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Economy of Laos vs Malaysia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has a GDP of $16.5B compared to $422B for Malaysia, ranking 139/197 and 39/197 by economy size, respectively.

Laos has $15.9B in government debt (91.4% of GDP), compared to $297B (70.1% of GDP) in Malaysia.

The chart below compares the two countries' GDP growth in both current (nominal) and constant dollars, accounting for inflation over time.

Laos
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Malaysia
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Laos Malaysia
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 - - $1,916,229,477 $10,075,053,650
1961 - - $1,901,856,123 $10,840,555,622
1962 - - $2,001,489,602 $11,536,630,908
1963 - - $2,510,110,348 $12,383,281,584
1964 - - $2,674,423,922 $13,046,897,051
1965 - - $2,956,337,669 $14,049,533,277
1966 - - $3,143,517,944 $15,147,744,694
1967 - - $3,188,924,677 $15,732,015,397
1968 - - $3,330,371,551 $16,987,114,742
1969 - - $3,664,552,041 $17,817,535,563
1970 - - $3,864,145,667 $18,884,189,212
1971 - - $4,244,395,956 $20,779,153,503
1972 - - $5,043,347,250 $22,729,992,899
1973 - - $7,662,902,678 $25,389,647,919
1974 - - $9,496,204,302 $27,501,726,906
1975 - - $9,298,800,799 $27,722,034,465
1976 - - $11,050,234,599 $30,927,669,086
1977 - - $13,139,488,633 $33,325,509,326
1978 - - $16,358,079,862 $35,542,952,797
1979 - - $21,213,264,962 $38,865,898,972
1980 - - $24,488,224,677 $41,758,231,850
1981 - - $25,004,285,792 $44,657,131,817
1982 - - $26,804,493,635 $47,311,173,245
1983 - - $30,347,442,111 $50,269,176,995
1984 $1,757,142,856 $2,109,467,955 $33,942,897,422 $54,170,965,010
1985 $2,366,666,616 $2,216,417,220 $31,199,633,353 $53,615,577,054
1986 $1,776,842,097 $2,324,692,155 $27,734,111,400 $54,280,729,183
1987 $1,087,273,104 $2,291,546,871 $32,181,210,158 $57,098,947,793
1988 $598,961,269 $2,245,482,172 $35,272,109,220 $62,773,281,162
1989 $714,046,821 $2,564,130,388 $38,847,965,293 $68,460,289,887
1990 $865,559,879 $2,736,044,527 $44,024,585,240 $74,627,553,680
1991 $1,028,087,972 $2,853,600,421 $49,143,148,094 $81,751,102,498
1992 $1,127,806,945 $3,012,256,546 $59,167,550,163 $89,014,784,404
1993 $1,327,748,690 $3,190,357,918 $66,894,966,969 $97,822,746,879
1994 $1,543,606,345 $3,450,659,812 $74,478,356,958 $106,834,219,205
1995 $1,763,536,305 $3,693,284,479 $88,705,342,903 $117,335,045,631
1996 $1,873,671,550 $3,949,167,184 $100,855,393,910 $129,071,719,045
1997 $1,747,011,857 $4,220,557,557 $100,005,323,302 $138,523,307,833
1998 $1,280,177,839 $4,388,012,740 $72,167,498,981 $128,328,802,477
1999 $1,454,430,642 $4,708,617,453 $79,148,421,053 $136,205,126,471
2000 $1,731,198,022 $4,981,659,930 $93,789,736,842 $148,271,359,065
2001 $1,768,619,058 $5,268,175,761 $92,783,947,368 $149,038,923,296
2002 $1,758,176,653 $5,579,985,581 $100,845,526,316 $157,073,594,224
2003 $2,023,324,407 $5,918,523,435 $110,202,368,421 $166,165,798,104
2004 $2,366,398,120 $6,294,805,132 $124,749,473,684 $177,437,551,536
2005 $2,735,558,735 $6,742,212,710 $143,534,405,819 $186,898,768,709
2006 $3,455,030,061 $7,323,341,972 $162,692,258,307 $197,336,779,112
2007 $4,223,152,739 $7,879,683,724 $193,549,569,478 $209,766,600,384
2008 $5,446,433,157 $8,496,261,313 $230,811,614,370 $219,902,039,819
2009 $5,836,137,330 $9,133,631,713 $202,257,453,037 $216,573,759,299
2010 $7,131,771,015 $9,912,447,860 $255,017,638,456 $232,654,030,399
2011 $8,750,104,617 $10,709,275,115 $297,951,668,675 $244,970,531,974
2012 $10,192,846,339 $11,568,812,077 $314,443,047,642 $258,378,881,826
2013 $11,983,252,627 $12,497,359,667 $323,276,235,524 $270,506,469,604
2014 $13,279,245,886 $13,448,654,116 $338,066,095,097 $286,755,041,078
2015 $14,426,380,126 $14,426,380,126 $301,355,266,965 $301,355,266,965
2016 $15,912,501,723 $15,439,521,179 $301,256,033,870 $314,764,917,575
2017 $17,071,155,481 $16,503,694,943 $319,109,094,160 $333,061,328,477
2018 $18,141,641,090 $17,534,839,203 $358,788,845,713 $349,191,778,300
2019 $18,740,561,513 $18,491,844,276 $365,177,721,022 $364,602,265,936
2020 $18,981,805,250 $18,584,864,138 $337,456,163,961 $344,706,479,641
2021 $18,827,148,531 $19,054,754,737 $373,784,823,673 $356,134,704,342
2022 $15,468,785,204 $19,570,648,222 $407,605,841,348 $387,694,727,479
2023 $15,843,155,731 $20,303,702,352 $399,705,137,434 $401,479,163,711
2024 $16,502,933,121 $21,168,286,229 $421,972,102,254 $422,011,432,357

Economic indicators

Laos Malaysia
Gross domestic product
$16.5B
2024
$422B
2024
GDP rank
139/197
2024
39/197
2024
GDP growth
4.16%
2023-2024
5.57%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,124
2024
$11,867
2024
GDP per capita rank
155/197
2024
81/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,788
2024
$38,729
2024
Government debt
$15.9B
2024
$297B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
91.4%
2025
70.1%
2025
Government debt per person
$2,049
2024
$8,353
2024
Government debt per person rank
118/185
2024
63/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,296
2025
$9,650
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$449B
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
19
2025
Income share by richest 10%
31.2%
2018
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2018
2.3%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.4%
2025
23.1%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
7.8%
2024-2025
1.83%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
2.75%
2025
Unemployment rate
1.21%
2022
3.93%
2022
Population
7954155
36304998

GDP per capita in Laos vs Malaysia

Laos' GDP per capita is $2,124, ranking 155/197, compared to $11,867 in Malaysia, ranking 81/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Laos ranks 133rd at $9,788, while Malaysia ranks 60th at $38,729.

Laos
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Malaysia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Laos Malaysia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 - - $240.8 -
1961 - - $232.9 -
1962 - - $238.8 -
1963 - - $291.8 -
1964 - - $303 -
1965 - - $326 -
1966 - - $339 -
1967 - - $335 -
1968 - - $342 -
1969 - - $368 -
1970 - - $380 -
1971 - - $407 -
1972 - - $472 -
1973 - - $701 -
1974 - - $848 -
1975 - - $811 -
1976 - - $940 -
1977 - - $1,092 -
1978 - - $1,327 -
1979 - - $1,680 -
1980 - - $1,886 -
1981 - - $1,866 -
1982 - - $1,938 -
1983 - - $2,124 -
1984 $483 - $2,300 -
1985 $633 - $2,046 -
1986 $462 - $1,760 -
1987 $274.7 - $1,977 -
1988 $147.1 - $2,100 -
1989 $170.4 - $2,244 -
1990 $200.7 $1,012 $2,469 $6,887
1991 $231.8 $1,061 $2,679 $7,583
1992 $247.3 $1,114 $3,141 $8,224
1993 $283.4 $1,176 $3,462 $9,018
1994 $321 $1,265 $3,758 $9,806
1995 $358 $1,349 $4,363 $10,720
1996 $371 $1,435 $4,837 $11,709
1997 $339 $1,528 $4,679 $12,469
1998 $243.9 $1,577 $3,294 $11,398
1999 $272.3 $1,686 $3,528 $11,980
2000 $319 $1,794 $4,084 $13,027
2001 $320 $1,908 $3,944 $13,072
2002 $313 $2,020 $4,184 $13,656
2003 $355 $2,151 $4,465 $14,387
2004 $409 $2,315 $4,939 $15,416
2005 $466 $2,519 $5,556 $16,371
2006 $579 $2,777 $6,158 $17,426
2007 $697 $3,021 $7,169 $18,617
2008 $886 $3,271 $8,372 $19,480
2009 $935 $3,485 $7,191 $18,923
2010 $1,126 $3,772 $8,899 $20,193
2011 $1,362 $4,100 $10,217 $21,324
2012 $1,564 $4,781 $10,601 $22,639
2013 $1,813 $5,222 $10,714 $23,161
2014 $1,981 $5,799 $11,013 $24,307
2015 $2,121 $6,086 $9,649 $24,526
2016 $2,303 $6,743 $9,477 $25,286
2017 $2,432 $7,142 $9,863 $26,416
2018 $2,545 $7,487 $10,902 $27,794
2019 $2,589 $7,743 $10,920 $28,934
2020 $2,584 $7,913 $9,958 $27,475
2021 $2,526 $8,080 $10,903 $29,823
2022 $2,046 $8,766 $11,748 $34,366
2023 $2,067 $9,292 $11,379 $36,417
2024 $2,124 $9,788 $11,867 $38,729

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Laos' government spending was $2.59B, accounting for 18.4% of its GDP, while Malaysia's spent $101B, or 23.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 91.4% in Laos and 70.1% in Malaysia, ranking 34/185 and 55/185, respectively.

Laos
Government spending

Government debt
Malaysia
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Laos Malaysia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 - - 30.5% 74.1%
1991 - - 27.4% 67.3%
1992 - - 28.2% 59.1%
1993 - - 24.6% 51.1%
1994 - - 23.3% 43.7%
1995 - - 22.6% 38.2%
1996 - - 22.4% 32.8%
1997 - - 21.2% 29.6%
1998 - - 23.1% 33.6%
1999 - - 24.6% 34.4%
2000 19.9% - 25.6% 32.5%
2001 18.8% 94.7% 28.2% 38.1%
2002 16.6% 95.3% 27.1% 39.5%
2003 16% 90.1% 28.1% 41.4%
2004 13.6% 80.7% 25.9% 42%
2005 15.3% 73.2% 24.5% 40.8%
2006 14.7% 60% 25.6% 39.7%
2007 15.1% 55.9% 25.9% 39.3%
2008 16.1% 51.7% 26.9% 39.4%
2009 20.1% 51.8% 30.9% 50.4%
2010 22.4% 49.3% 26.6% 51.2%
2011 20.2% 43% 27.1% 51.9%
2012 24.7% 46.1% 28.5% 53.8%
2013 24.2% 49.5% 27.8% 55.7%
2014 25% 53.5% 26% 55.4%
2015 25.8% 53.1% 24.7% 57%
2016 21.1% 54.5% 22.9% 55.8%
2017 21.8% 57.2% 22% 54.4%
2018 20.7% 60.6% 22.8% 55.6%
2019 18.6% 69.1% 23.6% 57.1%
2020 18.4% 76% 25% 67.7%
2021 15.7% 92.9% 24.5% 69.2%
2022 14.7% 130.7% 24.7% 65.5%
2023 16.5% 115.6% 24.9% 69.7%
2024 15.7% 96.4% 23.9% 70.4%
2025 18.4% 91.4% 23.1% 70.1%

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 Malaysia's deficit of -$16.7B, or -3.95% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Laos recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Malaysia ran a deficit in 25 years. On average, Laos posted an annual deficit equal to -2.63% of GDP, compared to deficit of -3.69% of GDP for Malaysia.

Deficit/surplus
Laos

Malaysia
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Laos Malaysia
1990 - 0.15%
1991 - 1.6%
1992 - 1.81%
1993 - 3.44%
1994 - 5.45%
1995 - 3.1%
1996 - 3.27%
1997 - 4.84%
1998 - -0.63%
1999 - -3%
2000 -3.58% -6.05%
2001 -3.68% -4.36%
2002 -2.85% -3.96%
2003 -3.89% -4.6%
2004 -1.81% -3.35%
2005 -2.54% -2.83%
2006 -1.48% -2.6%
2007 -1.12% -2.57%
2008 -1.86% -3.4%
2009 -3.1% -5.88%
2010 -1.47% -4.32%
2011 -1.43% -3.57%
2012 -2.34% -3.1%
2013 -4.03% -3.48%
2014 -3.13% -2.63%
2015 -5.57% -2.55%
2016 -5.06% -2.6%
2017 -5.51% -2.41%
2018 -4.46% -2.64%
2019 -3.2% -2.01%
2020 -5.37% -4.9%
2021 -0.67% -6.03%
2022 0.06% -4.56%
2023 -0.01% -3.97%
2024 2.34% -3.95%
2025 -0.87% -3.36%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Laos has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 15.8%, compared with 2.29% in Malaysia. In 2024, inflation was 7.8% in Laos and 1.83% in Malaysia.

Inflation
Laos

Malaysia
Year Inflation
Laos Malaysia Laos Malaysia
1996 19.1% 3.49%
1997 19.5% 2.66%
1998 90.1% 5.27%
1999 128.4% 2.74%
2000 8.4% 1.53%
2001 7.8% 1.42%
2002 10.6% 1.81%
2003 15.5% 1.09%
2004 10.5% 1.42%
2005 7.2% 2.98%
2006 6.5% 3.61%
2007 4.7% 2.03%
2008 7.6% 5.44%
2009 0.1% 0.58%
2010 6% 1.62%
2011 7.6% 3.17%
2012 4.3% 1.66%
2013 6.4% 2.11%
2014 4.1% 3.14%
2015 1.3% 2.1%
2016 1.6% 2.09%
2017 0.8% 3.87%
2018 2% 0.88%
2019 3.3% 0.66%
2020 5.1% -1.14%
2021 3.8% 2.48%
2022 23% 3.38%
2023 31.2% 2.49%
2024 23.1% 1.83%
2025 7.8% -

Top exports between countries

Laos
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $8.9M
Raw materials & minerals $4.84M
Precious metals & jewellery $1.29M
Wood & paper products $1.15M
Metals $379K
Textiles & consumer goods $323K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $217K
Raw agricultural goods $134K
Chemicals & pharma $81K
Malaysia
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $5.54M
Machinery & equipment $2.7M
Raw materials & minerals $2.22M
Chemicals & pharma $1.74M
Animal & marine products $1.19M
Metals $998K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $632K
Miscellaneous $170K
Wood & paper products $11K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K

Balance of trade

Laos Malaysia
Current account balance
$405M
2023
$7.15B
2024
Current account balance ranking
60/189
2023
25/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.55%
2023
+1.69%
2024
Goods imports
$7.65B
2023
$223B
2024
Goods exports
$8.37B
2023
$248B
2024
Service imports
$947M
2023
$56.4B
2024
Service exports
$1.33B
2023
$53.4B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.9%
2016
66%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
33.2%
2016
71.4%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Laos Malaysia
Economic freedom 51.1 67.1
Economic freedom ranking 156/197 50/197
Property rights 42.5 66.3
Government integrity 23.2 51.1
Judicial effectiveness 12.5 66.2
Tax burden 88.8 83.9
Government spending 92.9 82.1
Fiscal health 80 48.1
Business freedom 55.3 76.6
Labor freedom 42.4 58.1
Monetary freedom 52.3 79.6
Trade freedom 68.4 83.4
Investment freedom 35 60
Financial freedom 20 50

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Laos is 51.1, ranking 156/197, compared to 67.1 for Malaysia, ranking 50/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Laos
Malaysia
Year Economic freedom index
Laos Malaysia
1995 - 71.9
1996 38.5 69.9
1997 35.1 66.8
1998 35.2 68.2
1999 35.2 68.9
2000 36.8 66
2001 33.5 60.2
2002 36.8 60.1
2003 41 61.1
2004 42 59.9
2005 44.4 61.9
2006 47.5 61.6
2007 50.3 63.8
2008 50.3 63.9
2009 50.4 64.6
2010 51.1 64.8
2011 51.3 66.3
2012 50 66.4
2013 50.1 66.1
2014 51.2 69.6
2015 51.4 70.8
2016 49.8 71.5
2017 54 73.8
2018 53.6 74.5
2019 57.4 74
2020 55.5 74.7
2021 53.9 74.4
2022 49.2 68.1
2023 50.3 67.3
2024 50.6 65.7
2025 51.1 67.1

More economic indicators

Laos Malaysia
Services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
53.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29%
2024
37.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
16.8%
2024
8.16%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2024
$415B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$9,170
2024
$37,500
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.77B
2023
$116B
2024
Total reserves ranking
129/177
2023
24/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.78B
2023
-$2.55B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$988M
2024
$15.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$6.67K
2022
$13B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
8.36%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
22%
2020
5.8%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29%
2016
21.9%
2024

GDP per capita map

GDP per capita

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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.