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The People's Republic of Laos, which gained independence from France in 1950, is a lovely part of Southeast Asia, mountainous in the north, tropical in climate and in places densely forested. From ancient times it has known the political and cultural influences of its neighbours-the Chinese in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, India from the 8th century. The Lao people invaded this part of the world in the 11th century, when it was part of the Khmer Angkor Empire, and around 1349 established the country of Laos. Many ethnic groups rallied to fight off invaders, coming eventually, however, under the dominance of Siam, which was ousted by the French in the 19th century. The French departed in the 1950s, leaving the influence of their language and cuisine. The major religions practiced in Laos are Buddhism and Confucianism, with Animism and a small number of Christians also in place. The official language is Lao, with many tribal languages, plus French, English and Vietnamese, also spoken. Over two-fifths of the total population is under the age of fifteen. Half the population lives in the lowlands, cultivating rice, and a fifth of Lao people live in the cities.