Laos ISO Codes: LA, LAO, 418, and .la Explained
Laos ISO codes are used in forms, databases, websites, payment systems, travel records, and country selectors. The most common values are LA for the two-letter country code, LAO for the three-letter country code, and 418 for the numeric country code. Laos also has the .la internet domain, while +856 and LAK belong to different systems. This guide explains each code clearly so you can choose the correct value for technical, business, or reference use.
Quick Answer: Laos ISO Codes at a Glance
If you only need the current country codes for Laos, use the table below. These values apply when a system asks for ISO 3166-1 country codes for the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
The Current ISO 3166-1 Codes for Laos
The current Laos ISO codes are LA, LAO, and 418. A country-code list from IBAN lists the Lao People's Democratic Republic with alpha-2 code LA, alpha-3 code LAO, and numeric code 418.
| Code type | Laos code | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 | LA | Two-letter country code |
| ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 | LAO | Three-letter country code |
| ISO 3166-1 numeric | 418 | Three-digit country code |
| Internet ccTLD | .la | Country-code top-level domain |
Use these codes only in the right context. For example, LA is correct for an ISO alpha-2 country field, but it is not the international telephone calling code. LAO is correct for an ISO alpha-3 country field, but it is not the currency code.
The Formal Country Name Behind the Codes
In everyday English, the country is usually called Laos. In formal standards and many official lists, the name appears as the Lao People's Democratic Republic. This is why you may see Laos, Lao PDR, and Lao People's Democratic Republic used in different systems for the same country.
The alpha-3 code LAO is connected to the formal country name and is easy to recognize because it follows the word Lao. In technical systems, prioritize the required code format over the display name. A form may show Laos to users but store LA, LAO, or 418 in the database.
What Each Laos ISO Code Is Used For
LA, LAO, and 418 all identify Laos, but they are not interchangeable in every field. The right choice depends on whether the field asks for an alpha-2, alpha-3, or numeric country code.
Alpha-2 Code LA
LA is the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code for Laos. If a system asks for the Laos two letter country code, LA is the value to enter.
Alpha-2 codes are common in website settings, country selectors, shipping forms, domain-related systems, regional settings, and many APIs. They are short and widely recognized by software, which makes them useful for compact country fields.
Context matters. In ordinary conversation, LA may be understood as Los Angeles or another local abbreviation. In an ISO country-code field, however, LA means Laos.
Alpha-3 Code LAO
LAO is the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 code for Laos. If a form or data specification asks for the Laos three letter country code, use LAO.
Alpha-3 country codes are often easier for people to recognize because they look more like country names. LAO may appear in business integrations, travel-related records, identity systems, and data exchange formats when a three-letter country identifier is required.
Do not assume that every system wants the alpha-3 code. Some platforms require alpha-2 codes, while others use numeric identifiers. Always follow the field label or provider documentation.
Numeric Code 418
418 is the ISO 3166-1 numeric country code for Laos. Numeric country codes are useful in statistical data, multilingual databases, and systems where a language-neutral identifier is helpful.
A numeric code can be easier to process across different scripts and languages because the digits do not depend on an English country name. For example, a dataset can display Laos in English, Lao PDR in another interface, and Lao People's Democratic Republic in a formal report while still matching the same numeric country identifier.
However, the same number can appear in more than one standard. For Laos, 418 is also associated with the Lao kip in currency-code contexts. That does not make the country numeric code and the currency numeric code interchangeable. The field context is essential.
Laos Country Abbreviation and the .la Internet Domain
Many people search for a Laos country abbreviation because they need either the ISO alpha-2 code LA or the .la internet domain. These are related, but they are used in different technical systems.
How LA Relates to the .la Country-Code Top-Level Domain
.la is the country-code top-level domain for Laos. Country-code top-level domains are commonly based on ISO alpha-2 country codes, so the LA country code corresponds to the .la domain.
The IANA delegation record identifies .LA as a country-code top-level domain and lists the Lao National Internet Center under the Ministry of Technology and Communications as the ccTLD manager.
Use .la when you are talking about the internet domain space for Laos. Use LA when a system asks for the ISO alpha-2 country code.
Why .la Can Be Marketed Beyond Laos
You may see .la marketed or used outside Laos because the letters LA can suggest other meanings in branding. Some websites may choose .la for names, initials, or location-based marketing outside the country.
This marketing use does not change the technical assignment. In official DNS terms, .la remains the country-code top-level domain for Laos. It is not a generic top-level domain or an official city domain simply because it can be used creatively in branding.
Other Laos Codes That People Confuse With ISO Codes
Several Laos-related codes look similar or appear in nearby fields. The most important ones to separate from ISO country codes are the telephone calling code, the currency code, and the Olympic code.
Telephone Calling Code +856
+856 is the international telephone calling code for Laos. Countrycode.org lists the Laos telephone code as 856 for calling Laos from another country, and this is separate from ISO country identifiers. See Countrycode.org for the calling-code context.
Use +856 when dialing or storing a Laos phone number. Use LA or LAO when a system asks for an ISO country code. For example, a contact form might store a phone number beginning with +856 while also storing the country as LA in a separate country field.
Currency Code LAK
LAK is the ISO 4217 currency code for the Lao kip. It identifies a currency, not the country itself.
This distinction matters in payments, invoices, expense systems, and financial data. If a payment form asks for a country code, LA or LAO may be correct depending on the format. If it asks for a currency code, LAK is the correct code for the Lao kip.
Be especially careful with the number 418. In an ISO 3166-1 country-code context, 418 identifies Laos. In an ISO 4217 currency-code context, 418 can identify the Lao kip as a numeric currency code. The same digits do not mean the fields are the same.
Olympic Code LAO
The Olympic code for Laos is LAO. For Laos, this matches the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code.
The matching letters can be convenient, but the standards are not the same. IOC country codes are governed by the Olympic system, while ISO country codes are part of ISO 3166-1. For Laos, the value is the same, but you should still follow the code system requested by the form, database, or event record.
When to Use LA, LAO, 418, and .la
The safest way to choose the correct Laos code is to read the field label first. Look for terms such as alpha-2, alpha-3, numeric, ccTLD, calling code, or currency code.
Websites, Locales, and Domain Settings
Use LA when a website, application, or configuration field asks for Laos' ISO alpha-2 country code. This is common in country selectors, locale settings, and regional configuration fields.
Use .la when you are discussing or configuring the country-code top-level domain for Laos. The domain is written with a dot because it is part of the domain name system, while LA is the two-letter country code without a dot.
Locale and regional settings often depend on alpha-2 country codes, but software formats vary. One system may request LA, another may use a longer locale string, and another may ask for the country name. Follow the format required by the specific platform.
APIs, Payments, and Travel Data
Use LAO when an API or data field requests an ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code for Laos. Some travel, identity, and business systems use three-letter country codes because they are readable and compact.
Payment and disbursement systems may contain separate fields for country and currency. Mastercard Developers describes country and currency code fields separately, including three-character country codes and ISO 4217 currency codes.
In practical terms, keep LAO and LAK separate. LAO identifies Laos as a country in an alpha-3 country-code field. LAK identifies the Lao kip in a currency field. Mixing them can cause rejected API requests, incorrect payment records, or inaccurate reporting.
Statistics and Country Data Matching
Use 418 when a statistical dataset asks for the ISO numeric country code or a compatible numeric country identifier for Laos. Numeric identifiers are helpful when matching country records across different languages, spellings, and display names.
For data quality, store both the readable country name and the official code. For example, a dataset can include the display name Laos and the country code 418, or the formal name Lao People's Democratic Republic and the alpha-3 code LAO. This reduces ambiguity when importing, exporting, or merging records.
Common Mistakes When Writing Laos Country Codes
Most mistakes happen when a correct code is placed in the wrong kind of field. The values LA, LAO, LAK, +856, 418, and .la can all be valid, but only for their own systems.
Do Not Mix Up LA, LAO, LAK, and +856
Use this comparison to check the most common Laos code types before entering them into a form, database, or API request.
| Code | System | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| LA | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 | Two-letter country code |
| LAO | ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 | Three-letter country code |
| 418 | ISO 3166-1 numeric | Numeric country code |
| .la | DNS ccTLD | Internet domain for Laos |
| +856 | Telephone calling code | International phone dialing |
| LAK | ISO 4217 currency code | Lao kip |
Each code is correct only in its own system. A phone number field should not receive LAO, and a country-code field should not receive LAK unless the system specifically defines that field differently.
Check Whether a Field Needs Alpha-2, Alpha-3, or Numeric Codes
Before entering a Laos country code, check the field label or documentation. If it says ISO alpha-2, use LA. If it says ISO alpha-3, use LAO. If it says ISO numeric, use 418. If it says calling code, use +856. If it says currency code, use LAK. If it asks for the country-code top-level domain, use .la.
Entering LA where LAO is required, or LAK where a country code is required, can cause failed validation, rejected data imports, or incorrect labels. When accuracy matters, confirm the code values through authoritative country-code lists or the official platform documentation for the system you are using.
Conclusion: The Codes to Remember for Laos
The current ISO country codes for Laos are LA for alpha-2, LAO for alpha-3, and 418 for numeric. The country-code top-level domain is .la, and the formal country name behind many standards is the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Keep these values separate from nearby systems: +856 is the telephone calling code, LAK is the currency code for the Lao kip, and LAO is also used as the Olympic code for Laos. The best rule is simple: read the field type first, then enter the Laos code that matches that specific standard.
Select area
Create a post
Posting is free and no registration is required.