Laos ranked 139/197 by economy size with a GDP of $16.5B and 155/197 by GDP per capita at $2,124. Laos has $16.6B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100.5%.
In 2024, Laos made up 0.01% of the world's economy, compared to 0.01% in 1984.
Laos GDP & GDP growth by year
| Year | GDP | GDP growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,502,933,121 | 4.13% |
| 2023 | $15,843,155,731 | 3.75% |
| 2022 | $15,468,785,204 | 2.71% |
| 2021 | $18,827,148,531 | 2.53% |
| 2020 | $18,981,805,250 | 0.5% |
| 2019 | $18,740,561,513 | 5.46% |
| 2018 | $18,141,641,090 | 6.25% |
| 2017 | $17,071,155,481 | 6.89% |
| 2016 | $15,912,501,723 | 7.02% |
| 2015 | $14,426,380,126 | 7.27% |
| 2014 | $13,279,245,886 | 7.61% |
| 2013 | $11,983,252,627 | 8.03% |
| 2012 | $10,192,846,339 | 8.03% |
| 2011 | $8,750,104,617 | 8.04% |
| 2010 | $7,131,771,015 | 8.53% |
| 2009 | $5,836,137,330 | 7.5% |
| 2008 | $5,446,433,157 | 7.82% |
| 2007 | $4,223,152,739 | 7.6% |
| 2006 | $3,455,030,061 | 8.62% |
| 2005 | $2,735,558,735 | 7.11% |
| 2004 | $2,366,398,120 | 6.36% |
| 2003 | $2,023,324,407 | 6.07% |
| 2002 | $1,758,176,653 | 5.92% |
| 2001 | $1,768,619,058 | 5.75% |
| 2000 | $1,731,198,022 | 5.8% |
| 1999 | $1,454,430,642 | 7.31% |
| 1998 | $1,280,177,839 | 3.97% |
| 1997 | $1,747,011,857 | 6.87% |
| 1996 | $1,873,671,550 | 6.93% |
| 1995 | $1,763,536,305 | 7.03% |
| 1994 | $1,543,606,345 | 8.16% |
| 1993 | $1,327,748,690 | 5.91% |
| 1992 | $1,127,806,945 | 5.56% |
| 1991 | $1,028,087,972 | 4.3% |
| 1990 | $865,559,879 | 6.7% |
| 1989 | $714,046,821 | 14.2% |
| 1988 | $598,961,269 | -2.01% |
| 1987 | $1,087,273,104 | -1.43% |
| 1986 | $1,776,842,097 | 4.89% |
| 1985 | $2,366,666,616 | 5.07% |
| 1984 | $1,757,142,856 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1984–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/laos | CC BY 
Laos GDP per capita by year
| Year | Current $ | |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | $2,124 | $9,776 |
| 2023 | $2,067 | $9,292 |
| 2022 | $2,046 | $8,766 |
| 2021 | $2,526 | $8,080 |
| 2020 | $2,584 | $7,913 |
| 2019 | $2,589 | $7,743 |
| 2018 | $2,545 | $7,487 |
| 2017 | $2,432 | $7,142 |
| 2016 | $2,303 | $6,743 |
| 2015 | $2,121 | $6,086 |
| 2014 | $1,981 | $5,799 |
| 2013 | $1,813 | $5,222 |
| 2012 | $1,564 | $4,781 |
| 2011 | $1,362 | $4,100 |
| 2010 | $1,126 | $3,772 |
| 2009 | $935 | $3,485 |
| 2008 | $886 | $3,271 |
| 2007 | $697 | $3,021 |
| 2006 | $579 | $2,777 |
| 2005 | $466 | $2,519 |
| 2004 | $409 | $2,315 |
| 2003 | $355 | $2,151 |
| 2002 | $313 | $2,020 |
| 2001 | $320 | $1,908 |
| 2000 | $319 | $1,794 |
| 1999 | $272.3 | $1,686 |
| 1998 | $243.9 | $1,577 |
| 1997 | $339 | $1,528 |
| 1996 | $371 | $1,435 |
| 1995 | $358 | $1,349 |
| 1994 | $321 | $1,265 |
| 1993 | $283.4 | $1,176 |
| 1992 | $247.3 | $1,114 |
| 1991 | $231.8 | $1,061 |
| 1990 | $200.7 | $1,012 |
| 1989 | $170.4 | - |
| 1988 | $147.1 | - |
| 1987 | $274.7 | - |
| 1986 | $462 | - |
| 1985 | $633 | - |
| 1984 | $483 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1984–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/laos | CC BY
Laos has a GDP per capita of $2,124, ranking 155/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $9,776, ranking 134/197, and a median annual after tax income of $2,096, ranking 163/197.
Laos GDP rankings by year
| Year | Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 2024 | 134 | 145 | 123 |
| 2023 | 137 | 153 | 128 |
| 2022 | 133 | 153 | 128 |
| 2021 | 119 | 140 | 126 |
| 2020 | 115 | 137 | 124 |
| 2019 | 117 | 137 | 127 |
| 2018 | 117 | 139 | 127 |
| 2017 | 117 | 139 | 129 |
| 2016 | 117 | 139 | 130 |
| 2015 | 123 | 142 | 131 |
| 2014 | 133 | 145 | 131 |
| 2013 | 137 | 148 | 134 |
| 2012 | 140 | 148 | 137 |
| 2011 | 144 | 156 | 140 |
| 2010 | 144 | 160 | 141 |
| 2009 | 144 | 165 | 143 |
| 2008 | 146 | 166 | 145 |
| 2007 | 150 | 167 | 147 |
| 2006 | 149 | 168 | 148 |
| 2005 | 153 | 171 | 148 |
| 2004 | 152 | 175 | 151 |
| 2003 | 154 | 175 | 151 |
| 2002 | 153 | 175 | 152 |
| 2001 | 147 | 173 | 154 |
| 2000 | 148 | 171 | 155 |
| 1999 | 149 | 174 | 157 |
| 1998 | 152 | 181 | 157 |
| 1997 | 148 | 171 | 157 |
| 1996 | 144 | 163 | 156 |
| 1995 | 144 | 160 | 154 |
| 1994 | 140 | 154 | 154 |
| 1993 | 144 | 163 | 153 |
| 1992 | 146 | 168 | 153 |
| 1991 | 149 | 172 | 156 |
| 1990 | 150 | 174 | 154 |
| 1989 | 136 | 163 | - |
| 1988 | 138 | 164 | - |
| 1987 | 128 | 149 | - |
| 1986 | 108 | 123 | - |
| 1985 | 97 | 111 | - |
| 1984 | 105 | 122 | - |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1984–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/economy/laos | CC BY
Compared with 2000, in 2024 Laos is ranked 134th out of 182 by GDP (up from 148th), 145th by GDP per capita (up from 171st), and 123rd by GDP per capita PPP (up from 155th).
Economic indicators
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$16.5B
2024 |
139/197 |
| GDP growth |
4.13%
2023-2024 |
58/194 |
| GDP per capita |
$2,124
2024 |
155/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$9,776
2024 |
134/197 |
| Government debt |
$16.6B
2024 |
105/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
100.5%
2024 |
24/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$2,134
2024 |
119/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$2,096
2026 |
163/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
31.2%
2018 |
45/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3%
2018 |
60/169 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
15.7%
2024 |
180/195 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
23.1%
2023-2024 |
17/195 |
| Unemployment rate |
1.21%
2022 |
187/196 |
| Population |
8004838
|
103/197 |
Government spending, deficit, and debt by year
| Year | % of GDP | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Government spending | Government debt | Government deficit/surplus | |
| 2024 | 15.7% | 100.5% | 2.34% |
| 2023 | 16.4% | 116.5% | -0.01% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | 130.7% | 0.06% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | 92.9% | -0.67% |
| 2020 | 18.4% | 76% | -5.37% |
| 2019 | 18.6% | 69.1% | -3.2% |
| 2018 | 20.7% | 60.6% | -4.46% |
| 2017 | 21.8% | 57.2% | -5.51% |
| 2016 | 21.1% | 54.5% | -5.06% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | 53.1% | -5.57% |
| 2014 | 25% | 53.5% | -3.13% |
| 2013 | 24.2% | 49.5% | -4.03% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | 46.1% | -2.34% |
| 2011 | 20.2% | 43% | -1.43% |
| 2010 | 22.4% | 49.3% | -1.47% |
| 2009 | 20.1% | 51.8% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 16.1% | 51.7% | -1.86% |
| 2007 | 15.1% | 55.9% | -1.12% |
| 2006 | 14.7% | 60% | -1.48% |
| 2005 | 15.3% | 73.2% | -2.54% |
| 2004 | 13.6% | 80.7% | -1.81% |
| 2003 | 16% | 90.1% | -3.89% |
| 2002 | 16.6% | 95.3% | -2.85% |
| 2001 | 18.8% | 94.7% | -3.68% |
| 2000 | 19.9% | - | -3.58% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/laos | CC BY
This chart shows Laos' government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.
Over the past 25 years, Laos recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 2.63% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $2.58B (15.7% of GDP), with a surplus of 2.34%.
The national debt reached $16.6B, ranking 105th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100.5%, ranking 24th.
Inflation rate by year
| Year | Inflation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 31.2% |
| 2022 | 23% |
| 2021 | 3.8% |
| 2020 | 5.1% |
| 2019 | 3.3% |
| 2018 | 2% |
| 2017 | 0.8% |
| 2016 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.3% |
| 2014 | 4.1% |
| 2013 | 6.4% |
| 2012 | 4.3% |
| 2011 | 7.6% |
| 2010 | 6% |
| 2009 | 0.1% |
| 2008 | 7.6% |
| 2007 | 4.7% |
| 2006 | 6.5% |
| 2005 | 7.2% |
| 2004 | 10.5% |
| 2003 | 15.5% |
| 2002 | 10.6% |
| 2001 | 7.8% |
| 2000 | 8.4% |
| 1999 | 128.4% |
| 1998 | 90.1% |
| 1997 | 19.5% |
| 1996 | 19.1% |
| 1995 | 19.1% |
| 1994 | 7.7% |
| 1993 | 5.7% |
| 1992 | 9.8% |
| 1991 | 13.4% |
| 1990 | -26.3% |
| 1989 | 59.7% |
| 1988 | 14.8% |
| 1987 | 6.1% |
| 1986 | 35% |
| 1985 | 114.7% |
| 1984 | 27.2% |
| 1983 | 62.5% |
| 1982 | 70.4% |
| 1981 | 33.7% |
| 1980 | 188.8% |
Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1980–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/economy/laos | CC BY
Over the past 20 years, Laos has had an average annual inflation rate of 7.49%. In 2024, inflation was 23.1%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.
Balance of trade
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
|
Current account balance
|
$531M
2024 |
61/190 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
+3.22%
2024 |
44/190 |
| Goods imports |
$8.66B
2024 |
114/189 |
| Goods exports |
$9.39B
2024 |
100/189 |
| Service imports |
$1.27B
2024 |
140/189 |
| Service exports |
$1.73B
2024 |
111/189 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
41.9%
2016 |
93/181 |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
33.2%
2016 |
100/193 |
Laos top 10 trading partners
Laos' biggest trading partner accounting for 37.3% of all exports and imports is China, with a trade balance between the two of +$201M: Laos exports $2.31B worth of goods and services to China and imports $2.11B.
Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Laos.
| Rank | Country | Trade value | Share of total trade | Export to | Import from | Top export to | Top import from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
China
|
$4.42B | 37.3% | $2.31B | $2.11B | Raw materials & minerals | Machinery & equipment |
| 2 |
Thailand
|
$3.74B | 31.6% | $792M | $2.95B | Raw agricultural goods | Raw materials & minerals |
| 3 |
Vietnam
|
$1.52B | 12.8% | $1.2B | $317M | Raw materials & minerals | Machinery & equipment |
| 4 |
Australia
|
$428M | 3.61% | $347M | $80.7M | Precious metals & jewellery | Machinery & equipment |
| 5 |
United States
|
$303M | 2.56% | $99.2M | $204M | Textiles & consumer goods | Wood & paper products |
| 6 |
Japan
|
$247M | 2.09% | $97.6M | $149M | Textiles & consumer goods | Machinery & equipment |
| 7 |
Singapore
|
$163M | 1.38% | $85.6M | $77.9M | Textiles & consumer goods | Processed food, beverages & tobacco |
| 8 |
Germany
|
$123M | 1.04% | $95.1M | $27.6M | Textiles & consumer goods | Machinery & equipment |
| 9 |
India
|
$108M | 0.91% | $82.9M | $25.3M | Precious metals & jewellery | Machinery & equipment |
| 10 |
Switzerland
|
$106M | 0.9% | $58.9M | $47.6M | Precious metals & jewellery | Precious metals & jewellery |
Top 10 exports
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials & minerals | $2.11B | 92/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $1.6B | 102/188 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $937M | 72/193 |
| Wood & paper products | $786M | 54/192 |
| Precious metals & jewellery | $726M | 72/190 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $534M | 101/192 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $496M | 84/193 |
| Machinery & equipment | $260M | 107/193 |
| Metals | $119M | 118/192 |
| Animal & marine products | $45.5M | 124/192 |
Top 10 imports
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Machinery & equipment | $2.26B | 122/193 |
| Raw materials & minerals | $1.75B | 124/193 |
| Transport & tourism services | $990M | 122/188 |
| Processed food, beverages & tobacco | $691M | 121/193 |
| Metals | $658M | 110/193 |
| Chemicals & pharma | $540M | 131/193 |
| Wood & paper products | $399M | 88/193 |
| Textiles & consumer goods | $365M | 132/193 |
| Raw agricultural goods | $149M | 154/193 |
| Animal & marine products | $115M | 130/193 |
Economic freedom indices
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 50.9 | 157/197 |
| Property rights | 41.1 | 119/182 |
| Government integrity | 25.9 | 141/182 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 10.2 | 164/182 |
| Tax burden | 88.5 | 39/182 |
| Government spending | 92.7 | 13/180 |
| Fiscal health | 80 | 77/181 |
| Business freedom | 54.2 | 127/182 |
| Labor freedom | 40.7 | 170/182 |
| Monetary freedom | 53.3 | 169/180 |
| Trade freedom | 69 | 104/181 |
| Investment freedom | 35 | 140/181 |
| Financial freedom | 20 | 164/181 |
Economic freedom by year
| Year | Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | Judicial effectiveness | Tax burden | Government spending | Fiscal health | |
| 2026 | 50.9 | 10.2 | 88.5 | 92.7 | 80 |
| 2025 | 51.1 | 12.5 | 88.8 | 92.9 | 80 |
| 2024 | 50.6 | 12.2 | 88.8 | 91.2 | 67.1 |
| 2023 | 50.3 | 21 | 89 | 90.1 | 54.6 |
| 2022 | 49.2 | 11.1 | 87.2 | 88.4 | 44 |
| 2021 | 53.9 | 37.6 | 87.1 | 86.8 | 51.1 |
| 2020 | 55.5 | 37.3 | 87 | 86.6 | 53.3 |
| 2019 | 57.4 | 42.5 | 86.9 | 85.3 | 66.5 |
| 2018 | 53.6 | 41.4 | 86.7 | 79.3 | 60.2 |
| 2017 | 54 | 35.9 | 86.1 | 76.6 | 61.2 |
| 2016 | 49.8 | - | 86.1 | 73.8 | - |
| 2015 | 51.4 | - | 86.2 | 86.8 | - |
| 2014 | 51.2 | - | 86.6 | 86.7 | - |
| 2013 | 50.1 | - | 79.7 | 85.8 | - |
| 2012 | 50 | - | 79.8 | 86.6 | - |
| 2011 | 51.3 | - | 79.9 | 90.1 | - |
| 2010 | 51.1 | - | 80.1 | 90.3 | - |
| 2009 | 50.4 | - | 70.6 | 89.7 | - |
| 2008 | 50.3 | - | 71 | 92.1 | - |
| 2007 | 50.3 | - | 70.8 | 92.8 | - |
| 2006 | 47.5 | - | 70.8 | 89.4 | - |
| 2005 | 44.4 | - | 70.9 | 89.8 | - |
| 2004 | 42 | - | 70.6 | 87.1 | - |
| 2003 | 41 | - | 70.6 | 87.9 | - |
| 2002 | 36.8 | - | 66.4 | 91.3 | - |
| 2001 | 33.5 | - | 71 | 81.3 | - |
| 2000 | 36.8 | - | 71.1 | 85.5 | - |
| 1999 | 35.2 | - | 32.5 | 85.7 | - |
| 1998 | 35.2 | - | 32.2 | 85.2 | - |
| 1997 | 35.1 | - | 32.3 | 82.4 | - |
| 1996 | 38.5 | - | 32.3 | 90.2 | - |
Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).
GeoRank.org/economy/laos | CC BY
Laos is ranked 139/174 for economic freedom with a score of 50.9, compared to 145/162 and a score of 47.5 in 2006.
Other economic metrics
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
43.5%
2024 |
164/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
29%
2024 |
62/194 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
16.8%
2024 |
45/193 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$15.5B
2024 |
140/194 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$9,160
2024 |
131/191 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.77B
2023 |
129/177 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$988M
2024 |
120/189 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$988M
2024 |
98/193 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$0
2024 |
150/193 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
13.8%
2024 |
11/121 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
22%
2020 |
86/176 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
29%
2016 |
39/178 |
Compare Laos vs other countries
GDP per capita map
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).
GeoRank.org/economy/laos | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Economy & Growth (1984–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2000–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- TradeMap (2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
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.
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.