Laos has a GDP of $16.5B compared to $4.75B for Liberia, ranking 139/197 and 163/197 by economy size, respectively.
Laos has $15.9B in government debt (91.4% of GDP), compared to $2.68B (56.5% of GDP) in Liberia.
The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.
| Year | GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|||
| Current $ | Constant $ | Current $ | Constant $ | |
| 1960 | - | - | $190,495,600 | $2,785,350,370 |
| 1961 | - | - | $183,920,900 | $2,853,312,513 |
| 1962 | - | - | $191,861,800 | $2,891,678,327 |
| 1963 | - | - | $200,229,600 | $2,957,448,412 |
| 1964 | - | - | $218,929,100 | $3,109,815,009 |
| 1965 | - | - | $229,260,800 | $3,258,892,895 |
| 1966 | - | - | $244,459,500 | $3,509,914,204 |
| 1967 | - | - | $261,024,300 | $3,746,685,675 |
| 1968 | - | - | $276,820,700 | $3,925,360,308 |
| 1969 | - | - | $306,961,800 | $4,211,459,134 |
| 1970 | - | - | $323,099,700 | $4,492,076,772 |
| 1971 | - | - | $341,543,100 | $4,712,405,513 |
| 1972 | - | - | $368,098,000 | $4,907,522,458 |
| 1973 | - | - | $386,968,300 | $4,796,809,969 |
| 1974 | - | - | $486,955,000 | $5,024,811,956 |
| 1975 | - | - | $577,549,300 | $4,850,521,857 |
| 1976 | - | - | $596,675,700 | $5,108,120,174 |
| 1977 | - | - | $673,010,600 | $5,189,236,333 |
| 1978 | - | - | $717,240,400 | $5,439,161,405 |
| 1979 | - | - | $814,067,900 | $5,616,740,217 |
| 1980 | - | - | $854,711,500 | $5,386,545,754 |
| 1981 | - | - | $846,514,500 | $5,271,448,731 |
| 1982 | - | - | $863,933,200 | $5,143,197,692 |
| 1983 | - | - | $823,374,900 | $5,045,638,801 |
| 1984 | $1,757,142,856 | $2,109,467,955 | $848,478,300 | $4,939,311,263 |
| 1985 | $2,366,666,616 | $2,216,417,220 | $851,296,100 | $4,897,657,154 |
| 1986 | $1,776,842,097 | $2,324,692,155 | $840,964,400 | $4,815,445,174 |
| 1987 | $1,087,273,104 | $2,291,546,871 | $972,800,000 | $4,767,213,639 |
| 1988 | $598,961,269 | $2,245,482,172 | $1,038,300,000 | $4,669,871,991 |
| 1989 | $714,046,821 | $2,564,130,388 | $786,300,000 | $3,424,489,545 |
| 1990 | $865,559,879 | $2,736,044,527 | $384,400,000 | $1,676,942,910 |
| 1991 | $1,028,087,972 | $2,853,600,421 | $348,000,000 | $1,438,394,192 |
| 1992 | $1,127,806,945 | $3,012,256,546 | $223,500,000 | $933,723,839 |
| 1993 | $1,327,748,690 | $3,190,357,918 | $160,400,000 | $625,824,712 |
| 1994 | $1,543,606,345 | $3,450,659,812 | $132,200,000 | $489,630,571 |
| 1995 | $1,763,536,305 | $3,693,284,479 | $134,800,000 | $468,741,927 |
| 1996 | $1,873,671,550 | $3,949,167,184 | $159,400,000 | $525,559,091 |
| 1997 | $1,747,011,857 | $4,220,557,557 | $295,900,000 | $1,084,122,317 |
| 1998 | $1,280,177,839 | $4,388,012,740 | $359,600,000 | $1,411,615,368 |
| 1999 | $1,454,430,642 | $4,708,617,453 | $441,800,000 | $1,718,520,972 |
| 2000 | $1,731,198,022 | $4,981,659,930 | $874,000,000 | $2,210,291,804 |
| 2001 | $1,768,619,058 | $5,268,175,761 | $906,000,000 | $2,274,838,397 |
| 2002 | $1,758,176,653 | $5,579,985,581 | $927,000,000 | $2,360,440,967 |
| 2003 | $2,023,324,407 | $5,918,523,435 | $748,000,000 | $1,648,882,905 |
| 2004 | $2,366,398,120 | $6,294,805,132 | $897,000,000 | $1,692,081,112 |
| 2005 | $2,735,558,735 | $6,742,212,710 | $949,000,000 | $1,781,443,511 |
| 2006 | $3,455,030,061 | $7,323,341,972 | $1,119,000,000 | $1,924,741,223 |
| 2007 | $4,223,152,739 | $7,879,683,724 | $1,373,000,000 | $2,108,270,598 |
| 2008 | $5,446,433,157 | $8,496,261,313 | $1,726,000,000 | $2,258,921,103 |
| 2009 | $5,836,137,330 | $9,133,631,713 | $1,768,000,000 | $2,378,656,131 |
| 2010 | $7,131,771,015 | $9,912,447,860 | $1,998,000,000 | $2,523,749,999 |
| 2011 | $8,750,104,617 | $10,709,275,115 | $2,398,000,000 | $2,730,716,886 |
| 2012 | $10,192,846,339 | $11,568,812,077 | $2,791,614,000 | $2,949,005,327 |
| 2013 | $11,983,252,627 | $12,497,359,667 | $3,177,198,100 | $3,205,193,908 |
| 2014 | $13,279,245,886 | $13,448,654,116 | $3,225,652,000 | $3,227,674,917 |
| 2015 | $14,426,380,126 | $14,426,380,126 | $3,227,075,700 | $3,227,075,700 |
| 2016 | $15,912,501,723 | $15,439,521,179 | $3,398,419,600 | $3,176,896,008 |
| 2017 | $17,071,155,481 | $16,503,694,943 | $3,390,703,400 | $3,254,893,759 |
| 2018 | $18,141,641,090 | $17,534,839,203 | $3,422,754,800 | $3,292,571,599 |
| 2019 | $18,740,561,513 | $18,491,844,276 | $3,319,596,500 | $3,211,334,058 |
| 2020 | $18,981,805,250 | $18,584,864,138 | $3,176,126,300 | $3,115,556,300 |
| 2021 | $18,827,148,531 | $19,054,754,737 | $3,513,049,500 | $3,270,920,146 |
| 2022 | $15,468,785,204 | $19,570,648,222 | $4,001,047,000 | $3,428,189,426 |
| 2023 | $15,843,155,731 | $20,303,702,352 | $4,390,000,000 | $3,588,757,485 |
| 2024 | $16,502,933,121 | $21,168,286,229 | $4,750,000,000 | $3,760,763,574 |
Economic indicators
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross domestic product |
$16.5B
2024 |
$4.75B
2024 |
| GDP rank |
139/197
2024 |
163/197
2024 |
| GDP growth |
4.16%
2023-2024 |
8.2%
2023-2024 |
| GDP per capita |
$2,124
2024 |
$846
2024 |
| GDP per capita rank |
155/197
2024 |
185/197
2024 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$9,788
2024 |
$1,885
2024 |
| Government debt |
$15.9B
2024 |
$2.68B
2024 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
91.4%
2025 |
56.5%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$2,049
2024 |
$478
2024 |
| Government debt per person rank |
118/185
2024 |
167/185
2024 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$2,296
2025 |
$1,418
2025 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
31.2%
2018 |
27.1%
2016 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3%
2018 |
2.9%
2016 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
18.4%
2025 |
22.4%
2025 |
| Consumer prices inflation |
7.8%
2024-2025 |
9.8%
2024-2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
1.21%
2022 |
5.93%
2017 |
| Population |
7954155
|
5829811
|
GDP per capita in Laos vs Liberia
Laos' GDP per capita is $2,124, ranking 155/197, compared to $846 in Liberia, ranking 185/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Laos ranks 133rd at $9,788, while Liberia ranks 187th at $1,885.
| Year | Current $ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|||
| GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | GDP per capita | GDP per capita, PPP | |
| 1960 | - | - | $167.2 | - |
| 1961 | - | - | $157.5 | - |
| 1962 | - | - | $160.3 | - |
| 1963 | - | - | $163.1 | - |
| 1964 | - | - | $173.9 | - |
| 1965 | - | - | $177.6 | - |
| 1966 | - | - | $184.6 | - |
| 1967 | - | - | $192.2 | - |
| 1968 | - | - | $198.6 | - |
| 1969 | - | - | $214.7 | - |
| 1970 | - | - | $220.3 | - |
| 1971 | - | - | $227.1 | - |
| 1972 | - | - | $238.6 | - |
| 1973 | - | - | $244.4 | - |
| 1974 | - | - | $299.4 | - |
| 1975 | - | - | $346 | - |
| 1976 | - | - | $347 | - |
| 1977 | - | - | $381 | - |
| 1978 | - | - | $394 | - |
| 1979 | - | - | $435 | - |
| 1980 | - | - | $443 | - |
| 1981 | - | - | $426 | - |
| 1982 | - | - | $422 | - |
| 1983 | - | - | $391 | - |
| 1984 | $483 | - | $390 | - |
| 1985 | $633 | - | $380 | - |
| 1986 | $462 | - | $364 | - |
| 1987 | $274.7 | - | $409 | - |
| 1988 | $147.1 | - | $424 | - |
| 1989 | $170.4 | - | $312 | - |
| 1990 | $200.7 | $1,012 | $172.9 | $787 |
| 1991 | $231.8 | $1,061 | $177.9 | $793 |
| 1992 | $247.3 | $1,114 | $107.8 | $497 |
| 1993 | $283.4 | $1,176 | $74.4 | $328 |
| 1994 | $321 | $1,265 | $61.5 | $262.6 |
| 1995 | $358 | $1,349 | $62.1 | $254.4 |
| 1996 | $371 | $1,435 | $71.4 | $282.2 |
| 1997 | $339 | $1,528 | $122.6 | $548 |
| 1998 | $243.9 | $1,577 | $134.7 | $652 |
| 1999 | $272.3 | $1,686 | $156.6 | $762 |
| 2000 | $319 | $1,794 | $298.5 | $965 |
| 2001 | $320 | $1,908 | $300 | $987 |
| 2002 | $313 | $2,020 | $299.5 | $1,013 |
| 2003 | $355 | $2,151 | $239.8 | $716 |
| 2004 | $409 | $2,315 | $284.1 | $745 |
| 2005 | $466 | $2,519 | $287.5 | $774 |
| 2006 | $579 | $2,777 | $321 | $815 |
| 2007 | $697 | $3,021 | $374 | $873 |
| 2008 | $886 | $3,271 | $452 | $915 |
| 2009 | $935 | $3,485 | $448 | $939 |
| 2010 | $1,126 | $3,772 | $492 | $980 |
| 2011 | $1,362 | $4,100 | $568 | $1,041 |
| 2012 | $1,564 | $4,781 | $638 | $1,157 |
| 2013 | $1,813 | $5,222 | $711 | $1,360 |
| 2014 | $1,981 | $5,799 | $707 | $1,419 |
| 2015 | $2,121 | $6,086 | $693 | $1,340 |
| 2016 | $2,303 | $6,743 | $715 | $1,490 |
| 2017 | $2,432 | $7,142 | $699 | $1,665 |
| 2018 | $2,545 | $7,487 | $692 | $1,800 |
| 2019 | $2,589 | $7,743 | $658 | $1,900 |
| 2020 | $2,584 | $7,913 | $617 | $1,660 |
| 2021 | $2,526 | $8,080 | $668 | $1,539 |
| 2022 | $2,046 | $8,766 | $745 | $1,692 |
| 2023 | $2,067 | $9,292 | $799 | $1,795 |
| 2024 | $2,124 | $9,788 | $846 | $1,885 |
Spending and national debt comparison
In 2024, Laos' government spending was $2.59B, accounting for 18.4% of its GDP, while Liberia's spent $1.04B, or 22.4% of GDP.
Debt-to-GDP ratio is 91.4% in Laos and 56.5% in Liberia, ranking 34/185 and 93/185, respectively.
| Year | % of GDP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|||
| Government spending | Government debt | Government spending | Government debt | |
| 2000 | 19.9% | - | 15.2% | 489% |
| 2001 | 18.8% | 94.7% | 12.6% | 484% |
| 2002 | 16.6% | 95.3% | 13.2% | 481% |
| 2003 | 16% | 90.1% | 9.85% | 658% |
| 2004 | 13.6% | 80.7% | 12.1% | 543% |
| 2005 | 15.3% | 73.2% | 12.8% | 535% |
| 2006 | 14.7% | 60% | 11.1% | 472% |
| 2007 | 15.1% | 55.9% | 17.2% | 394% |
| 2008 | 16.1% | 51.7% | 21.6% | 233.1% |
| 2009 | 20.1% | 51.8% | 23.7% | 130.9% |
| 2010 | 22.4% | 49.3% | 25.2% | 25.6% |
| 2011 | 20.2% | 43% | 30.1% | 22.7% |
| 2012 | 24.7% | 46.1% | 30.8% | 20.5% |
| 2013 | 24.2% | 49.5% | 27.4% | 20.6% |
| 2014 | 25% | 53.5% | 33.4% | 24.3% |
| 2015 | 25.8% | 53.1% | 37.1% | 24.8% |
| 2016 | 21.1% | 54.5% | 35.8% | 28.6% |
| 2017 | 21.8% | 57.2% | 35.1% | 31.8% |
| 2018 | 20.7% | 60.6% | 32.7% | 37.1% |
| 2019 | 18.6% | 69.1% | 32.3% | 48.6% |
| 2020 | 18.4% | 76% | 35.3% | 58.7% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | 92.9% | 29.8% | 53.3% |
| 2022 | 14.7% | 130.7% | 26.9% | 54.3% |
| 2023 | 16.5% | 115.6% | 27.2% | 58.8% |
| 2024 | 15.7% | 96.4% | 21.9% | 56.5% |
| 2025 | 18.4% | 91.4% | 22.4% | 56.5% |
Government deficit by year
In 2024, Laos' government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $387M, equivalent to 2.34% of GDP. This compares to Liberia's deficit of -$128M, or -2.69% of GDP.
Over the past 25 years, Laos recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Liberia ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Laos posted an annual deficit equal to -2.63% of GDP, compared to deficit of -2.25% of GDP for Liberia.
| Year | Deficit/surplus, % of GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|
| 2000 | -3.58% | -0.08% |
| 2001 | -3.68% | -0.98% |
| 2002 | -2.85% | -1.63% |
| 2003 | -3.89% | 0.39% |
| 2004 | -1.81% | -0.56% |
| 2005 | -2.54% | -0.55% |
| 2006 | -1.48% | 4.42% |
| 2007 | -1.12% | 2.44% |
| 2008 | -1.86% | -2.68% |
| 2009 | -3.1% | -1.39% |
| 2010 | -1.47% | 1.17% |
| 2011 | -1.43% | -4.43% |
| 2012 | -2.34% | -2.86% |
| 2013 | -4.03% | 1.29% |
| 2014 | -3.13% | -4.92% |
| 2015 | -5.57% | -3.74% |
| 2016 | -5.06% | -3.83% |
| 2017 | -5.51% | -7.14% |
| 2018 | -4.46% | -4.7% |
| 2019 | -3.2% | -4.92% |
| 2020 | -5.37% | -4.02% |
| 2021 | -0.67% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 0.06% | -5.33% |
| 2023 | -0.01% | -7.07% |
| 2024 | 2.34% | -2.69% |
| 2025 | -0.87% | -3.47% |
Inflation comparison by year
Over the past 27 years, Laos has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 12.5%, compared with 10.4% in Liberia. In 2025, inflation was 7.8% in Laos and 9.8% in Liberia.
| Year | Inflation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
| 1996 | 19.1% | - | |
| 1997 | 19.5% | - | |
| 1998 | 90.1% | - | |
| 1999 | 128.4% | 2% | |
| 2000 | 8.4% | 5.3% | |
| 2001 | 7.8% | 12.1% | |
| 2002 | 10.6% | 14.2% | |
| 2003 | 15.5% | 10.3% | |
| 2004 | 10.5% | 3.6% | |
| 2005 | 7.2% | 6.9% | |
| 2006 | 6.5% | 9.5% | |
| 2007 | 4.7% | 11.4% | |
| 2008 | 7.6% | 17.5% | |
| 2009 | 0.1% | 7.4% | |
| 2010 | 6% | 7.3% | |
| 2011 | 7.6% | 8.5% | |
| 2012 | 4.3% | 6.8% | |
| 2013 | 6.4% | 7.6% | |
| 2014 | 4.1% | 9.9% | |
| 2015 | 1.3% | 7.7% | |
| 2016 | 1.6% | 8.8% | |
| 2017 | 0.8% | 12.4% | |
| 2018 | 2% | 23.5% | |
| 2019 | 3.3% | 27% | |
| 2020 | 5.1% | 17% | |
| 2021 | 3.8% | 7.8% | |
| 2022 | 23% | 7.6% | |
| 2023 | 31.2% | 10.1% | |
| 2024 | 23.1% | 8.2% | |
| 2025 | 7.8% | 9.8% | |
Balance of trade
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|
|---|---|---|
Current account balance
|
$405M
2023 |
$64.8M
2022 |
| Current account balance ranking |
60/189
2023 |
71/189
2022 |
| Current account balance, % of GDP |
+2.55%
2023 |
+1.62%
2022 |
| Goods imports |
$7.65B
2023 |
$1.53B
2022 |
| Goods exports |
$8.37B
2023 |
$1.03B
2022 |
| Service imports |
$947M
2023 |
$434M
2022 |
| Service exports |
$1.33B
2023 |
$192M
2022 |
| Imports of goods and services, % of GDP |
41.9%
2016 |
n/a |
| Exports of goods and services, % of GDP |
33.2%
2016 |
28.5%
2025 |
Economic freedom indices
The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economic freedom | 51.1 | 48.5 |
| Economic freedom ranking | 156/197 | 170/197 |
| Property rights | 42.5 | 32.8 |
| Government integrity | 23.2 | 24.9 |
| Judicial effectiveness | 12.5 | 22.7 |
| Tax burden | 88.8 | 86 |
| Government spending | 92.9 | 76.6 |
| Fiscal health | 80 | 53.6 |
| Business freedom | 55.3 | 39 |
| Labor freedom | 42.4 | 43.5 |
| Monetary freedom | 52.3 | 70.7 |
| Trade freedom | 68.4 | 57 |
| Investment freedom | 35 | 55 |
| Financial freedom | 20 | 20 |
Economic freedom by year comparison
The Economic Freedom Index for Laos is 51.1, ranking 156/197, compared to 48.5 for Liberia, ranking 170/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.
| Year | Economic freedom index | |
|---|---|---|
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|
| 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 | 48.1 |
| 2010 | 51.1 | 46.2 |
| 2011 | 51.3 | 46.5 |
| 2012 | 50 | 48.6 |
| 2013 | 50.1 | 49.3 |
| 2014 | 51.2 | 52.4 |
| 2015 | 51.4 | 52.7 |
| 2016 | 49.8 | 52.2 |
| 2017 | 54 | 49.1 |
| 2018 | 53.6 | 50.9 |
| 2019 | 57.4 | 49.7 |
| 2020 | 55.5 | 49 |
| 2021 | 53.9 | 49.2 |
| 2022 | 49.2 | 47.9 |
| 2023 | 50.3 | 49.6 |
| 2024 | 50.6 | 49.9 |
| 2025 | 51.1 | 48.5 |
More economic indicators
|
Laos
|
Liberia
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Services, % of GDP |
43.5%
2024 |
42.1%
2024 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
29%
2024 |
23.3%
2024 |
| Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP |
16.8%
2024 |
33.6%
2024 |
|
GNI, Atlas method
|
$15.5B
2024 |
$4.27B
2024 |
| GNI per capita, PPP |
$9,170
2024 |
$1,760
2024 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.77B
2023 |
$600M
2022 |
| Total reserves ranking |
129/177
2023 |
153/177
2022 |
|
Net foreign direct investment
|
-$1.78B
2023 |
-$960M
2022 |
|
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
|
$988M
2024 |
$747M
2024 |
|
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
|
$6.67K
2022 |
$89.8M
2024 |
|
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
|
8.36%
2023 |
3.02%
2023 |
| Poverty at national poverty lines |
22%
2020 |
50.9%
2016 |
|
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
|
29%
2016 |
n/a |
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.