| Attribute |
Laos × | 
Mauritania × |
| Geography | | |
| Area (km²) | 236,800 | 1,030,700 |
| Continent | Asia | Africa |
| Land area (km²) | 230,800 | 1,030,700 |
| Water area (km²) | 6,000 | 0 |
| Land boundaries (km) | 5,274 | 5,002 |
| Border countries | - Burma
- Cambodia
- China
- Thailand
- Vietnam
| - Algeria
- Mali
- Senegal
- Western Sahara
|
| Coastline (km) | 0 | 754 |
| Mean elevation (m) | 710 | 276 |
| Lowest point (m) | 70 | -5 |
| Highest point (m) | 2,817 | 915 |
| People | | |
| Population | 7,447,396 | 4,005,475 |
| Official languages | | |
| Religion | Buddhist | Muslim |
| Government | | |
| Long country name | Lao People's Democratic Republic | Islamic Republic of Mauritania |
| Short country name | Laos | Mauritania |
| Long local name | Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao | Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah |
| Short local name | Mueang Lao (unofficial) | Muritaniyah |
| Government type | Communist state | Presidential republic |
| Capital | Vientiane | Nouakchott |
| Economy | | |
| GDP (PPP) (USD) | 49,340,000,000 | 17,280,000,000 |
| GDP (OER) (USD) | 16,970,000,000 | 4,935,000,000 |
| GDP (real growth rate) (%) | 6.9 | 3.5 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) (USD) | 7,400 | 4,500 |
| Gross national saving (% of GDP) | 22.7 | 24.2 |
| Labor force | 3,582,000 | 1,437,000 |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 0.7 | 10.2 |
| Population below poverty line (%) | 22 | 31 |
| Budget revenues (USD) | 3,099,000,000 | 1,354,000,000 |
| Budget expenditures (USD) | 4,038,000,000 | 1,396,000,000 |
| Military expenditures (% of GDP) | 0.19 | 3.02 |
| Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP) | 18.3 | 27.4 |
| Budget surplus or deficit (% of GDP) | -5.5 | -0.8 |
| Public debt (% of GDP) | 63.6 | 96.6 |
| Inflation rate (%) | 0.8 | 2.3 |
| Central bank discount rate (%) | 4.3 | 9 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate (%) | 18.5 | 17 |
| Stock of narrow money (USD) | 1,131,000,000 | 1,296,000,000 |
| Stock of broad money (USD) | 1,131,000,000 | 1,296,000,000 |
| Stock of domestic credit (USD) | 9,300,000,000 | 2,364,000,000 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares (USD) | 1,012,000,000 | - |
| Current account balance (USD) | -2,057,000,000 | -711,000,000 |
| Exports (USD) | 3,654,000,000 | 1,722,000,000 |
| Imports (USD) | 4,976,000,000 | 2,094,000,000 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (USD) | 1,270,000,000 | 875,000,000 |
| External debt (USD) | 14,900,000,000 | 4,150,000,000 |
| National currency | kips | ouguiyas |
| National currency (code) | LAK | MRO |
| National currency (symbol) | ₭ | UM |
| National currency rate to USD | 8 | 363.6 |