Laos Administrative Divisions

Name: Laos Administrative Divisions Dataset
Creator: GeoPostcodes
License: https://www.geopostcodes.com/pricing/

What is the hierarchy of administrative divisions in Laos?

Laos operates on a 3‑level system starting with 18 provinces, then districts, and villages as the smallest administrative units.

Here’s a breakdown of the hierarchy:

1. Provinces: Laos is divided into 18 provinces.

2. Districts: Provinces are subdivided into districts.

3. Villages: These are the smallest administrative units, often found within districts.

List of Laos's administrative divisions with their counts and names

These are the summarized administrative divisions. The full dataset is available in the Download Center.

iso	country	admin level 1	admin level 2	admin level 3	admin level 4
LA	Laos	Attapeu (Province)	5 Districts	26 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Bokeo (Province)	5 Districts	58 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Bolikhamxai (Province)	7 Districts	36 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Champasak (Province)	10 Districts	81 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Houaphan (Province)	10 Districts	91 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Khammouan (Province)	10 Districts	95 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Louang Namtha (Province)	5 Districts	48 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Louangphrabang (Province)	12 Districts	112 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Oudomxai (Province)	7 Districts	142 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Phongsali (Province)	7 Districts	66 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Salavan (Province)	8 Districts	58 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Savannakhet (Province)	15 Districts	172 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Vientiane Prefecture (Prefecture)	9 Districts	59 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Vientiane Province (Province)	11 Districts	59 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Xaignabouli (Province)	11 Districts	77 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Xaisomboun (Special region)	5 Districts	15 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Xekong (Province)	4 Districts	28 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.
LA	Laos	Xiangkhoang (Province)	7 Districts	54 Villages	This level doesn’t exist for this country.

Why is building an Administrative Divisions Database complex?

The complexity arises from inconsistent global standards, frequent boundary changes, non-uniform naming conventions (e.g., “suburb” in Australia vs. “county” in the US), and variations in administrative levels across countries. Integrating and harmonizing data from multiple sources requires advanced normalization, versioning, and geospatial validation techniques.

How does GeoPostcodes solve the problem for you?

Our standardized database overcomes the complexity of different administrative division
systems worldwide. Our database follows a unified structure that you can integrate
seamlessly into your system or platform of choice without needing to become an expert in
each country’s unique administrative hierarchy.

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Our location dataset for Laos

Explore our comprehensive collection of Laos ZIP code and administrative data products, designed to meet all your mapping and location intelligence needs.

Laos ZIP Codes

Laos uses a “Postal code” system, which is a five-digit numeric format, like 99999, with no letters or separators. This means it uses only numbers, similar to US ZIP codes, which are also five digits and purely numeric. According to the GeoPostcodes world postal code database, Laos has 26 postal codes covering 1,374 regions and 10,675 towns.

Laos ZIP & Administrative boundaries

Laos administrative landscape often follows inconsistent regional models and irregular public sources, making it difficult to maintain reliable boundaries. Our standardized postal and administrative boundary data resolves these gaps to ensure complete, coherent geographic coverage.

Laos Address Format

Address conventions differ by country, leading to frequent validation errors and incomplete entries. Our dataset applies Laos correct address format to ensure clean inputs, smoother validation, and reduced delivery mistakes.

Address validation - Laos address validation

Comprehensive Laos ZIP code, city, and address data to verify and correct existing addresses at input, post-entry, or in bulk.

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Postal Code Database

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Key features

247 Countries
9,9M Coordinates
9,3M ZIP codes
400 Time zones
4M Cities and Towns
116K UNLOCODES

Specifications

Coverage: Global
Format: CSV, ASC, DAT, GML, GeoJSON, KML, Shapefile (SHP)

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Boundary Data

A global dataset of polygons representing ZIP codes and administrative areas.

Explore boundaries database

Key features

247 Countries
Up to 6 levels
1,7M boundaries
High-precision
245K Admin areas
Visualization

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Coverage: Global
Format: GeoJSON, Geopackage, KML, Shapefile (SHP)

Population Database

Global population estimates at postal code and administrative level covering a span of 55 years: past, present, and future.

Explore population database

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247 Countries
243K Admin areas
55 year span
Yearly updates
645K ZIP codes

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Coverage: International
Format: CSV, ASC

Global Postal Code Coverage

247 countries and territories with standardized formatting and reliable geographic information.

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Updated: July 1, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the administrative divisions of Laos?

Laos is divided into 1 prefecture (Kampheng nakhon), 16 provinces (Khoueng), and 1 special region (Khetphiset), which form the top-level administrative units. These are subdivided into 148 districts (Muang). The smallest administrative level consists of 1,277 villages. Major prefectures include Attapeu, Bokeo, and Bolikhamxai.

How many administrative levels does Laos have?

Laos has 3 administrative levels. Level 1: 1 prefecture (Kampheng nakhon), 16 provinces (Khoueng), and 1 special region (Khetphiset). Level 2: 148 districts (Muang). Level 3: 1,277 villages.

How is Laos organized into provinces?

Laos operates on a 3‑level system starting with 18 provinces, then districts, and villages as the smallest administrative units.

What is the difference between prefectures and provinces in Laos?

In Laos, prefectures and provinces both sit at administrative level 1 but serve different functions. Prefecture (kampheng nakhon) — there is 1 — is typically a larger city or urban area that governs itself independently. Provinces (khoueng) — there are 16 — group multiple smaller municipalities under a shared administration.

How often do administrative boundaries change in Laos?

Administrative boundaries in Laos change as governments reorganize regions, merge municipalities, or create new administrative units to reflect population shifts and political decisions. Changes most commonly affect the villages level, where Laos currently has 1,277 units. Businesses that rely on Laotian administrative data should use a regularly updated reference dataset to avoid mismatches in geocoding, tax jurisdiction mapping, and compliance reporting.