, 19.0
Vegetables and
Fruits, 7.0
Grain, 61.0
Vegetables and
Fruits, 11.0
Results from this survey shows that the agriculture area is expanded compared to the
previous survey. Land available for operation during rainy season has increased basically
over the whole country. For natural reasons, agriculture area in the rural areas is larger than
agriculture areas in the urban areas. More than 1 million hectars of land are operated in the
rural areas, more than 805 of all agricultural area in the country. The agriculture area
operated in dry season covers 129 thousand hectare. Of this, only 6 thousand hectares are
situated the rural areas without access to road. This may indicate the difficulty to distribute
irrigation systems in the most remote areas. For details, see Table 5.6.
Table 5.6 Agricultural operated land in last agricultural season, 1000 hectares
59
Table 5.7 Harvested hectares of rice and production of paddy rice in last agricultural
season
Harvested area as well as total production both of glutinous (sticky) rice and ordinary
rice for rainy season production has increased compared to the previous data collection. The
average yield from rice production can be calculated from the LECS 4 survey, to about 2 tons
per hectare.
Production of glutinous rice in the dry season is reported to be about 200.000 tons and
production of ordinary rice about 12.000 tons. The survey indicates that for the dry season the
production has decreased compared to the previous survey, especially in the central and
southern regions.
The number of livestock, especially cows, has increased two times compared to the
previous survey. Meantime, the number of buffaloes has slightly decreased. Looking at
regions, the central region has more cattle than the other regions. Looking by province
Savannakhet has the most cattle.
60
Table 5.8: Total Number of livestock by type and by province in 1000 heads
An average Lao household keeps 3 cattle, 2 buffaloes and 2 pigs. Comparing to the
previous survey, the number of cattle per household has increased by 1. The number of cattle
per household in the central region is 4 cattle per household which is more than in other
regions, in the southern region an average household keeps 2 cattle. Comparing provinces,
Vientiane Capital and Vientiane province raise many cattle, in contrast to Phongsaly, where
pigs dominate. An average livestock-raising household in Phongsaly keeps 3 pigs. For details
see Table 5.9.
61
Table 5.9: Average number of livestock per household by type and by province.
Turning to poultry, Lao population prefers to raise the local chicken breed which is
used as a source of food. The local chicken is the most common type of livestock. High
demand from the society and from within the household for local chicken stimulates the
production. The number of local chicken is around 9.6 million which is more than 8 times
more than the number of ducks. Duck production is most common in the central and southern
regions. For details see Table 5.10.
62
Table 5.10: Total number of poultry raised during last 4 weeks, 1000 heads
63
Table 5.11: Average number of poultry per household raised during last 4 weeks.
Average Cattle per household
Pencent
2.0 - 3.0
3.1 - 5.2
5.3 - 7.0
Average poultry per household
Pencent
11 - 17
18 - 27
28 - 39
64
Figure 14 and 15 show the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture
production. Almost 28% of the households use chemicals in the production. The central
region and southern region have the same proportion of households using chemical fertilizer,
around 35%. The northern region uses fertilizer to a lesser extent, only 10%. Around 9% of
the households use insecticides and/or pesticides, a decrease compared to LECS 3 which
showed a use by 15%.
Figure 12: Percent of household use fertilizer
Figure13: Percent of household use Pesticides
:
40.0
35.0
30.0
12.0
25.0
10.0
20.0
8.0
15.0
6.0
10.0
4.0
5.0
2.0
-
South Central North
Rural
Urban
Lao
PDR
South Central North
Rural Urban
Lao
PDR
5.3 Household Business
25B
Table 5.12 shows the number of households operating business other than agriculture,
forestry and fishing. In Lao PDR, 28% of the households is running at least one household
business. Operating a business is more common in the urban than in the rural areas. 49% of
all household in the urban areas and 32% of rural area households are running a business. The
most common is that one household operates one single business.
Table 5.13 shows the revenue from household business. 34% of total households are
running household business, and only those engaged in trade activities has highest average
revenue with an average of 18 million kips per month, with purchasing of goods for resale at
the value of 14 million kips. Urban businesses household has higher turnover (more than 3
times) than businesses in rural areas. There are also business expenditures. Average revenue
65
of Lao household business is 20 million kips per month, of which household in urban can
earn higher (23 million kips per month) than and in rural area( 17 million kips).
Table 5.12: Per cent of households operating a business
Households
operating
business
%
Total country
Urban
Rural
North
Phongsaly
Luangnamtha
Oudomxay
Bokeo
Luangprabang
Huaphanh
Xayaboury
Center
Vientiane C.
Xiengkhuang
Vientiane P.
Borikhamxay
Khammuane
Savannakhet
South
Saravane
Sekong
Champasack
Attapeu
Households
operating
Households
operating
Households
operating
one business
two businesses
%
%
three or more
businesses
%
23.0
39.0
27.0
15.0
8.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
24.0
6.0
24.0
28.0
45.0
16.0
25.0
25.0
18.0
25.0
21.0
13.0
13.0
26.0
27.0
4.0
8.0
5.0
3.0
0.0
2.0
1.0
2.0
7.0
1.0
6.0
5.0
11.0
1.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
1.0
2.0
5.0
8.0
0.7
1.5
0.8
0.4
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.8
0.7
0.5
0.9
2.0
0.1
0.9
0.0
0.0
0.8
0.7
0.3
0.0
1.0
0.8
28.0
49.0
32.0
19.0
8.0
12.0
11.0
12.0
32.0
8.0
30.0
34.0
57.0
17.0
29.0
29.0
20.0
29.0
26.0
15.0
15.0
32.0
35.0
Services
Others
Materials
Goods resale
OP cost
Wages
Tools
Other costs
Lao PDR
34
18,786
2,173
385
1,793
915
2,274
13,732
644
172
129
102
20,534
Urban
60
37,712
5,939
630
2,407
2,537
6,738
26,852
747
392
255
123
23,547
Rural
23
10,420
508
277
1,521
198
300
7,932
598
75
73
92
17,009
North
24
16,342
654
495
1,530
314
257
11,410
677
76
66
60
28,658
Central
42
22,168
3,862
408
2,045
1,576
3,988
15,487
681
291
182
163
22,272
South
32
14,469
467
163
1,591
258
1,262
13,090
507
36
99
17
6,054
Entrepreneurial
income
Comm work
Costs for:
Production
Revenues from:
Trade
HH with business*
(%)
Table 5.13: Household business, by region , 1000 Kip/business household per month
* Households that have business incomes and/or business costs in the diary
66
Table 5.14 shows the proportion of women and men undertaking business. Women
are to a higher degree than men engaged in business activities, 52% of businesses are run by
women. Comparing urban and rural areas, the proportion is a bit different. In the urban areas
women are more active in business, 56% of businesses are run by women. In rural areas, men
are more active in business, 53% are run by men.
Table 5.15 shows the proportion of employment of outside labour. Typically one
person runs the business and is responsible for the business at the same time, 84% of all
business units have no employees. For 61% of businesses 1 household member is assisting in
the business, and 36% have 2 or more assisting family members.
Table 5.14: Household businesses, in charge of operation
Table 5.15: Household businesses by number of employees and number of household
members usually working in the business
5.4 Productivity
26B
Productivity presented in this report is defined as the gross revenue per hour of work.
The return covers for inputs into the business and the owner’s remuneration and profits.
Table 5.16 shows the revenue per hour of work. The revenue from agriculture (3134
kips per hour) is lower compared to business (4710 kips per hour). The revenue from
agriculture and business in urban areas is higher than in rural areas.
In agriculture, the productivity is highest in Xayabury province (7667 kips per hour)
followed by Vientiane Capital (5652 kips) and Attapeu (5070 kips). The lowest number is
recorded for Hoaphanh province (1610 kips). One interesting observation from this survey is
that the northern part shows better agriculture productivity than the central and southern part.
67
Also household businesses in the northern part show on average much better productivity
than household businesses in central and southern part. Phongsaly and Xayabury shows the
higest figures, 12.013 kip and 9.795 kip/hours respectively.
Data from LECS 4 shows higher productivity than data from LECS 3 survey. This
concerns agriculture (3134 kips/hour) compared to LECS 3 (1392 kips/hour). Relating to
business, the productivity is however lower (4710 kips/hour) compared to LECS 3 (13701
kips/hour).
Table 5.16: Productivity (revenue per hours of work) by sector and by provinces and
regions.. Revenue and hours in millions per month. (Persons 10+)
68
5.5 Restriction (Barrier)
27B
To study the socio-economic development of a village many factors must be
considered. Particularly, the generation of income of the population in a village basic factors
such as: land for agricultural production, irrigation, fertilizer in order to effectively increase
the production. For commerce capital is needed. Thus, in this survey the village authorities
have been questioned in order to find out about difficulties that may be a restriction to their
development. Table 5.17 shows that the important barrier that influences the generation of
income of household is lack of irrigation which is a problem for 53% of the villages in the
whole country. Lack of jobs is aproblem in more than 50% of urban area villages as well as
in rural areas with access to road. This ratio is higher in the central part and in the southern
part with more than 60%. Lack of market, lack of know-how and livestock decease is an
obstacle for almost 50% of the villages. For rural area without access to road problems
prevail for more than 50% of the villages. The southern part reports most problems.
In Xekong, Savannakhet and Champasack, the lack of credits is prevails for nearly
70% of the villages. Plant enemies is an issue that has an impact to the quantity of
production, particularly in some provinces (Hoaphanh and Xekong almost 70%). The data
was supplied by the chief of village.
Percent of villages with restriction
lack of irrigation
percent
15 - 33
34 - 59
60 - 74
Percent of villages with restriction
lack of Knowledge
percent
29 - 33
34 - 50
51 - 68
69
Table 5.17: Most important restrictions for not earning more money, by provinces and
regions in 2007/08. Percent of villages having the restriction
5.6 Household Investment and Construction
28B
Table 5.18 shows construction investment by households in Lao PDR. Only 3.2 % of
all households in the country performed an investment such as new construction of house or
additional construction to an existing building. On average an investing household made an
investment of 1.4 million kips per year. Urban area households had more construction work
done than households in the urban areas, 4.2% of the urban households and 2.8% of the rural
households. The difference is quite substantially throughout the country. The southern and
the central parts show 3.5% and 3.3% respectively while the northern part show less than the
others, 3.0% of the households.
Most expenditure is spent on residential buildings, on average 1.7 million kips per household.
On average expenditures on construction of agricultural facilities only stays at 19 thousand
kip per household and construction of business facilities 120 thousand kips.
70
Table 5.19 shows the total value of investment in construction. 1.800.000 million kips
has been invested by the households. 93% of the investment was spent on residential
buildings.
In the rural area the share is even higher, 97% while in the urban area, it covers 91%.
Construction of business facilities in the urban areas is higher than in rural areas of 8.9%
compared to 1.4% in the rural area. Comparing different parts of the country, most
investment is taken place in the central part, covering 60% of the value of all investment. The
investment contruction business building in Laos from survey is covered small share of total
investment. Only 8.2% in center region has invest in business buildings and in the south and
north household has put money for that type of investment is less than 5% because most of
business place is located in their own resident building.
Table 5.18 : Average investment/construction per household by type and by province,
1000 Kip
71
Table 5.19: Total Investment in residential buildings, agriculture buildings and business
buildings in 2007/08: Million Kip
5.7 Possession of Goods
29B
Durable goods are goods for long time use in the household such as: cars, television
sets, communication sets, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and others. These goods should have
an expected life time of more than 1 year. To be a holder or possessor in this context, it
means they have responsibility and right to use it permanently , even these goods are not
belong to them such case: common goods, long term borrowed, leased or other type of
possession.
Table 5.20 and 5.21 show the change of possession of durable goods between the
surveys of 2002/2003 and the survey 2009/08. Possession of cars has increased from 4% in
2002/03 to 10% in 2007/08. In the urban areas, the percentage of households in possession of
cars has increased from 11% to 15%. In the central region the percentage has increased from
6% to 10%.
The possession of motorbikes is the outstanding item at the country level. Comparing
to the year 2002/03, it is increased considerably from 22% of the households having
motorbike in 2002/03 to 51% in 2007/08. This ratio varies, for example in the central region
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there is an increase from 30% to 61% and in the southern region from 17% to 54%.
Possession of bicycle has gone down, from 54% in 2002/03 to 39% in 2007/08.
Possession of mobile phones is a more or less new phenomena in both urban and rural
areas and have increased rapidly. Thus, 3% of the households had mobile phone in 2002/03
and 42% in 2007/08.
Owning or the possessing of household durable goods is augmented both in the urban
and in the rural areas. Vientiane Capital is still being the province where households possess
more durables goods, being an economical center and the most developed area. The
procurement of modern goods may facilitate to save time.
Table 5.20: Possession of durable goods 2007/08 and 2002/03. Percent of households.
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Table 5.21: Possession of durable goods, per cent of households by provinces and
regions 2007/08.
5.8 Sustainable Land Use
30B
Table 5.22 shows the situation of land use for agriculture, deforestation and
development programmes in the villages. In most villages rotational (shifting) cultivation is
practiced for agriculture, and this practice has increased from 77% in the year 2002/2003 to
85 % in 2007/2008. This concerns especially the urban areas and the rural areas with access
to road, where the percentages were 75 % respective 84 % in 2002/03 and become 87 % and
89 % in 2007/08. In the rural areas without access to road, this percentage is substantially
lower and decreasing from 64 % in 2002/03 to 61 % in 2007/08. The number of villages
practicing pioneering cultivation (slash and burn) has decreased 23% in 2002/03 to 15 % in
2007/08. In the rural area without access to road, this percentage has slightly increased from
36 % in 2002/03 to 39 % in 2007/08. Both surveys show that this practice is most prevailing
in the northern part.
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Deforestation is serious problem in Borikhamxay and Xayboury province,it stands for
61 %and 57% respectively, It is considerably high compare to other provinces.
It is important to have agricultural technical assistance in the village in order to
further improve the production, which has been acknowledged by the government. Thus the
number of villages receiving technical assistance has increased from 48% in 2002/03 to 57%
in 2007/08. This is most significant in the central part of the country where 63% of the
villages receive technical assistance in 2007/08. Comparing to the year 2002/03, the figure
was just 47%.
Implementation of land and forestry allocation projects have also increased from 42%
in 2002/03 to 51% in 2007/08.
Assistance in implementation of government projects in the area of agriculture, land
and forestry allocation is quite equally dispersed among regions.
Table 5.22: Agricultural practices, by provinces and regions 2007/08, % of villages
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6 TIME USE
8B
This chapter shows time use of household members at age 10 years and older. Table
6.1 shows that the average person at age of 10 years and higher spends 5.8 hours per day on
economic activities. Agriculture work stands for most of the time with 2.2 hours per day. In
Xiangkhuang province 3.2 hours per day is spent on agriculture, in Phongsaly province 2.9
hours per day and Hoaphanh and Xayabury 2.8 hours per day is used for agriculture work.
Table 6.2 shows the time use per day and person classified by gender. It points out
that women sleep slightly less than men, 8.7 hours for women and 8.9 hours for men. The
same situation prevails for eating, drinking and self-care, 2.6 hours for women and 2.7 hours
for men. The rest of the time is mostly spent on work, 3.7 hours per day for men and 4.3
hours per day for women.
Table 6.1: Time use for economic activities, by provinces and regions in 2007/08, hours
per day.
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Table 6.2: Time use by sex, hours per day
Table 6.4 shows that people who work as employee and work for own business in
urban areas spend about 1.4 hours per day, while in the rural area, it is less than 30 minutes.
All areas spend more time for sleeping and resting.
Table 6.5 shows people spend time for income generation activities at maximum of
4.8 hours per day. People in rural without access to road spend less than that, about 3.6 hours
a day since most of the time were spend for agriculture work for self consumption.
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Table 6.3: Time use on main activities by sex, hours per day
Figure 14: Time use for ativity business
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Employee
Lao PDR
Own business Farm
Urban
Construction Other
Rural with road
Rural with out road
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Table 6.4:Time use by type of area, hours per day
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Table 6.5: Time use on main activities by type of area, hours per day
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