Laos in figures

A profile of Laos from official statistics: 19 figures in 4 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in Laos was 7.87 million in 2025, up 1.3% from 2024, and the 102nd highest of 215 countries.

Population7.87 million2025Up 1.3% from 2024The 102nd highest of 215 countries
Population growth rate1.39%2023Down 0.02 percentage points from 2022The 84th highest of 215 countries
Median age, July 1 estimate24.28 years2023, estimatedUp 0.31 years from 2022The 68th lowest of 236 countries
Population aged 65 and over4.5%2023Up 0.1 percentage points from 2022
Population density33.7 inhabitants per km²2024Up 1.4% from 2023
Net migration-10,0032023Unchanged from 2022
5.5M6M6.5M7M7.5M8M20012005200920132017202120252001: 5,521,482 persons2002: 5,610,889 persons2003: 5,697,945 persons2004: 5,781,626 persons2005: 5,869,523 persons2006: 5,963,200 persons2007: 6,056,236 persons2008: 6,148,969 persons2009: 6,241,642 persons2010: 6,334,194 persons2011: 6,426,590 persons2012: 6,518,978 persons2013: 6,611,385 persons2014: 6,703,172 persons2015: 6,801,645 persons2016: 6,908,802 persons2017: 7,018,147 persons2018: 7,128,045 persons2019: 7,237,636 persons2020: 7,346,533 persons2021: 7,453,194 persons2022: 7,559,007 persons2023: 7,664,993 persons2024: 7,769,819 persons2025: 7,873,046 persons
Population, 2001 to 2025. persons. Source: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL).

Sources: World Bank, Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL); World Bank, Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW); United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded; World Bank, Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS); World Bank, Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST); World Bank, Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in Laos was 1.21% in 2022, not compared with 2021 because the series has a break.

Unemployment rate1.21%2022, series breakSeries break, not compared with 2021
Poverty rate at the national poverty line15%2024No 2023 figure to compare
Labor force participation rate, ages 15 and over66.1%2025Up 0.1 percentage points from 2024
Gini index (World Bank, income or consumption)34.72024No 2023 figure to compare
0123420032010201720222003: 1.68 %2010: 0.71 %2017: 3.27 %2022: 1.21 %
Unemployment rate, 2003 to 2022. %. Source: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT).

Sources: International Labour Organization, Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT); World Bank, Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS); World Bank, Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines, % of population (SI.POV.NAHC); World Bank, Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS); World Bank, Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

GDP (US dollars) in Laos was $18.3 billion in 2025, up 10.9% from 2024, and the 63rd lowest of 199 countries in 2024.

05,00010K15K20K20012005200920132017202120252001: 1,768.6 USD million2002: 1,758.2 USD million2003: 2,023.3 USD million2004: 2,366.4 USD million2005: 2,735.6 USD million2006: 3,455 USD million2007: 4,223.2 USD million2008: 5,446.4 USD million2009: 5,836.1 USD million2010: 7,131.8 USD million2011: 8,750.1 USD million2012: 10,192.8 USD million2013: 11,983.3 USD million2014: 13,279.2 USD million2015: 14,426.4 USD million2016: 15,912.5 USD million2017: 17,071.2 USD million2018: 18,141.6 USD million2019: 18,740.6 USD million2020: 18,981.8 USD million2021: 18,827.1 USD million2022: 15,468.8 USD million2023: 15,843.2 USD million2024: 16,502.9 USD million2025: 18,303 USD million
Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars, 2001 to 2025. USD million. Source: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD).

Sources: World Bank, GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD); World Bank, GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD); World Bank, GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG); World Bank, GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD). Economy statistics and rankings

Health

Life expectancy in Laos was 68.96 years in 2023, up 0.25 years from 2022, and the 59th lowest of 215 countries.

Life expectancy at birth68.96 years2023Up 0.25 years from 2022The 59th lowest of 215 countries
Infant mortality rate27.2 per 1,000 live births2024Down 1 per 1,000 live births from 2023The 53rd highest of 195 countries
Adult obesity rate, age-standardized9.2%2024Up 0.5 percentage points from 2023The 22nd lowest of 199 countries
Tobacco use, age-standardized26.1%2023Down 0.7 percentage points from 2022
57.56062.56567.57019992003200720112015201920231999: 57.87 years2000: 58.32 years2001: 58.89 years2002: 59.3 years2003: 59.64 years2004: 60.08 years2005: 60.69 years2006: 61.07 years2007: 61.69 years2008: 62.25 years2009: 63.02 years2010: 63.69 years2011: 64.51 years2012: 65.13 years2013: 65.72 years2014: 66.35 years2015: 66.69 years2016: 67.01 years2017: 67.35 years2018: 67.59 years2019: 67.91 years2020: 68.34 years2021: 67.81 years2022: 68.72 years2023: 68.96 years
Life expectancy at birth, 1999 to 2023. years. Source: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN).

Sources: World Bank, Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN); World Bank, Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A); World Health Organization, Age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use among persons 15 years and older (%), both sexes (M_Est_tob_curr_std). Health statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  2. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  3. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024, Online Edition. Median age on 1 July, modelled estimates 1950 to 2023; projections excluded. Modelled estimate. https://population.un.org/wpp/assets/Excel%20Files/1_Indicator%20(Standard)/CSV_FILES/WPP2024_Demographic_Indicators_Medium.csv.gz. Retrieved 2026-10-10. CC BY 3.0 IGO.
  4. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population ages 65 and above, % of total population (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  5. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population density, people per km² of land area (EN.POP.DNST). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.POP.DNST. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  6. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Net migration (SM.POP.NETM). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SM.POP.NETM. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  7. International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT. Unemployment rate by sex and age, total, 15 and over, annual (DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT). https://data.ilo.org/vis?df%5Bds%5D=ds-production&df%5Bid%5D=DF_UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_RT&df%5Bag%5D=ILO (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  8. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Employment to population ratio, 15+, total, %, modeled ILO estimate (SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.EMP.TOTL.SP.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  9. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines, % of population (SI.POV.NAHC). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC. Retrieved 2026-10-12. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  10. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Labor force participation rate, total, % of total population ages 15+, modeled ILO estimate (SL.TLF.CACT.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  11. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Gini index (SI.POV.GINI). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  12. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP, current US$ (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  13. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  14. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP growth, annual % (NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  15. World Bank, World Development Indicators. GDP per capita, PPP (current international $) (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  16. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Life expectancy at birth, total, years (SP.DYN.LE00.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  17. World Bank, World Development Indicators, modelled estimate. Mortality rate, infant, per 1,000 live births (SP.DYN.IMRT.IN). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.IMRT.IN. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  18. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of obesity among adults (18+ years), both sexes (NCD_BMI_30A) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/C6262EC/BEFA58B (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.
  19. World Health Organization, data.who.int. Age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use among persons 15 years and older (%), both sexes (M_Est_tob_curr_std) [Indicator]. https://data.who.int/indicators/i/847662C/75DDA77 (Accessed on 2026-10-12). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. No changes made to source values. WHO does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.

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