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Fertility & birth rates in Laos and Palau

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has an annual birth rate of 21.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.9 for Palau. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.42 in Laos and 1.91 in Palau — 21.2% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 61.5% in Laos and by 73.5% in Palau — in 1960, it was 6.29 and 7.19, respectively.

  • Laos is ranked 65/196 by birth rate compared to 133/196 for Palau.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 26.1 in Laos — it's 28.5 in Palau.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 81.7 in Laos vs 29.9 in Palau.
  • In Laos, 27% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 21.4% in Palau.

Fertility rate in Laos vs Palau by year

Laos
Palau
1x
Year Fertility rate
Laos Palau
2023 2.42 1.91
2022 2.46 1.93
2021 2.49 1.95
2020 2.54 1.97
2019 2.59 1.98
2018 2.63 1.97
2017 2.69 2.02
2016 2.74 2.06
2015 2.8 2
2014 2.8 2.03
2013 2.87 2.05
2012 2.95 2.01
2011 3.05 1.97
2010 3.14 1.94
2009 3.23 1.94
2008 3.33 1.95
2007 3.44 1.97
2006 3.56 2
2005 3.69 2.02
2004 3.9 1.99
2003 4.02 1.96
2002 4.13 1.92
2001 4.29 1.87
2000 4.43 1.82
1999 4.64 1.91
1998 4.79 2.01
1997 4.96 2.19
1996 5.15 2.39
1995 5.36 2.55
1994 5.6 2.66
1993 5.8 2.73
1992 5.9 2.71
1991 5.99 2.74
1990 6.06 2.88
1989 6.1 2.92
1988 6.16 2.91
1987 6.21 2.93
1986 6.26 2.98
1985 6.33 3.01
1984 6.37 3.08
1983 6.38 3.14
1982 6.37 3.22
1981 6.35 3.28
1980 6.33 3.35
1979 6.31 3.49
1978 6.3 3.74
1977 6.29 4.09
1976 6.29 4.53
1975 6.29 4.9
1974 6.29 5.26
1973 6.28 5.59
1972 6.28 5.9
1971 6.3 6.16
1970 6.31 6.39
1969 6.3 6.58
1968 6.3 6.71
1967 6.31 6.84
1966 6.31 6.93
1965 6.32 7.01
1964 6.31 7.08
1963 6.32 7.12
1962 6.31 7.15
1961 6.31 7.17
1960 6.29 7.19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/palau | CC BY

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Laos was 2.42 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.91 in Palau in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Laos vs Palau population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Laos
Palau
1x
Year Natural population change
Laos Palau
2023 115,359 -10
2022 116,620 -7
2021 115,323 -3
2020 118,609 8
2019 119,797 23
2018 119,986 29
2017 120,515 43
2016 119,978 53
2015 118,723 55
2014 118,103 73
2013 119,845 88
2012 121,324 86
2011 122,863 83
2010 122,516 81
2009 122,174 81
2008 121,042 79
2007 119,980 80
2006 118,602 79
2005 118,165 80
2004 121,888 83
2003 122,158 86
2002 122,110 88
2001 123,847 88
2000 124,201 85
1999 127,255 100
1998 128,409 116
1997 130,388 140
1996 131,142 166
1995 132,241 186
1994 134,201 195
1993 135,295 196
1992 132,417 183
1991 129,523 175
1990 125,297 181
1989 121,044 185
1988 117,050 183
1987 113,005 182
1986 109,266 182
1985 106,047 181
1984 102,318 181
1983 98,178 176
1982 94,058 170
1981 89,963 161
1980 86,548 165
1979 82,852 176
1978 80,604 193
1977 79,149 213
1976 77,575 236
1975 76,725 249
1974 74,652 256
1973 70,513 268
1972 68,095 280
1971 65,959 287
1970 63,896 286
1969 61,595 283
1968 59,567 275
1967 57,763 266
1966 55,494 268
1965 54,268 275
1964 52,482 284
1963 51,056 291
1962 51,244 296
1961 48,992 298
1960 47,575 296

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/palau | CC BY

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +1.51% in Laos and -0.06% in Palau.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.65% in Laos and +0.15% in Palau.

Birth rate in Laos vs Palau by year

Laos
Palau

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Laos Palau
2023 21.3 10.9
2022 21.7 11.1
2021 22.1 11.4
2020 22.6 11.6
2019 23.2 11.9
2018 23.6 12
2017 24.1 12.4
2016 24.6 12.7
2015 25 12.6
2014 25 13.4
2013 25.6 14
2012 26.2 14
2011 26.8 13.8
2010 27.2 13.7
2009 27.6 13.6
2008 27.9 13.7
2007 28.1 13.7
2006 28.4 13.8
2005 28.8 13.9
2004 30.1 14
2003 30.7 14.3
2002 31.2 14.5
2001 32.1 14.5
2000 32.9 14.4
1999 34.2 15.1
1998 35.1 16
1997 36.2 17.5
1996 37.2 19.3
1995 38.5 20.7
1994 40 21.7
1993 41.2 22.1
1992 41.7 21.6
1991 42.2 21.3
1990 42.5 22
1989 42.6 22.2
1988 42.8 22
1987 43 22
1986 43.1 22.1
1985 43.5 22.3
1984 43.6 22.7
1983 43.5 22.8
1982 43.4 22.7
1981 43.3 22.3
1980 43.4 22.8
1979 43.5 23.8
1978 43.8 25.1
1977 44.1 26.9
1976 44.3 28.8
1975 44.4 30
1974 44.4 30.8
1973 44.3 32.1
1972 44.3 34
1971 44.3 35.7
1970 44.3 37
1969 44.2 37.5
1968 44.2 37
1967 44.2 36.5
1966 44.2 37.3
1965 44.3 38.8
1964 44.3 40.5
1963 44.5 42.3
1962 44.6 43.9
1961 44.8 45.3
1960 44.9 46.3

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/palau | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 21.3 in Laos and 10.9 in Palau, compared with 44.9 and 46.3, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Laos Palau
Fertility rate 2.42 1.91
Fertility rate rank 78/196 105/196
Birth rate 21.3 10.9
Birth rate rank 65/196 133/196
Population change due to births and deaths +115,359 -10
Natural population change rank 75/196 158/196
Natural population change rate +1.51% -0.06%
Population growth +1.37% -0.18%
Population growth rank 77/197 175/197
Average age at childbearing 26.1 years 28.5 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 81.7 30
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 131.8 98.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.5 14.6
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27% 21.4%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 51% n/a
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 64.4% 97.2%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.11% 0.09%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2% 1.17%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.52% 1.91%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.9% 2.23%
Life expectancy 69.7 years 69.6 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Laos
Factual

UN forecast
Palau
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Laos Palau
2100 14.8% 14.9%
2099 14.9% 14.9%
2098 14.9% 14.9%
2097 15% 14.9%
2096 15.1% 15%
2095 15.1% 15%
2094 15.2% 15%
2093 15.3% 15.1%
2092 15.4% 15.1%
2091 15.4% 15.2%
2090 15.5% 15.2%
2089 15.6% 15.3%
2088 15.7% 15.3%
2087 15.8% 15.4%
2086 15.9% 15.4%
2085 16% 15.5%
2084 16.1% 15.5%
2083 16.1% 15.6%
2082 16.2% 15.6%
2081 16.3% 15.7%
2080 16.4% 15.7%
2079 16.5% 15.7%
2078 16.6% 15.7%
2077 16.8% 15.7%
2076 16.9% 15.7%
2075 17% 15.7%
2074 17.1% 15.6%
2073 17.2% 15.6%
2072 17.3% 15.6%
2071 17.5% 15.6%
2070 17.6% 15.6%
2069 17.7% 15.5%
2068 17.9% 15.5%
2067 18.1% 15.5%
2066 18.2% 15.5%
2065 18.4% 15.5%
2064 18.5% 15.6%
2063 18.7% 15.6%
2062 18.9% 15.6%
2061 19.1% 15.7%
2060 19.3% 15.7%
2059 19.5% 15.8%
2058 19.7% 15.9%
2057 19.9% 16%
2056 20.1% 16%
2055 20.4% 16.1%
2054 20.6% 16.2%
2053 20.8% 16.3%
2052 21% 16.3%
2051 21.3% 16.3%
2050 21.5% 16.4%
2049 21.8% 16.4%
2048 22% 16.4%
2047 22.3% 16.3%
2046 22.5% 16.3%
2045 22.8% 16.3%
2044 23.1% 16.2%
2043 23.3% 16.2%
2042 23.6% 16.1%
2041 24% 16%
2040 24.3% 16%
2039 24.6% 15.9%
2038 24.9% 15.9%
2037 25.3% 15.9%
2036 25.7% 15.9%
2035 26% 16%
2034 26.4% 16%
2033 26.9% 16.1%
2032 27.3% 16.2%
2031 27.7% 16.4%
2030 28.2% 16.6%
2029 28.6% 16.8%
2028 28.9% 17.1%
2027 29.3% 17.4%
2026 29.7% 17.8%
2025 30% 18.1%
2024 30.2% 18.2%
2023 30.6% 18.5%
2022 30.9% 18.8%
2021 31.3% 19.1%
2020 31.6% 19.2%
2019 31.9% 19.5%
2018 32.2% 19.7%
2017 32.5% 19.9%
2016 32.9% 20.1%
2015 33.2% 20.3%
2014 33.7% 20.3%
2013 34.3% 20.2%
2012 34.9% 20.3%
2011 35.6% 20.6%
2010 36.3% 21%
2009 37.1% 21.4%
2008 38% 21.9%
2007 39% 22.5%
2006 40% 23.2%
2005 40.9% 23.9%
2004 41.5% 24.2%
2003 42% 24.2%
2002 42.5% 24.1%
2001 42.9% 24%
2000 43.2% 24.1%
1999 43.5% 24.8%
1998 43.7% 25.8%
1997 43.8% 26.7%
1996 43.9% 27.5%
1995 43.9% 28%
1994 44% 28.2%
1993 43.9% 28.5%
1992 43.9% 28.8%
1991 43.9% 29.4%
1990 43.9% 30.2%
1989 43.9% 31%
1988 43.9% 32%
1987 44% 33.2%
1986 44% 34.5%
1985 44% 35.4%
1984 44.1% 36%
1983 44.1% 36.7%
1982 44.1% 37.7%
1981 44% 38.9%
1980 43.9% 40.1%
1979 43.8% 41.1%
1978 43.5% 41.9%
1977 43.2% 42.7%
1976 43% 43.4%
1975 42.7% 44.2%
1974 42.5% 44.9%
1973 42.4% 45.6%
1972 42.4% 46%
1971 42.3% 46.2%
1970 42.2% 46.5%
1969 42.2% 47.2%
1968 42.2% 48.4%
1967 42.2% 49.6%
1966 42.2% 50.2%
1965 42.2% 50.3%
1964 42.1% 50.1%
1963 42% 49.8%
1962 41.9% 49.1%
1961 41.8% 48.2%
1960 41.8% 47%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/palau | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 30.2% of the population in Laos and 18.2% in Palau in 2024, compared to 43.9% and 30.2% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Laos and Palau compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/palau | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Laos vs Palau

Laos
Palau
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Laos Palau
2023 112 89
2022 120 121
2021 139 109
2020 132 117
2019 137 84
2018 145 82
2017 154 80
2016 165 80
2015 180 79
2014 193 78
2013 215 85
2012 241 84
2011 267 83
2010 305 96
2009 336 94
2008 374 99
2007 402 98
2006 432 105
2005 458 105
2004 492 106
2003 524 108
2002 550 117
2001 574 118
2000 609 119
1999 638 115
1998 647 119
1997 660 125
1996 682 123
1995 709 111
1994 741 116
1993 751 109
1992 781 113
1991 798 106
1990 834 100
1989 856 93
1988 898 96
1987 930 88
1986 963 92
1985 994 95

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/palau | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 112 deaths per 100,000 live births in Laos, compared to 89 deaths in Palau.

Under-five mortality rates

Laos
Palau

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Laos Palau
2023 3.9% 2.23%
2022 4.04% 2.27%
2021 4.19% 2.3%
2020 4.34% 2.33%
2019 4.51% 2.34%
2018 4.68% 2.32%
2017 4.88% 2.28%
2016 5.09% 2.21%
2015 5.32% 2.14%
2014 5.58% 2.08%
2013 5.86% 2.03%
2012 6.15% 1.99%
2011 6.47% 1.97%
2010 6.8% 1.97%
2009 7.14% 1.98%
2008 7.5% 2.02%
2007 7.88% 2.07%
2006 8.27% 2.14%
2005 8.68% 2.21%
2004 9.08% 2.29%
2003 9.49% 2.38%
2002 9.91% 2.46%
2001 10.3% 2.55%
2000 10.8% 2.65%
1999 11.2% 2.74%
1998 11.6% 2.84%
1997 12% 2.94%
1996 12.5% 3.04%
1995 12.9% 3.14%
1994 13.4% 3.23%
1993 13.9% 3.32%
1992 14.4% 3.4%
1991 14.9% 3.47%
1990 15.4% 3.53%
1989 15.9% 3.6%
1988 16.4% 3.66%
1987 16.9% 3.73%
1986 17.4% 3.81%
1985 18% 3.9%
1984 18.4% 4.01%
1983 18.9% 4.13%
1982 19.5% 4.27%
1981 20% 4.44%
1980 20.6% 4.63%
1979 21.1% 4.84%
1978 21.7% 5.09%
1977 - 5.37%
1976 - 5.7%
1975 - 6.06%
1974 - 6.46%
1973 - 6.85%
1972 - 7.24%
1971 - 7.62%
1970 - 8%
1969 - 8.34%
1968 - 8.65%
1967 - 8.97%
1966 - 9.27%
1965 - 9.58%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1965–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/palau | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.9% in Laos and 2.23% in Palau. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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