| Provinces ແຂວງ Khoeng | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | Unitary state |
| Location | Lao People's Democratic Republic |
| Number | 17 |
| Populations | 98,000 (Xaisomboun) – 1,004,000 (Savannakhét) |
| Areas | 3,920 km2 (1,510 sq mi) (Vientiane) – 21,774 km2 (8,407 sq mi) (Savannakhét) |
| Subdivisions | |
| Administrative divisions of Laos |
|---|
| First-level |
| Second-level |
| Third-level |
Laos is divided into 17 provinces (Lao ແຂວງ, pronounced [kʰwɛ̌ːŋ] , khwaeng , khoeng, qwang or khoueng) and 1 prefecture, the Vientiane capital city municipality (ນະຄອນຫຼວງ, nakhon luang, or Na Kone Luang Vientiane). The special administrative zone (ເຂດພິເສດ, khet phiset), Xaisomboun, created in 1994, was dissolved on 13 January 2006. [1]
