Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Air Force, Self-Defense Militia Forces (2021)
Burmese Defense Service (Tatmadaw): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay); People's Militia; Border Guard Forces; Ministry of Home Affairs: People's Police Force (2021)
note: the Burmese military controls the People's Militia, Border Guard Forces, and the Ministry of Home Affairs
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2019)
18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary military service; no conscription (a 2010 law reintroducing conscription has not yet entered into force); 2-year service obligation; male (ages 18-45) and female (ages 18-35) professionals (including doctors, engineers, mechanics) serve up to 3 years; service terms may be stretched to 5 years in an officially declared emergency (2019)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
2.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
2.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
4.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
information is limited and estimates for the size of the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) vary; approximately 30,000 active duty troops (26,000 Army; 4000 Air Force) (2020)
information varies widely; approximately 400,000 total active troops (est. 360,000 Army; 20,000 Navy; 20,000 Air Force) (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the LPAF is armed largely with weapons from the former Soviet Union; since 2010, China and Russia are the leading suppliers of military equipment to Laos (2020)
the Burmese military inventory is comprised mostly of older Chinese and Russian/Soviet-era equipment with a smaller mix of more modern acquisitions; since 2010, China and Russia are the leading suppliers of military hardware; Burma has a limited defense industry, including a growing shipbuilding capability (2020)
