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Afghanistan vs Laos statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Afghanistan has a population of 42.6M (ranked 36/197), compared with 7.77M in Laos (ranked 103/197). Afghanistan's land area is 251,827 sq mi versus 89,112 sq mi for Laos (ranked 40th vs. 79th).

By GDP, Afghanistan ranks 137/197 ($17.2B) and Laos ranks 139/197 ($16.5B). By GDP per capita, Afghanistan ranks 196/197 ($414), while Laos ranks 155/197 ($2,124).

Main facts and rankings

Afghanistan Laos
Population
45409324
8004838
Population rank 36/197 103/197
GDP
$17.2B
2023
$16.5B
2024
GDP rank 137/197 139/197
GDP per capita
$414
2023
$2,124
2024
GDP per capita rank 196/197 155/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,202
2023
$9,776
2024
Government debt
$1.44B
2023
$16.6B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
8.8%
2024
100.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$34.8
2023
$2,134
2024
Government debt per person rank 185/185 119/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$1,869
2026
$2,096
2026
Land area 251,827 sq mi 89,112 sq mi
Population density
179 ppl/mi²
2026
89.5 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
4.84
2023
2.42
2023
Median age
18.2 years
2024
25.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
69.7 years
2026

Afghanistan and Laos: Comparison Charts

Afghanistan and Laos economies compared

GDP
Afghanistan

Laos
1x
Year GDP
Afghanistan Laos
2024 - $16,502,933,121
2023 $17,152,234,637 $15,843,155,731
2022 $14,497,243,872 $15,468,785,204
2021 $14,259,995,441 $18,827,148,531
2020 $19,955,929,052 $18,981,805,250
2019 $18,799,444,490 $18,740,561,513
2018 $18,053,222,687 $18,141,641,090
2017 $18,753,456,498 $17,071,155,481
2016 $18,116,572,395 $15,912,501,723
2015 $19,134,221,645 $14,426,380,126
2014 $20,497,128,556 $13,279,245,886
2013 $20,146,416,758 $11,983,252,627
2012 $19,907,329,778 $10,192,846,339
2011 $17,805,098,206 $8,750,104,617
2010 $15,856,668,556 $7,131,771,015
2009 $12,416,152,732 $5,836,137,330
2008 $10,109,297,048 $5,446,433,157
2007 $9,747,886,187 $4,223,152,739
2006 $6,971,758,282 $3,455,030,061
2005 $6,203,256,539 $2,735,558,735
2004 $5,224,896,719 $2,366,398,120
2003 $4,520,946,819 $2,023,324,407
2002 $3,825,701,439 $1,758,176,653
2001 $2,813,571,754 $1,768,619,058
2000 $3,521,418,060 $1,731,198,022
1999 - $1,454,430,642
1998 - $1,280,177,839
1997 - $1,747,011,857
1996 - $1,873,671,550
1995 - $1,763,536,305
1994 - $1,543,606,345
1993 - $1,327,748,690
1992 - $1,127,806,945
1991 - $1,028,087,972
1990 - $865,559,879
1989 - $714,046,821
1988 - $598,961,269
1987 - $1,087,273,104
1986 - $1,776,842,097
1985 - $2,366,666,616
1984 - $1,757,142,856

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1984–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

Afghanistan and Laos economies compared

GDP per capita
Afghanistan

Laos
1x
Year GDP per capita
Afghanistan Laos
2024 - $2,124
2023 $414 $2,067
2022 $357 $2,046
2021 $356 $2,526
2020 $511 $2,584
2019 $497 $2,589
2018 $491 $2,545
2017 $525 $2,432
2016 $522 $2,303
2015 $566 $2,121
2014 $625 $1,981
2013 $637 $1,813
2012 $651 $1,564
2011 $607 $1,362
2010 $561 $1,126
2009 $452 $935
2008 $382 $886
2007 $376 $697
2006 $274.2 $579
2005 $254.2 $466
2004 $221.8 $409
2003 $198.9 $355
2002 $179 $313
2001 $138.7 $320
2000 $174.9 $319
1999 - $272.3
1998 - $243.9
1997 - $339
1996 - $371
1995 - $358
1994 - $321
1993 - $283.4
1992 - $247.3
1991 - $231.8
1990 - $200.7
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/facts/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

Afghanistan vs. Laos life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Afghanistan

Laos
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Afghanistan Laos
2026 66.8 69.7
2025 66.5 69.5
2024 66.3 69.2
2023 66 69
2022 65.6 68.7
2021 60.4 67.8
2020 61.5 68.3
2019 62.9 67.9
2018 62.4 67.6
2017 62.4 67.3
2016 62.6 67
2015 62.3 66.7
2014 62.3 66.3
2013 62.2 65.7
2012 61.7 65.1
2011 61.3 64.5
2010 60.7 63.7
2009 60.2 63
2008 59.7 62.2
2007 59 61.7
2006 58.6 61.1
2005 58.2 60.7
2004 57.8 60.1
2003 57.2 59.6
2002 56.2 59.3
2001 55.5 58.9
2000 55 58.3
1999 54.5 57.9
1998 52.5 57.5
1997 53.2 57.3
1996 52.8 56.8
1995 52.1 56.3
1994 51 55.8
1993 51 55.6
1992 46.6 55.1
1991 45.5 54.7
1990 45.1 54
1989 44.5 53.6
1988 43.2 53.1
1987 38.8 52.6
1986 38.4 52.1
1985 32.1 51.6
1984 31.5 51
1983 36.5 50.5
1982 36.1 49.9
1981 39.4 49.2
1980 39.3 48.6
1979 38.8 47.5
1978 40.1 46.8
1977 41.1 46.4
1976 40.5 46
1975 40 46.1
1974 39.5 45.9
1973 39 44.7
1972 38.4 44.4
1971 37.9 44.1
1970 37.5 43.8
1969 37 43.5
1968 36.5 43.2
1967 36 42.9
1966 35.6 42.3
1965 35.1 42.2
1964 34.7 41.9
1963 34.2 41.5
1962 33.8 42.3
1961 33.3 41.3
1960 32.8 41
1959 32.3 40.7
1958 31.8 41.2
1957 31.3 40.9
1956 30.8 40.6
1955 30.4 40.3
1954 29.7 40
1953 29.5 39.7
1952 29 39.4
1951 28.6 39.2
1950 28.2 38.9

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

Afghanistan and Laos population clocks and comparison

Population
Afghanistan

Laos
1x
Year Population
Afghanistan Laos
2024 42,647,492 7,769,819
2023 41,454,761 7,664,993
2022 40,578,842 7,559,007
2021 40,000,412 7,453,194
2020 39,068,979 7,346,533
2019 37,856,121 7,237,636
2018 36,743,039 7,128,045
2017 35,688,935 7,018,147
2016 34,700,612 6,908,802
2015 33,831,764 6,801,645
2014 32,792,523 6,703,172
2013 31,622,704 6,611,385
2012 30,560,034 6,518,978
2011 29,347,708 6,426,590
2010 28,284,089 6,334,194
2009 27,466,101 6,241,642
2008 26,482,622 6,148,969
2007 25,909,852 6,056,236
2006 25,424,094 5,963,200
2005 24,404,567 5,869,523
2004 23,560,654 5,781,626
2003 22,733,049 5,697,945
2002 21,378,117 5,610,889
2001 20,284,307 5,521,482
2000 20,130,327 5,431,212
1999 19,887,785 5,340,784
1998 19,159,996 5,248,266
1997 18,452,091 5,152,011
1996 17,763,266 5,045,678
1995 17,065,836 4,929,409
1994 16,250,794 4,809,220
1993 14,943,172 4,685,060
1992 13,278,974 4,559,646
1991 12,238,879 4,435,118
1990 12,045,660 4,311,955
1989 11,874,088 4,190,974
1988 11,523,298 4,072,601
1987 11,387,818 3,957,612
1986 11,420,074 3,846,715
1985 11,426,852 3,739,985
1984 11,190,221 3,637,843
1983 10,917,982 3,541,001
1982 10,991,378 3,450,026
1981 11,937,581 3,366,631
1980 13,169,311 3,292,573
1979 13,655,567 3,228,202
1978 13,611,441 3,171,740
1977 13,340,756 3,118,923
1976 13,059,851 3,064,876
1975 12,773,954 3,005,521
1974 12,469,127 2,939,761
1973 12,157,999 2,870,573
1972 11,853,696 2,801,660
1971 11,567,667 2,734,628
1970 11,290,128 2,669,702
1969 11,017,409 2,606,959
1968 10,756,922 2,546,377
1967 10,505,959 2,487,715
1966 10,266,395 2,431,084
1965 10,036,008 2,376,200
1964 9,814,318 2,322,826
1963 9,604,487 2,271,061
1962 9,404,406 2,219,910
1961 9,214,083 2,169,796
1960 9,035,043 2,121,514

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

Fertility rates in Afghanistan and Laos

Fertility rate
Afghanistan

Laos
1x
Year Fertility rate
Afghanistan Laos
2023 4.84 2.42
2022 4.93 2.46
2021 5.04 2.49
2020 5.15 2.54
2019 5.24 2.59
2018 5.33 2.63
2017 5.43 2.69
2016 5.54 2.74
2015 5.65 2.8
2014 5.77 2.8
2013 5.88 2.87
2012 5.99 2.95
2011 6.09 3.05
2010 6.2 3.14
2009 6.3 3.23
2008 6.39 3.33
2007 6.51 3.44
2006 6.69 3.56
2005 6.86 3.69
2004 7.02 3.9
2003 7.17 4.02
2002 7.32 4.13
2001 7.45 4.29
2000 7.57 4.43
1999 7.64 4.64
1998 7.69 4.79
1997 7.73 4.96
1996 7.76 5.15
1995 7.77 5.36
1994 7.77 5.6
1993 7.76 5.8
1992 7.7 5.9
1991 7.63 5.99
1990 7.58 6.06
1989 7.56 6.1
1988 7.55 6.16
1987 7.55 6.21
1986 7.55 6.26
1985 7.55 6.33
1984 7.55 6.37
1983 7.57 6.38
1982 7.6 6.37
1981 7.62 6.35
1980 7.64 6.33
1979 7.61 6.31
1978 7.6 6.3
1977 7.59 6.29
1976 7.56 6.29
1975 7.54 6.29
1974 7.53 6.29
1973 7.49 6.28
1972 7.45 6.28
1971 7.43 6.3
1970 7.4 6.31
1969 7.39 6.3
1968 7.36 6.3
1967 7.34 6.31
1966 7.32 6.31
1965 7.31 6.32
1964 7.3 6.31
1963 7.3 6.32
1962 7.29 6.31
1961 7.28 6.31
1960 7.28 6.29

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

Afghanistan and Laos demographics compared

Median age
Afghanistan

Laos
1x
Year Median age, years
Afghanistan Laos
2024 18.2 25.6
2023 18 25.3
2022 17.8 25
2021 17.6 24.7
2020 17.5 24.4
2019 17.3 24.1
2018 17.1 23.8
2017 17 23.6
2016 16.8 23.3
2015 16.6 23
2014 16.4 22.7
2013 16.2 22.3
2012 16 21.9
2011 15.9 21.4
2010 15.7 21
2009 15.5 20.5
2008 15.3 20
2007 15.2 19.6
2006 15.1 19.2
2005 15 18.9
2004 14.9 18.7
2003 14.9 18.5
2002 14.9 18.4
2001 14.9 18.2
2000 15 18.1
1999 15.1 18
1998 15.2 18
1997 15.3 18
1996 15.5 17.9
1995 15.6 17.9
1994 15.7 17.9
1993 15.8 17.9
1992 15.9 17.9
1991 16 17.9
1990 16.1 17.9
1989 16.1 17.9
1988 16.2 17.9
1987 16.3 17.8
1986 16.3 17.8
1985 16.4 17.8
1984 16.5 17.8
1983 16.6 17.8
1982 16.7 17.8
1981 16.8 17.9
1980 16.9 17.9
1979 17 18
1978 17.2 18.1
1977 17.3 18.3
1976 17.4 18.4
1975 17.5 18.5
1974 17.6 18.6
1973 17.7 18.7
1972 17.8 18.7
1971 17.9 18.7
1970 18.1 18.7
1969 18.2 18.8
1968 18.3 18.8
1967 18.4 18.9
1966 18.5 18.9
1965 18.6 18.9
1964 18.6 19
1963 18.7 19
1962 18.8 19.1
1961 18.9 19.2
1960 18.9 19.2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/afghanistan/laos | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Afghanistan and Laos.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Afghanistan Laos
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2023
$15.5B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
19.4%
2024
15.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.34%
2017
1.23%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.83%
2021
0.19%
2013
Armed forces personnel
165,000
2020
129,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.54%
2024
+2.34%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.68%
2021
1.21%
2022
Services, % of GDP
46.4%
2023
43.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
13.4%
2023
29%
2024
Economic freedom index
53
2021
50.9
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
31.2%
2018
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3%
2018
Total reserves including gold
$9.75B
2020
$1.77B
2023
Personal remittances received
$320M
2024
$247M
2024
International tourist arrivals n/a
886,400
2020
International tourism as share of exports
5.08%
2020
3.51%
2020
Banked people share
9.65%
2021
37.7%
2024

Energy

Afghanistan Laos
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita n/a
815 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use n/a
$10.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
12.1 megatons
2024
26.1 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
0.28 tons
2024
3.35 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share n/a
0%
2022
Renewable energy use share
20%
2022
49.2%
2022
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
54.2%
2022
Net energy imports use share n/a
-49%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
1,264 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
78.2%
2021
63.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
71.7%
2021
75.9%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
85.3%
2023
96.5%
2023

Society

Afghanistan Laos
% of world population
0.52%
2024
0.1%
2024
Annual migration change
-74,404
2025
-10,645
2025
Urban population
25.7%
2024
39.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.5:49.5
2024
50.2:49.8
2024
Average male height
5.53 ft
2025
5.34 ft
2025
Average female height
5.12 ft
2025
5.02 ft
2025
Quality of life index
15.5
2026
29.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
16
2025
34
2025
Higher education index
20
2026
19
2026
Homicides per 100K people
4.02
2021
7.01
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
15.9
2019
17.9
2019
Visa free countries
36
2025
61
2025
Adult literacy rate
37.3%
2021
75.6%
2023
English speaking
6%
2023
6%
2025
People using the Internet
17.7%
2023
63.6%
2023

Health

Afghanistan Laos
Government health expenditure per capita
$59.1
2023
$27.4
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$45.6
2023
$12.3
2023
Life expectancy
66.8 years
2026
69.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
21.2%
2023
15.4%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.32
2023
0.33
2022
Age at first childbirth
19.9 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
521
2023
112
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
55.5
2023
39
2023
Obesity rate
19.6%
2022
8.32%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.7%
2024
6.7%
2024
Air quality index
3
2026
20
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
22.7%
2022
27.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.01 liters
2020
10.8 liters
2020

Territory

Afghanistan Laos
% of world land
0.44%
2026
0.15%
2026
Land area per capita
5,905 sq mi
2024
11,469 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
147,167 sq mi
2026
8,831 sq mi
2026
Forest area
4,666 sq mi
2026
63,676 sq mi
2026
Roads length
21,688 mi
2021
24,598 mi
2009

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2021–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  8. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  10. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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