Laos is divided into 17 provinces (khoueng) and one prefecture (kampheng nakhon) which includes the capital city Vientiane (Nakhon Louang Viangchan). Provinces are further divided into districts (muang) and then villages (ban). An 'urban' village is essentially a town.^[1]

Officially, Laos is divided into 3 administrative tiers, with different types of administrative unit on each tier:

No. Subdivisions Capital Area (km2) Population (2015)[2] 1 Attapeu Attapeu (Samakkhixay District) 10,320 139,628 2 Bokeo Houayxay (Houayxay District) 6,196 179,243 3 Bolikhamsai Pakxan (Pakxan District) 14,863 273,691 4 Champasak Pakse (Pakse District) 15,415 694,023 5 Houaphanh Xam Neua (Xam Neua District) 16,500 289,393 6 Khammouane Thakhek (Thakhek District) 16,315 392,052 7 Luang Namtha Luang Namtha (Namtha District) 9,325 175,753 8 Luang Prabang Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang District) 16,875 431,889 9 Oudomxay Muang Xay (Xay District) 15,370 307,622 10 Phongsaly Phongsali (Phongsaly District) 16,270 177,989 11 Sainyabuli Sainyabuli (Xayabury District) 16,389 381,376 12 Salavan Salavan (Salavan District) 10,691 396,942 13 Savannakhet Kaysone Phomvihane (Khanthaboury District) 21,774 969,697 14 Sekong Sekong (La Mam District) 7,665 83,600 15 Vientiane Prefecture Vientiane (Chanthabouly District) 3,920 820,940 16 Vientiane Province Phonhong (Phonhong District) 15,927 419,090 17 Xiengkhouang Phonsavan (Pek District) 15,880 244,684 18 Xaisomboun Province Anouvong (Anouvong District) 8,300 85,168

Each Laotian province is subdivided into districts (muang) and then subdivided into villages (baan).

• Geography of Laos