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Economy of Laos vs Singapore compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has a GDP of $16.5B compared to $547B for Singapore, ranking 139/197 and 27/197 by economy size, respectively.

Laos has $15.9B in government debt (91.4% of GDP), compared to $954B (174.9% of GDP) in Singapore.

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 $
Singapore
GDP, current $

GDP, constant 2015 $
Year GDP
Laos Singapore
Current $ Constant $ Current $ Constant $
1960 - - $704,751,700 $5,946,720,492
1961 - - $764,629,788 $6,430,636,626
1962 - - $826,239,212 $6,916,371,175
1963 - - $917,608,012 $7,610,786,827
1964 - - $894,153,311 $7,374,611,314
1965 - - $974,644,096 $7,952,357,573
1966 - - $1,096,425,608 $8,761,915,153
1967 - - $1,238,035,816 $9,857,909,188
1968 - - $1,425,706,091 $11,191,387,995
1969 - - $1,659,893,768 $12,739,585,038
1970 - - $1,920,574,150 $14,515,738,367
1971 - - $2,263,785,444 $16,317,640,427
1972 - - $2,721,440,981 $18,490,426,054
1973 - - $3,696,213,333 $20,450,966,487
1974 - - $5,221,534,956 $21,702,034,804
1975 - - $5,633,673,930 $22,567,672,249
1976 - - $6,327,077,974 $24,246,067,681
1977 - - $6,618,585,074 $25,907,515,502
1978 - - $7,517,176,355 $27,922,390,122
1979 - - $9,296,921,724 $30,590,220,574
1980 - - $11,896,256,783 $33,683,923,408
1981 - - $14,175,228,844 $37,327,150,728
1982 - - $16,084,252,378 $39,978,179,041
1983 - - $17,784,112,150 $43,398,105,213
1984 $1,757,142,856 $2,109,467,955 $19,749,361,098 $47,213,790,846
1985 $2,366,666,616 $2,216,417,220 $19,156,532,746 $46,919,789,791
1986 $1,776,842,097 $2,324,692,155 $18,586,746,057 $47,549,833,615
1987 $1,087,273,104 $2,291,546,871 $20,919,215,578 $52,684,232,539
1988 $598,961,269 $2,245,482,172 $25,371,462,488 $58,618,369,611
1989 $714,046,821 $2,564,130,388 $30,465,364,739 $64,573,309,330
1990 $865,559,879 $2,736,044,527 $36,144,336,769 $70,914,989,180
1991 $1,028,087,972 $2,853,600,421 $45,466,164,978 $75,658,065,572
1992 $1,127,806,945 $3,012,256,546 $52,131,320,033 $80,681,614,024
1993 $1,327,748,690 $3,190,357,918 $60,603,815,716 $89,927,445,311
1994 $1,543,606,345 $3,450,659,812 $73,688,724,431 $99,905,515,247
1995 $1,763,536,305 $3,693,284,479 $87,812,540,788 $107,074,136,708
1996 $1,873,671,550 $3,949,167,184 $96,293,086,513 $115,074,063,972
1997 $1,747,011,857 $4,220,557,557 $100,123,787,215 $124,643,863,764
1998 $1,280,177,839 $4,388,012,740 $85,728,207,782 $121,912,898,005
1999 $1,454,430,642 $4,708,617,453 $86,286,849,755 $128,884,330,733
2000 $1,731,198,022 $4,981,659,930 $96,076,539,926 $140,533,304,239
2001 $1,768,619,058 $5,268,175,761 $89,793,790,670 $139,028,385,431
2002 $1,758,176,653 $5,579,985,581 $92,538,372,870 $144,482,970,560
2003 $2,023,324,407 $5,918,523,435 $97,646,401,096 $151,054,425,109
2004 $2,366,398,120 $6,294,805,132 $115,033,593,101 $166,069,208,808
2005 $2,735,558,735 $6,742,212,710 $127,807,848,728 $178,302,402,124
2006 $3,455,030,061 $7,323,341,972 $148,627,286,361 $194,361,682,396
2007 $4,223,152,739 $7,879,683,724 $180,941,701,358 $211,896,059,498
2008 $5,446,433,157 $8,496,261,313 $193,617,323,539 $215,844,707,508
2009 $5,836,137,330 $9,133,631,713 $194,150,283,772 $216,120,888,113
2010 $7,131,771,015 $9,912,447,860 $239,807,980,591 $247,501,100,140
2011 $8,750,104,617 $10,709,275,115 $279,356,499,090 $262,883,130,580
2012 $10,192,846,339 $11,568,812,077 $295,092,888,077 $274,543,305,512
2013 $11,983,252,627 $12,497,359,667 $307,576,360,585 $287,769,788,882
2014 $13,279,245,886 $13,448,654,116 $314,863,580,758 $299,095,084,829
2015 $14,426,380,126 $14,426,380,126 $307,998,545,269 $307,998,545,269
2016 $15,912,501,723 $15,439,521,179 $319,646,468,521 $319,541,032,495
2017 $17,071,155,481 $16,503,694,943 $343,673,334,902 $333,846,562,290
2018 $18,141,641,090 $17,534,839,203 $377,123,710,561 $345,370,865,383
2019 $18,740,561,513 $18,491,844,276 $376,161,998,830 $349,888,458,531
2020 $18,981,805,250 $18,584,864,138 $349,165,858,545 $336,541,232,521
2021 $18,827,148,531 $19,054,754,737 $436,591,382,250 $369,376,902,515
2022 $15,468,785,204 $19,570,648,222 $509,017,841,147 $384,550,906,479
2023 $15,843,155,731 $20,303,702,352 $505,439,514,078 $391,555,143,382
2024 $16,502,933,121 $21,168,286,229 $547,386,645,892 $408,736,675,577

Economic indicators

Laos Singapore
Gross domestic product
$16.5B
2024
$547B
2024
GDP rank
139/197
2024
27/197
2024
GDP growth
4.16%
2023-2024
8.3%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$2,124
2024
$90,674
2024
GDP per capita rank
155/197
2024
7/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,788
2024
$150,689
2024
Government debt
$15.9B
2024
$954B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
91.4%
2025
174.9%
2025
Government debt per person
$2,049
2024
$158,044
2024
Government debt per person rank
118/185
2024
1/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,296
2025
$55,248
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$638B
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
333,204
2024
Number of billionaires n/a
49
2025
Income share by richest 10%
31.2%
2018
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2018
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
18.4%
2025
16.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
7.8%
2024-2025
2.39%
2023-2024
Unemployment rate
1.21%
2022
2.74%
2024
Population
7954155
6105665

GDP per capita in Laos vs Singapore

Laos' GDP per capita is $2,124, ranking 155/197, compared to $90,674 in Singapore, ranking 7/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Laos ranks 133rd at $9,788, while Singapore ranks 2nd at $150,689.

Laos
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Singapore
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Year Current $
Laos Singapore
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
1960 - - $428 -
1961 - - $449 -
1962 - - $472 -
1963 - - $511 -
1964 - - $486 -
1965 - - $517 -
1966 - - $567 -
1967 - - $626 -
1968 - - $709 -
1969 - - $813 -
1970 - - $926 -
1971 - - $1,071 -
1972 - - $1,264 -
1973 - - $1,685 -
1974 - - $2,342 -
1975 - - $2,490 -
1976 - - $2,759 -
1977 - - $2,846 -
1978 - - $3,194 -
1979 - - $3,901 -
1980 - - $4,928 -
1981 - - $5,597 -
1982 - - $6,078 -
1983 - - $6,633 -
1984 $483 - $7,228 -
1985 $633 - $7,002 -
1986 $462 - $6,800 -
1987 $274.7 - $7,539 -
1988 $147.1 - $8,914 -
1989 $170.4 - $10,395 -
1990 $200.7 $1,012 $11,862 $23,815
1991 $231.8 $1,061 $14,502 $25,530
1992 $247.3 $1,114 $16,136 $27,022
1993 $283.4 $1,176 $18,290 $30,062
1994 $321 $1,265 $21,552 $33,058
1995 $358 $1,349 $24,915 $35,090
1996 $371 $1,435 $26,233 $36,873
1997 $339 $1,528 $26,376 $39,286
1998 $243.9 $1,577 $21,829 $37,560
1999 $272.3 $1,686 $21,797 $39,949
2000 $319 $1,794 $23,853 $43,781
2001 $320 $1,908 $21,700 $43,109
2002 $313 $2,020 $22,160 $45,083
2003 $355 $2,151 $23,730 $48,778
2004 $409 $2,315 $27,608 $54,384
2005 $466 $2,519 $29,961 $58,822
2006 $579 $2,777 $33,768 $64,061
2007 $697 $3,021 $39,433 $68,805
2008 $886 $3,271 $40,009 $67,735
2009 $935 $3,485 $38,927 $66,213
2010 $1,126 $3,772 $47,237 $75,401
2011 $1,362 $4,100 $53,891 $80,052
2012 $1,564 $4,781 $55,548 $82,108
2013 $1,813 $5,222 $56,967 $83,088
2014 $1,981 $5,799 $57,565 $84,555
2015 $2,121 $6,086 $55,646 $87,156
2016 $2,303 $6,743 $57,006 $89,902
2017 $2,432 $7,142 $61,236 $95,744
2018 $2,545 $7,487 $66,882 $103,963
2019 $2,589 $7,743 $65,952 $105,335
2020 $2,584 $7,913 $61,410 $101,518
2021 $2,526 $8,080 $80,056 $132,617
2022 $2,046 $8,766 $90,299 $143,095
2023 $2,067 $9,292 $85,412 $143,786
2024 $2,124 $9,788 $90,674 $150,689

Spending and national debt comparison

In 2024, Laos' government spending was $2.59B, accounting for 18.4% of its GDP, while Singapore's spent $79.4B, or 16.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 91.4% in Laos and 174.9% in Singapore, ranking 34/185 and 5/185, respectively.

Laos
Government spending

Government debt
Singapore
Government spending

Government debt
Year % of GDP
Laos Singapore
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
1990 - - 15.1% 73.5%
1991 - - 15.9% 76.4%
1992 - - 14.5% 79%
1993 - - 14.5% 71.2%
1994 - - 11.7% 70.7%
1995 - - 13.8% 69.8%
1996 - - 18.1% 71.3%
1997 - - 14.5% 70.8%
1998 - - 18.1% 84.6%
1999 - - 15.9% 85.3%
2000 19.9% - 16.1% 82.3%
2001 18.8% 94.7% 18.2% 94.5%
2002 16.6% 95.3% 15.9% 96.3%
2003 16% 90.1% 15.6% 99.1%
2004 13.6% 80.7% 14.1% 95.7%
2005 15.3% 73.2% 12.4% 92.7%
2006 14.7% 60% 12.3% 86.5%
2007 15.1% 55.9% 9.01% 87.8%
2008 16.1% 51.7% 14% 97.9%
2009 20.1% 51.8% 15.9% 101.7%
2010 22.4% 49.3% 10.2% 98.7%
2011 20.2% 43% 9.66% 103.1%
2012 24.7% 46.1% 9.83% 106.7%
2013 24.2% 49.5% 10.9% 98.2%
2014 25% 53.5% 12.6% 97.7%
2015 25.8% 53.1% 14.4% 102.2%
2016 21.1% 54.5% 15.3% 106.3%
2017 21.8% 57.2% 13.6% 107.6%
2018 20.7% 60.6% 13.9% 109.4%
2019 18.6% 69.1% 14% 127.9%
2020 18.4% 76% 24.1% 148.2%
2021 15.7% 92.9% 15.6% 141.7%
2022 14.7% 130.7% 15% 154.3%
2023 16.5% 115.6% 14.8% 172.8%
2024 15.7% 96.4% 14.5% 174.3%
2025 18.4% 91.4% 16.7% 174.9%

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 Singapore's surplus of $24.2B, or 4.43% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Laos recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Singapore ran a deficit in 2 years. On average, Laos posted an annual deficit equal to -2.63% of GDP, compared to surplus of +3.2% of GDP for Singapore.

Deficit/surplus
Laos

Singapore
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Laos Singapore
1990 - 1.97%
1991 - 0.68%
1992 - 2.7%
1993 - 4.36%
1994 - 7.9%
1995 - 4.8%
1996 - 1.98%
1997 - 5.66%
1998 - 2.41%
1999 - 5.2%
2000 -3.58% 4.59%
2001 -3.68% 1.2%
2002 -2.85% 2.23%
2003 -3.89% 0.68%
2004 -1.81% 2.06%
2005 -2.54% 2.56%
2006 -1.48% 2.16%
2007 -1.12% 7.12%
2008 -1.86% 3.59%
2009 -3.1% -0.09%
2010 -1.47% 5.68%
2011 -1.43% 7.96%
2012 -2.34% 7.34%
2013 -4.03% 5.96%
2014 -3.13% 4.6%
2015 -5.57% 2.86%
2016 -5.06% 3.25%
2017 -5.51% 5.24%
2018 -4.46% 3.68%
2019 -3.2% 3.77%
2020 -5.37% -6.73%
2021 -0.67% 1.13%
2022 0.06% 1.21%
2023 -0.01% 3.47%
2024 2.34% 4.43%
2025 -0.87% 3.05%

Inflation comparison by year

Over the past 29 years, Laos has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 15.8%, compared with 1.73% in Singapore. In 2024, inflation was 7.8% in Laos and 2.39% in Singapore.

Inflation
Laos

Singapore
Year Inflation
Laos Singapore Laos Singapore
1996 19.1% 1.38%
1997 19.5% 2%
1998 90.1% -0.27%
1999 128.4% 0.02%
2000 8.4% 1.36%
2001 7.8% 1%
2002 10.6% -0.39%
2003 15.5% 0.51%
2004 10.5% 1.66%
2005 7.2% 0.43%
2006 6.5% 0.97%
2007 4.7% 2.11%
2008 7.6% 6.64%
2009 0.1% 0.59%
2010 6% 2.83%
2011 7.6% 5.25%
2012 4.3% 4.58%
2013 6.4% 2.36%
2014 4.1% 1.03%
2015 1.3% -0.52%
2016 1.6% -0.53%
2017 0.8% 0.58%
2018 2% 0.44%
2019 3.3% 0.57%
2020 5.1% -0.17%
2021 3.8% 2.32%
2022 23% 6.13%
2023 31.2% 4.83%
2024 23.1% 2.39%
2025 7.8% -

Top exports between countries

Laos
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $44.8M
Precious metals & jewellery $40.1M
Raw materials & minerals $24M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.18M
Machinery & equipment $243K
Chemicals & pharma $35K
Raw agricultural goods $27K
Wood & paper products $5K
Singapore
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $28.8M
Chemicals & pharma $24.1M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $6.98M
Raw materials & minerals $1.97M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.55M
Precious metals & jewellery $567K
Miscellaneous $424K
Metals $129K
Raw agricultural goods $117K
Wood & paper products $30K

Balance of trade

Laos Singapore
Current account balance
$405M
2023
$96B
2024
Current account balance ranking
60/189
2023
7/189
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+2.55%
2023
+17.5%
2024
Goods imports
$7.65B
2023
$435B
2024
Goods exports
$8.37B
2023
$583B
2024
Service imports
$947M
2023
$351B
2024
Service exports
$1.33B
2023
$396B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.9%
2016
143.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
33.2%
2016
178.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Laos Singapore
Economic freedom 51.1 84.1
Economic freedom ranking 156/197 1/197
Property rights 42.5 94.3
Government integrity 23.2 86.4
Judicial effectiveness 12.5 58.3
Tax burden 88.8 89.9
Government spending 92.9 92.9
Fiscal health 80 73.9
Business freedom 55.3 90.6
Labor freedom 42.4 77.1
Monetary freedom 52.3 81
Trade freedom 68.4 95
Investment freedom 35 90
Financial freedom 20 80

Economic freedom by year comparison

The Economic Freedom Index for Laos is 51.1, ranking 156/197, compared to 84.1 for Singapore, ranking 1/197. The chart below displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Laos
Singapore
Year Economic freedom index
Laos Singapore
1995 - 86.3
1996 38.5 86.5
1997 35.1 87.3
1998 35.2 87
1999 35.2 86.9
2000 36.8 87.7
2001 33.5 87.8
2002 36.8 87.4
2003 41 88.2
2004 42 88.9
2005 44.4 88.6
2006 47.5 88
2007 50.3 87.1
2008 50.3 87.3
2009 50.4 87.1
2010 51.1 86.1
2011 51.3 87.2
2012 50 87.5
2013 50.1 88
2014 51.2 89.4
2015 51.4 89.4
2016 49.8 87.8
2017 54 88.6
2018 53.6 88.8
2019 57.4 89.4
2020 55.5 89.4
2021 53.9 89.7
2022 49.2 84.4
2023 50.3 83.9
2024 50.6 83.5
2025 51.1 84.1

More economic indicators

Laos Singapore
Services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
73%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29%
2024
21.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
16.8%
2024
0.03%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2024
$451B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$9,170
2024
$126,190
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.77B
2023
$384B
2024
Total reserves ranking
129/177
2023
9/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$1.78B
2023
-$96.7B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$988M
2024
$152B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$6.67K
2022
$55.3B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
8.36%
2023
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
22%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
29%
2016
22.2%
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.