Skip to content

Fertility & birth rates in Laos and United States

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has an annual birth rate of 21.3 births per 1,000 people, compared to 10.7 for the United States. The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime — the fertility rate, is 2.42 in Laos and 1.62 in the United States — 33.2% difference.

1960 vs 2023, the fertility rate has decreased by 61.5% in Laos and by 55.8% in the United States — in 1960, it was 6.29 and 3.65, respectively.

  • Laos is ranked 65/196 by birth rate compared to 140/196 for the United States.
  • The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 26.1 in Laos — it's 30.2 in the United States.
  • Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) is 81.7 in Laos vs 13.1 in the United States.
  • In Laos, 27% of the population is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), compared to 22.5% in the United States.

Fertility rate in Laos vs United States by year

Laos
United States
1x
Year Fertility rate
Laos United States
2023 2.42 1.62
2022 2.46 1.66
2021 2.49 1.66
2020 2.54 1.64
2019 2.59 1.71
2018 2.63 1.73
2017 2.69 1.77
2016 2.74 1.82
2015 2.8 1.84
2014 2.8 1.86
2013 2.87 1.86
2012 2.95 1.88
2011 3.05 1.89
2010 3.14 1.93
2009 3.23 2
2008 3.33 2.07
2007 3.44 2.12
2006 3.56 2.11
2005 3.69 2.06
2004 3.9 2.05
2003 4.02 2.05
2002 4.13 2.02
2001 4.29 2.03
2000 4.43 2.06
1999 4.64 2.01
1998 4.79 2
1997 4.96 1.97
1996 5.15 1.98
1995 5.36 1.98
1994 5.6 2
1993 5.8 2.02
1992 5.9 2.05
1991 5.99 2.06
1990 6.06 2.08
1989 6.1 2.01
1988 6.16 1.93
1987 6.21 1.87
1986 6.26 1.84
1985 6.33 1.84
1984 6.37 1.81
1983 6.38 1.8
1982 6.37 1.83
1981 6.35 1.81
1980 6.33 1.84
1979 6.31 1.81
1978 6.3 1.76
1977 6.29 1.79
1976 6.29 1.74
1975 6.29 1.77
1974 6.29 1.84
1973 6.28 1.88
1972 6.28 2.01
1971 6.3 2.27
1970 6.31 2.48
1969 6.3 2.46
1968 6.3 2.46
1967 6.31 2.56
1966 6.31 2.72
1965 6.32 2.91
1964 6.31 3.19
1963 6.32 3.32
1962 6.31 3.46
1961 6.31 3.62
1960 6.29 3.65

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/united-states | 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 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

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

Natural population change by year

Laos
United States
1x
Year Natural population change
Laos United States
2023 115,359 502,372
2022 116,620 399,926
2021 115,323 199,137
2020 118,609 208,862
2019 119,797 887,476
2018 119,986 955,022
2017 120,515 1,028,037
2016 119,978 1,197,627
2015 118,723 1,270,126
2014 118,103 1,357,281
2013 119,845 1,322,711
2012 121,324 1,411,822
2011 122,863 1,441,697
2010 122,516 1,548,182
2009 122,174 1,717,920
2008 121,042 1,794,154
2007 119,980 1,897,757
2006 118,602 1,849,955
2005 118,165 1,684,445
2004 121,888 1,698,271
2003 122,158 1,653,615
2002 122,110 1,581,938
2001 123,847 1,595,826
2000 124,201 1,664,758
1999 127,255 1,564,050
1998 128,409 1,573,857
1997 130,388 1,501,014
1996 131,142 1,510,137
1995 132,241 1,546,031
1994 134,201 1,633,302
1993 135,295 1,717,685
1992 132,417 1,875,328
1991 129,523 1,926,543
1990 125,297 2,026,068
1989 121,044 1,875,826
1988 117,050 1,735,943
1987 113,005 1,720,252
1986 109,266 1,656,917
1985 106,047 1,689,258
1984 102,318 1,627,192
1983 98,178 1,636,544
1982 94,058 1,714,317
1981 89,963 1,652,153
1980 86,548 1,608,450
1979 82,852 1,597,894
1978 80,604 1,402,283
1977 79,149 1,431,556
1976 77,575 1,264,604
1975 76,725 1,252,644
1974 74,652 1,218,968
1973 70,513 1,165,499
1972 68,095 1,301,355
1971 65,959 1,640,519
1970 63,896 1,824,965
1969 61,595 1,702,487
1968 59,567 1,565,507
1967 57,763 1,669,181
1966 55,494 1,749,387
1965 54,268 1,943,030
1964 52,482 2,245,099
1963 51,056 2,289,826
1962 51,244 2,406,337
1961 48,992 2,571,681
1960 47,575 2,565,530

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/united-states | 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 +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +1.65% in Laos and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Laos vs United States by year

Laos
United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x
Year Annual births per 1,000 people
Laos United States
2023 21.3 10.7
2022 21.7 11
2021 22.1 11
2020 22.6 10.9
2019 23.2 11.4
2018 23.6 11.6
2017 24.1 11.8
2016 24.6 12.2
2015 25 12.4
2014 25 12.5
2013 25.6 12.4
2012 26.2 12.6
2011 26.8 12.7
2010 27.2 13
2009 27.6 13.5
2008 27.9 14
2007 28.1 14.3
2006 28.4 14.3
2005 28.8 14
2004 30.1 14
2003 30.7 14.1
2002 31.2 14
2001 32.1 14.1
2000 32.9 14.4
1999 34.2 14.2
1998 35.1 14.3
1997 36.2 14.2
1996 37.2 14.4
1995 38.5 14.6
1994 40 15
1993 41.2 15.4
1992 41.7 15.8
1991 42.2 16.2
1990 42.5 16.7
1989 42.6 16.4
1988 42.8 16
1987 43 15.7
1986 43.1 15.6
1985 43.5 15.8
1984 43.6 15.6
1983 43.5 15.6
1982 43.4 15.9
1981 43.3 15.8
1980 43.4 15.9
1979 43.5 15.6
1978 43.8 15
1977 44.1 15.1
1976 44.3 14.6
1975 44.4 14.6
1974 44.4 14.8
1973 44.3 14.8
1972 44.3 15.6
1971 44.3 17.2
1970 44.3 18.4
1969 44.2 17.9
1968 44.2 17.6
1967 44.2 17.8
1966 44.2 18.4
1965 44.3 19.4
1964 44.3 21.1
1963 44.5 21.7
1962 44.6 22.4
1961 44.8 23.3
1960 44.9 23.7

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/united-states | CC BY

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 21.3 in Laos and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 44.9 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Birth rate data compared

Laos United States
Fertility rate 2.42 1.62
Fertility rate rank 78/196 125/196
Birth rate 21.3 10.7
Birth rate rank 65/196 140/196
Population change due to births and deaths +115,359 +502,372
Natural population change rank 75/196 37/196
Natural population change rate +1.51% +0.15%
Population growth +1.37% +0.49%
Population growth rank 77/197 134/197
Age at first childbirth n/a 27.3 years
Average age at childbearing 26.1 years 30.2 years
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 81.7 11.3
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29 131.8 72.5
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+ 21.5 17.4
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population 27% 22.5%
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49 51% 66.1%
Share of births attended by skilled health staff 64.4% 99.1%
Maternal mortality per live birth 0.11% 0.02%
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age) 2% 0.34%
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age) 3.52% 0.55%
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age 3.9% 0.65%
Life expectancy 69.7 years 79.8 years

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Laos
Factual

UN forecast
United States
Factual

UN forecast
1x
Year Young
Laos United States
2100 14.8% 14.4%
2099 14.9% 14.4%
2098 14.9% 14.4%
2097 15% 14.4%
2096 15.1% 14.4%
2095 15.1% 14.5%
2094 15.2% 14.5%
2093 15.3% 14.5%
2092 15.4% 14.5%
2091 15.4% 14.6%
2090 15.5% 14.6%
2089 15.6% 14.7%
2088 15.7% 14.7%
2087 15.8% 14.7%
2086 15.9% 14.8%
2085 16% 14.8%
2084 16.1% 14.8%
2083 16.1% 14.9%
2082 16.2% 14.9%
2081 16.3% 14.9%
2080 16.4% 14.9%
2079 16.5% 14.9%
2078 16.6% 14.9%
2077 16.8% 14.9%
2076 16.9% 14.9%
2075 17% 14.9%
2074 17.1% 14.9%
2073 17.2% 14.9%
2072 17.3% 14.9%
2071 17.5% 14.9%
2070 17.6% 14.9%
2069 17.7% 14.9%
2068 17.9% 14.9%
2067 18.1% 14.9%
2066 18.2% 14.9%
2065 18.4% 15%
2064 18.5% 15%
2063 18.7% 15%
2062 18.9% 15.1%
2061 19.1% 15.1%
2060 19.3% 15.2%
2059 19.5% 15.3%
2058 19.7% 15.4%
2057 19.9% 15.5%
2056 20.1% 15.5%
2055 20.4% 15.6%
2054 20.6% 15.7%
2053 20.8% 15.8%
2052 21% 15.8%
2051 21.3% 15.9%
2050 21.5% 15.9%
2049 21.8% 16%
2048 22% 16%
2047 22.3% 16%
2046 22.5% 16%
2045 22.8% 16%
2044 23.1% 16%
2043 23.3% 16%
2042 23.6% 16%
2041 24% 15.9%
2040 24.3% 15.9%
2039 24.6% 15.9%
2038 24.9% 15.9%
2037 25.3% 15.9%
2036 25.7% 15.9%
2035 26% 15.9%
2034 26.4% 15.9%
2033 26.9% 16%
2032 27.3% 16.1%
2031 27.7% 16.2%
2030 28.2% 16.3%
2029 28.6% 16.5%
2028 28.9% 16.6%
2027 29.3% 16.8%
2026 29.7% 17%
2025 30% 17.2%
2024 30.2% 17.3%
2023 30.6% 17.6%
2022 30.9% 17.9%
2021 31.3% 18.1%
2020 31.6% 18.4%
2019 31.9% 18.6%
2018 32.2% 18.8%
2017 32.5% 18.9%
2016 32.9% 19.1%
2015 33.2% 19.2%
2014 33.7% 19.3%
2013 34.3% 19.4%
2012 34.9% 19.5%
2011 35.6% 19.6%
2010 36.3% 19.7%
2009 37.1% 19.8%
2008 38% 19.9%
2007 39% 20%
2006 40% 20.2%
2005 40.9% 20.3%
2004 41.5% 20.5%
2003 42% 20.7%
2002 42.5% 20.9%
2001 42.9% 21%
2000 43.2% 21.2%
1999 43.5% 21.3%
1998 43.7% 21.4%
1997 43.8% 21.5%
1996 43.9% 21.7%
1995 43.9% 21.8%
1994 44% 21.9%
1993 43.9% 21.9%
1992 43.9% 21.8%
1991 43.9% 21.7%
1990 43.9% 21.6%
1989 43.9% 21.5%
1988 43.9% 21.3%
1987 44% 21.3%
1986 44% 21.3%
1985 44% 21.5%
1984 44.1% 21.7%
1983 44.1% 21.8%
1982 44.1% 22%
1981 44% 22.1%
1980 43.9% 22.4%
1979 43.8% 22.8%
1978 43.5% 23.2%
1977 43.2% 23.8%
1976 43% 24.4%
1975 42.7% 25.2%
1974 42.5% 25.9%
1973 42.4% 26.6%
1972 42.4% 27.4%
1971 42.3% 28%
1970 42.2% 28.6%
1969 42.2% 29%
1968 42.2% 29.5%
1967 42.2% 30%
1966 42.2% 30.4%
1965 42.2% 30.7%
1964 42.1% 30.9%
1963 42% 31.1%
1962 41.9% 31.3%
1961 41.8% 31.4%
1960 41.8% 31.3%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/united-states | CC BY

Children aged 0-14 make up 30.2% of the population in Laos and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 43.9% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Laos and the United States compared.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/united-states | CC BY

Maternal mortality chart: Laos vs United States

Laos
United States
1x
Year Maternal mortality per 100K births
Laos United States
2023 112 17
2022 120 20
2021 139 31
2020 132 22
2019 137 18
2018 145 18
2017 154 18
2016 165 18
2015 180 17
2014 193 17
2013 215 16
2012 241 16
2011 267 15
2010 305 15
2009 336 15
2008 374 14
2007 402 13
2006 432 13
2005 458 13
2004 492 13
2003 524 13
2002 550 13
2001 574 13
2000 609 12
1999 638 12
1998 647 11
1997 660 11
1996 682 11
1995 709 12
1994 741 11
1993 751 12
1992 781 11
1991 798 12
1990 834 12
1989 856 12
1988 898 12
1987 930 11
1986 963 11
1985 994 11

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/united-states | 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 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Laos
United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x
Year Under 5 mortality rate
Laos United States
2023 3.9% 0.65%
2022 4.04% 0.65%
2021 4.19% 0.65%
2020 4.34% 0.65%
2019 4.51% 0.65%
2018 4.68% 0.65%
2017 4.88% 0.66%
2016 5.09% 0.67%
2015 5.32% 0.68%
2014 5.58% 0.68%
2013 5.86% 0.69%
2012 6.15% 0.7%
2011 6.47% 0.72%
2010 6.8% 0.73%
2009 7.14% 0.75%
2008 7.5% 0.76%
2007 7.88% 0.77%
2006 8.27% 0.79%
2005 8.68% 0.8%
2004 9.08% 0.81%
2003 9.49% 0.81%
2002 9.91% 0.82%
2001 10.3% 0.83%
2000 10.8% 0.84%
1999 11.2% 0.86%
1998 11.6% 0.87%
1997 12% 0.89%
1996 12.5% 0.92%
1995 12.9% 0.95%
1994 13.4% 0.98%
1993 13.9% 1.01%
1992 14.4% 1.05%
1991 14.9% 1.09%
1990 15.4% 1.12%
1989 15.9% 1.16%
1988 16.4% 1.19%
1987 16.9% 1.21%
1986 17.4% 1.24%
1985 18% 1.27%
1984 18.4% 1.3%
1983 18.9% 1.34%
1982 19.5% 1.39%
1981 20% 1.44%
1980 20.6% 1.5%
1979 21.1% 1.56%
1978 21.7% 1.63%
1977 - 1.71%
1976 - 1.79%
1975 - 1.88%
1974 - 1.97%
1973 - 2.06%
1972 - 2.15%
1971 - 2.24%
1970 - 2.32%
1969 - 2.41%
1968 - 2.49%
1967 - 2.57%
1966 - 2.64%
1965 - 2.71%
1964 - 2.77%
1963 - 2.83%
1962 - 2.89%
1961 - 2.95%
1960 - 3.01%

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

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/laos/united-states | CC BY

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 3.9% in Laos and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2021, retrieved 2026-03-10)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.