Afghanistan has a GDP of $17.2B compared to $16.5B for Laos, ranking 137/197 and 139/197 by economy size, respectively.
Afghanistan has $1.42B in government debt (8.25% of GDP), compared to $15.9B (91.4% of GDP) in Laos.
The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.
| Year | GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|||
| Current $ | Constant $ | Current $ | Constant $ | |
| 1984 | - | - | $1,757,142,856 | $2,109,467,955 |
| 1985 | - | - | $2,366,666,616 | $2,216,417,220 |
| 1986 | - | - | $1,776,842,097 | $2,324,692,155 |
| 1987 | - | - | $1,087,273,104 | $2,291,546,871 |
| 1988 | - | - | $598,961,269 | $2,245,482,172 |
| 1989 | - | - | $714,046,821 | $2,564,130,388 |
| 1990 | - | - | $865,559,879 | $2,736,044,527 |
| 1991 | - | - | $1,028,087,972 | $2,853,600,421 |
| 1992 | - | - | $1,127,806,945 | $3,012,256,546 |
| 1993 | - | - | $1,327,748,690 | $3,190,357,918 |
| 1994 | - | - | $1,543,606,345 | $3,450,659,812 |
| 1995 | - | - | $1,763,536,305 | $3,693,284,479 |
| 1996 | - | - | $1,873,671,550 | $3,949,167,184 |
| 1997 | - | - | $1,747,011,857 | $4,220,557,557 |
| 1998 | - | - | $1,280,177,839 | $4,388,012,740 |
| 1999 | - | - | $1,454,430,642 | $4,708,617,453 |
| 2000 | $3,521,418,060 | $6,206,547,590 | $1,731,198,022 | $4,981,659,930 |
| 2001 | $2,813,571,754 | $5,621,147,631 | $1,768,619,058 | $5,268,175,761 |
| 2002 | $3,825,701,439 | $7,228,795,919 | $1,758,176,653 | $5,579,985,581 |
| 2003 | $4,520,946,819 | $7,867,263,256 | $2,023,324,407 | $5,918,523,435 |
| 2004 | $5,224,896,719 | $7,978,515,642 | $2,366,398,120 | $6,294,805,132 |
| 2005 | $6,203,256,539 | $8,874,480,196 | $2,735,558,735 | $6,742,212,710 |
| 2006 | $6,971,758,282 | $9,349,921,886 | $3,455,030,061 | $7,323,341,972 |
| 2007 | $9,747,886,187 | $10,642,671,963 | $4,223,152,739 | $7,879,683,724 |
| 2008 | $10,109,297,048 | $11,060,395,116 | $5,446,433,157 | $8,496,261,313 |
| 2009 | $12,416,152,732 | $13,426,272,073 | $5,836,137,330 | $9,133,631,713 |
| 2010 | $15,856,668,556 | $15,354,612,542 | $7,131,771,015 | $9,912,447,860 |
| 2011 | $17,805,098,206 | $15,420,077,666 | $8,750,104,617 | $10,709,275,115 |
| 2012 | $19,907,329,778 | $17,386,490,239 | $10,192,846,339 | $11,568,812,077 |
| 2013 | $20,146,416,758 | $18,360,263,163 | $11,983,252,627 | $12,497,359,667 |
| 2014 | $20,497,128,556 | $18,860,496,494 | $13,279,245,886 | $13,448,654,116 |
| 2015 | $19,134,221,645 | $19,134,221,645 | $14,426,380,126 | $14,426,380,126 |
| 2016 | $18,116,572,395 | $19,566,715,174 | $15,912,501,723 | $15,439,521,179 |
| 2017 | $18,753,456,498 | $20,084,646,751 | $17,071,155,481 | $16,503,694,943 |
| 2018 | $18,053,222,687 | $20,323,499,020 | $18,141,641,090 | $17,534,839,203 |
| 2019 | $18,799,444,490 | $21,118,473,702 | $18,740,561,513 | $18,491,844,276 |
| 2020 | $19,955,929,052 | $20,621,957,125 | $18,981,805,250 | $18,584,864,138 |
| 2021 | $14,259,995,441 | $16,345,202,563 | $18,827,148,531 | $19,054,754,737 |
| 2022 | $14,497,243,872 | $15,325,233,810 | $15,468,785,204 | $19,570,648,222 |
| 2023 | $17,152,234,637 | $15,672,648,238 | $15,843,155,731 | $20,303,702,352 |
| 2024 | - | - | $16,502,933,121 | $21,168,286,229 |
Economic indicators
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$17.2B
2023 |
$16.5B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
137/197
2023 |
139/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
18.3%
2022-2023 |
4.16%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$414
2023 |
$2,124
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
196/197
2023 |
155/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$2,202
2023 |
$9,788
2024 |
| Government debt |
$1.42B
2023 |
$15.9B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
8.25%
2023 |
91.4%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$34.2
2023 |
$2,049
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank |
185/185
2023 |
118/185
2024 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$1,632
2025 |
$2,296
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% | n/a |
31.2%
2018 |
| Income share by poorest 10% | n/a |
3%
2018 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
17%
2023 |
18.4%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
-4.3%
2023-2024 |
7.8%
2024-2025 |
| Central bank interest rate |
6%
2021 |
n/a |
| Unemployment rate |
5.68%
2021 |
1.21%
2022 |
| Population |
44810409
|
7954155
|
GDP per capita in Afghanistan vs Laos
Afghanistan's GDP per capita is $414, ranking 196/197, compared to $2,124 in Laos, ranking 155/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Afghanistan ranks 184th at $2,202, while Laos ranks 133rd at $9,788.
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 1984 | - | - | $483 | - |
| 1985 | - | - | $633 | - |
| 1986 | - | - | $462 | - |
| 1987 | - | - | $274.7 | - |
| 1988 | - | - | $147.1 | - |
| 1989 | - | - | $170.4 | - |
| 1990 | - | - | $200.7 | $1,012 |
| 1991 | - | - | $231.8 | $1,061 |
| 1992 | - | - | $247.3 | $1,114 |
| 1993 | - | - | $283.4 | $1,176 |
| 1994 | - | - | $321 | $1,265 |
| 1995 | - | - | $358 | $1,349 |
| 1996 | - | - | $371 | $1,435 |
| 1997 | - | - | $339 | $1,528 |
| 1998 | - | - | $243.9 | $1,577 |
| 1999 | - | - | $272.3 | $1,686 |
| 2000 | $174.9 | $814 | $319 | $1,794 |
| 2001 | $138.7 | $748 | $320 | $1,908 |
| 2002 | $179 | $927 | $313 | $2,020 |
| 2003 | $198.9 | $967 | $355 | $2,151 |
| 2004 | $221.8 | $972 | $409 | $2,315 |
| 2005 | $254.2 | $1,076 | $466 | $2,519 |
| 2006 | $274.2 | $1,122 | $579 | $2,777 |
| 2007 | $376 | $1,287 | $697 | $3,021 |
| 2008 | $382 | $1,334 | $886 | $3,271 |
| 2009 | $452 | $1,571 | $935 | $3,485 |
| 2010 | $561 | $1,766 | $1,126 | $3,772 |
| 2011 | $607 | $1,744 | $1,362 | $4,100 |
| 2012 | $651 | $1,988 | $1,564 | $4,781 |
| 2013 | $637 | $2,133 | $1,813 | $5,222 |
| 2014 | $625 | $2,224 | $1,981 | $5,799 |
| 2015 | $566 | $2,284 | $2,121 | $6,086 |
| 2016 | $522 | $2,213 | $2,303 | $6,743 |
| 2017 | $525 | $2,336 | $2,432 | $7,142 |
| 2018 | $491 | $2,432 | $2,545 | $7,487 |
| 2019 | $497 | $2,583 | $2,589 | $7,743 |
| 2020 | $511 | $2,562 | $2,584 | $7,913 |
| 2021 | $356 | $2,144 | $2,526 | $8,080 |
| 2022 | $357 | $2,123 | $2,046 | $8,766 |
| 2023 | $414 | $2,202 | $2,067 | $9,292 |
| 2024 | - | - | $2,124 | $9,788 |
Spending and national debt comparison
In 2024, Afghanistan's government spending was $2.91B, accounting for 17% of its GDP, while Laos' spent $2.59B, or 18.4% of GDP.
Debt-to-GDP ratio is 8.25% in Afghanistan and 91.4% in Laos, ranking 181/185 and 34/185, respectively.
| Year | % of GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|||
| Government spending | Government debt | Government spending | Government debt | |
| 2000 | - | - | 19.9% | - |
| 2001 | - | - | 18.8% | 94.7% |
| 2002 | 6.94% | 346% | 16.6% | 95.3% |
| 2003 | 11.9% | 270.6% | 16% | 90.1% |
| 2004 | 15.1% | 245% | 13.6% | 80.7% |
| 2005 | 15.7% | 206.4% | 15.3% | 73.2% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | 23% | 14.7% | 60% |
| 2007 | 21.4% | 20.1% | 15.1% | 55.9% |
| 2008 | 20.9% | 19.1% | 16.1% | 51.7% |
| 2009 | 21.2% | 16.2% | 20.1% | 51.8% |
| 2010 | 20.8% | 7.7% | 22.4% | 49.3% |
| 2011 | 21.9% | 7.5% | 20.2% | 43% |
| 2012 | 25% | 6.76% | 24.7% | 46.1% |
| 2013 | 25% | 6.9% | 24.2% | 49.5% |
| 2014 | 25.4% | 8.7% | 25% | 53.5% |
| 2015 | 25.9% | 9.15% | 25.8% | 53.1% |
| 2016 | 28% | 8.44% | 21.1% | 54.5% |
| 2017 | 27.7% | 8% | 21.8% | 57.2% |
| 2018 | 28.9% | 7.38% | 20.7% | 60.6% |
| 2019 | 28% | 6.14% | 18.6% | 69.1% |
| 2020 | 27.9% | 7.33% | 18.4% | 76% |
| 2021 | 17.9% | 11.1% | 15.7% | 92.9% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | 10.6% | 14.7% | 130.7% |
| 2023 | 17% | 8.25% | 16.5% | 115.6% |
| 2024 | - | - | 15.7% | 96.4% |
| 2025 | - | - | 18.4% | 91.4% |
Government deficit by year
In 2023, Afghanistan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was -$234M, equivalent to -1.36% of GDP. This compares to Laos' deficit of -$1.94M, or -0.01% of GDP.
Over the past 22 years, Afghanistan recorded a fiscal deficit in 17 of those years, while Laos ran a deficit in 21 years. On average, Afghanistan posted an annual deficit equal to -0.97% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.77% of GDP for Laos.
| Year | Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|
| 2000 | - | -3.58% |
| 2001 | - | -3.68% |
| 2002 | -0.1% | -2.85% |
| 2003 | -2.1% | -3.89% |
| 2004 | -2.39% | -1.81% |
| 2005 | -0.92% | -2.54% |
| 2006 | 0.68% | -1.48% |
| 2007 | -2.46% | -1.12% |
| 2008 | -3.86% | -1.86% |
| 2009 | -1.76% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 0.93% | -1.47% |
| 2011 | -0.67% | -1.43% |
| 2012 | 0.18% | -2.34% |
| 2013 | -0.63% | -4.03% |
| 2014 | -1.72% | -3.13% |
| 2015 | -1.38% | -5.57% |
| 2016 | 0.13% | -5.06% |
| 2017 | -0.67% | -5.51% |
| 2018 | 1.63% | -4.46% |
| 2019 | -1.06% | -3.2% |
| 2020 | -2.24% | -5.37% |
| 2021 | -0.48% | -0.67% |
| 2022 | -1% | 0.06% |
| 2023 | -1.36% | -0.01% |
| 2024 | - | 2.34% |
| 2025 | - | -0.87% |
Inflation comparison by year
Over the past 22 years, Afghanistan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 7%, compared with 7.99% in Laos. In 2024, inflation was -4.3% in Afghanistan and 7.8% in Laos.
| Year | Inflation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
| 1996 | - | 19.1% | |
| 1997 | - | 19.5% | |
| 1998 | - | 90.1% | |
| 1999 | - | 128.4% | |
| 2000 | - | 8.4% | |
| 2001 | - | 7.8% | |
| 2002 | - | 10.6% | |
| 2003 | 35.7% | 15.5% | |
| 2004 | 16.4% | 10.5% | |
| 2005 | 10.6% | 7.2% | |
| 2006 | 6.8% | 6.5% | |
| 2007 | 8.7% | 4.7% | |
| 2008 | 26.4% | 7.6% | |
| 2009 | -6.8% | 0.1% | |
| 2010 | 2.2% | 6% | |
| 2011 | 11.8% | 7.6% | |
| 2012 | 6.4% | 4.3% | |
| 2013 | 7.4% | 6.4% | |
| 2014 | 4.7% | 4.1% | |
| 2015 | -0.7% | 1.3% | |
| 2016 | 4.4% | 1.6% | |
| 2017 | 5% | 0.8% | |
| 2018 | 0.6% | 2% | |
| 2019 | 2.3% | 3.3% | |
| 2020 | 5.6% | 5.1% | |
| 2021 | 7.8% | 3.8% | |
| 2022 | 10.6% | 23% | |
| 2023 | -7.7% | 31.2% | |
| 2024 | -4.3% | 23.1% | |
| 2025 | - | 7.8% | |
Top exports between countries
|
Afghanistan
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
|
Laos
|
|
|---|---|
| Export category | Export value |
| Machinery & equipment | $69K |
Balance of trade
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|
|---|---|---|
Current account balance
|
-$3.14B
2020 |
$405M
2023 |
| Current account balance ranking |
157/189
2020 |
60/189
2023 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
-15.7%
2020 |
+2.55%
2023 |
| Goods imports |
$5.88B
2020 |
$7.65B
2023 |
| Goods exports |
$777M
2020 |
$8.37B
2023 |
| Service imports |
$1.11B
2020 |
$947M
2023 |
| Service exports |
$700M
2020 |
$1.33B
2023 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
50.7%
2023 |
41.9%
2016 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
16.9%
2023 |
33.2%
2016 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 53 | 51.1 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 142/197 | 156/197 |
| Property rights | 7.4 | 42.5 |
| Government integrity | 14.1 | 23.2 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 2.7 | 12.5 |
| Tax burden | 91.1 | 88.8 |
| Government spending | 76.1 | 92.9 |
| Fiscal health | 99.9 | 80 |
| Business freedom | 34.6 | 55.3 |
| Labor freedom | 45.1 | 42.4 |
| Monetary freedom | 80.8 | 52.3 |
| Trade freedom | 68.6 | 68.4 |
| Investment freedom | 10 | 35 |
| Financial freedom | 10 | 20 |
Economic freedom by year comparison
The Economic Freedom Index for Afghanistan is 53, ranking 142/197, compared to 51.1 for Laos, ranking 156/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|
| 1996 | - | 38.5 |
| 1997 | - | 35.1 |
| 1998 | - | 35.2 |
| 1999 | - | 35.2 |
| 2000 | - | 36.8 |
| 2001 | - | 33.5 |
| 2002 | - | 36.8 |
| 2003 | - | 41 |
| 2004 | - | 42 |
| 2005 | - | 44.4 |
| 2006 | - | 47.5 |
| 2007 | - | 50.3 |
| 2008 | - | 50.3 |
| 2009 | - | 50.4 |
| 2010 | - | 51.1 |
| 2011 | - | 51.3 |
| 2012 | - | 50 |
| 2013 | - | 50.1 |
| 2014 | - | 51.2 |
| 2015 | - | 51.4 |
| 2016 | - | 49.8 |
| 2017 | 48.9 | 54 |
| 2018 | 51.3 | 53.6 |
| 2019 | 51.5 | 57.4 |
| 2020 | 54.7 | 55.5 |
| 2021 | 53 | 53.9 |
| 2022 | - | 49.2 |
| 2023 | - | 50.3 |
| 2024 | - | 50.6 |
| 2025 | - | 51.1 |
More economic indicators
|
Afghanistan
|
Laos
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
46.4%
2023 |
43.5%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
13.4%
2023 |
29%
2024 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
34.7%
2023 |
16.8%
2024 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$15.5B
2023 |
$15.5B
2024 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$2,210
2023 |
$9,170
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$9.75B
2020 |
$1.77B
2023 |
| Total reserves ranking |
78/177
2020 |
129/177
2023 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
$24.3M
2020 |
-$1.78B
2023 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$20.6M
2021 |
$988M
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$30.8M
2021 |
$6.67K
2022 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
0.25%
2023 |
8.36%
2023 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
47.1%
2019 |
22%
2020 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
15.3%
2023 |
29%
2016 |
GDP per capita map
GDP per capita
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Economy comparisons
The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.
Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.
A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.
Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.
Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.
Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.