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Bhutan vs Laos statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a population of 792K (ranked 163/197), compared with 7.77M in Laos (ranked 103/197). Bhutan's land area is 14,726 sq mi versus 89,112 sq mi for Laos (ranked 132nd vs. 79th).

By GDP, Bhutan ranks 170/197 ($3.01B) and Laos ranks 139/197 ($16.5B). By GDP per capita, Bhutan ranks 132/197 ($3,831), while Laos ranks 155/197 ($2,124).

Main facts and rankings

Bhutan Laos
Population
803385
8004838
Population rank 163/197 103/197
GDP
$3.01B
2023
$16.5B
2024
GDP rank 170/197 139/197
GDP per capita
$3,831
2023
$2,124
2024
GDP per capita rank 132/197 155/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,215
2023
$9,776
2024
Government debt
$3.53B
2023
$16.6B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
110.4%
2024
100.5%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,485
2023
$2,134
2024
Government debt per person rank 87/185 119/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,506
2026
$2,096
2026
Land area 14,726 sq mi 89,112 sq mi
Population density
54.5 ppl/mi²
2026
89.5 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.46
2023
2.42
2023
Median age
30.9 years
2024
25.6 years
2024
Life expectancy
73.8 years
2026
69.7 years
2026

Bhutan and Laos: Comparison Charts

Bhutan and Laos economies compared

GDP
Bhutan

Laos
1x
Year GDP
Bhutan Laos
2024 - $16,502,933,121
2023 $3,012,896,789 $15,843,155,731
2022 $2,898,227,744 $15,468,785,204
2021 $2,768,802,960 $18,827,148,531
2020 $2,457,604,334 $18,981,805,250
2019 $2,735,683,570 $18,740,561,513
2018 $2,583,335,722 $18,141,641,090
2017 $2,591,358,009 $17,071,155,481
2016 $2,357,504,761 $15,912,501,723
2015 $2,187,815,803 $14,426,380,126
2014 $2,089,079,571 $13,279,245,886
2013 $1,943,696,952 $11,983,252,627
2012 $1,973,387,228 $10,192,846,339
2011 $1,977,728,659 $8,750,104,617
2010 $1,708,880,730 $7,131,771,015
2009 $1,331,343,798 $5,836,137,330
2008 $1,317,517,835 $5,446,433,157
2007 $1,255,767,964 $4,223,152,739
2006 $942,879,879 $3,455,030,061
2005 $860,391,000 $2,735,558,735
2004 $735,348,490 $2,366,398,120
2003 $651,935,430 $2,023,324,407
2002 $559,345,264 $1,758,176,653
2001 $496,110,226 $1,768,619,058
2000 $460,733,418 $1,731,198,022
1999 $399,311,200 $1,454,430,642
1998 $363,458,381 $1,280,177,839
1997 $352,229,077 $1,747,011,857
1996 $303,408,346 $1,873,671,550
1995 $290,490,984 $1,763,536,305
1994 $258,954,708 $1,543,606,345
1993 $225,973,693 $1,327,748,690
1992 $240,233,531 $1,127,806,945
1991 $240,294,286 $1,028,087,972
1990 $287,765,007 $865,559,879
1989 $264,798,626 $714,046,821
1988 $272,298,067 $598,961,269
1987 $242,742,766 $1,087,273,104
1986 $191,218,115 $1,776,842,097
1985 $163,288,815 $2,366,666,616
1984 $160,423,494 $1,757,142,856
1983 $156,704,290 -
1982 $141,439,317 -
1981 $139,174,178 -
1980 $128,669,201 -
1979 $105,377,995 -
1978 $94,086,228 -
1977 $97,884,434 -
1976 $88,461,263 -
1975 $86,820,762 -
1974 $92,901,784 -
1973 $78,900,289 -
1972 $70,139,867 -
1971 $66,289,450 -
1970 $61,812,113 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Bhutan and Laos economies compared

GDP per capita
Bhutan

Laos
1x
Year GDP per capita
Bhutan Laos
2024 - $2,124
2023 $3,831 $2,067
2022 $3,711 $2,046
2021 $3,571 $2,526
2020 $3,192 $2,584
2019 $3,577 $2,589
2018 $3,400 $2,545
2017 $3,435 $2,432
2016 $3,152 $2,303
2015 $2,954 $2,121
2014 $2,849 $1,981
2013 $2,680 $1,813
2012 $2,751 $1,564
2011 $2,788 $1,362
2010 $2,436 $1,126
2009 $1,918 $935
2008 $1,920 $886
2007 $1,850 $697
2006 $1,406 $579
2005 $1,300 $466
2004 $1,130 $409
2003 $1,022 $355
2002 $896 $313
2001 $812 $320
2000 $772 $319
1999 $685 $272.3
1998 $638 $243.9
1997 $630 $339
1996 $553 $371
1995 $530 $358
1994 $467 $321
1993 $407 $283.4
1992 $416 $247.3
1991 $401 $231.8
1990 $488 $200.7
1989 $462 $170.4
1988 $489 $147.1
1987 $449 $274.7
1986 $365 $462
1985 $321 $633
1984 $326 $483
1983 $328 -
1982 $306 -
1981 $311 -
1980 $296.9 -
1979 $251.4 -
1978 $232.2 -
1977 $249.9 -
1976 $233.7 -
1975 $237.4 -
1974 $262.8 -
1973 $230.9 -
1972 $212.4 -
1971 $207.7 -
1970 $200.3 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Bhutan vs. Laos life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Bhutan

Laos
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Bhutan Laos
2026 73.8 69.7
2025 73.5 69.5
2024 73.3 69.2
2023 73 69
2022 72.8 68.7
2021 72.4 67.8
2020 72.3 68.3
2019 72 67.9
2018 71.7 67.6
2017 71.4 67.3
2016 71.1 67
2015 70.8 66.7
2014 70.5 66.3
2013 70.2 65.7
2012 69.8 65.1
2011 69.3 64.5
2010 68.8 63.7
2009 68.2 63
2008 67.7 62.2
2007 67.2 61.7
2006 66.5 61.1
2005 65.9 60.7
2004 65.3 60.1
2003 64.7 59.6
2002 64 59.3
2001 63.3 58.9
2000 61.8 58.3
1999 62 57.9
1998 61.3 57.5
1997 60.6 57.3
1996 60 56.8
1995 59.3 56.3
1994 58.4 55.8
1993 57.9 55.6
1992 57.2 55.1
1991 56.5 54.7
1990 55.8 54
1989 55.1 53.6
1988 54.4 53.1
1987 53.6 52.6
1986 52.8 52.1
1985 52 51.6
1984 51.3 51
1983 50.6 50.5
1982 49.8 49.9
1981 49 49.2
1980 48.2 48.6
1979 47.4 47.5
1978 46.7 46.8
1977 46 46.4
1976 45.2 46
1975 44.5 46.1
1974 43.8 45.9
1973 43.1 44.7
1972 42.5 44.4
1971 41.8 44.1
1970 41.2 43.8
1969 40.6 43.5
1968 40 43.2
1967 39.4 42.9
1966 38.8 42.3
1965 38.3 42.2
1964 37.8 41.9
1963 37.4 41.5
1962 37 42.3
1961 36.7 41.3
1960 36.4 41
1959 36.1 40.7
1958 35.9 41.2
1957 35.7 40.9
1956 35.6 40.6
1955 35.5 40.3
1954 35.4 40
1953 35.4 39.7
1952 35.4 39.4
1951 35.3 39.2
1950 35.3 38.9

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

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

Bhutan and Laos population clocks and comparison

Population
Bhutan

Laos
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Laos
2024 791,524 7,769,819
2023 786,385 7,664,993
2022 780,914 7,559,007
2021 775,442 7,453,194
2020 770,006 7,346,533
2019 764,824 7,237,636
2018 759,759 7,128,045
2017 754,335 7,018,147
2016 747,866 6,908,802
2015 740,618 6,801,645
2014 733,139 6,703,172
2013 725,273 6,611,385
2012 717,279 6,518,978
2011 709,377 6,426,590
2010 701,632 6,334,194
2009 693,988 6,241,642
2008 686,351 6,148,969
2007 678,641 6,056,236
2006 670,799 5,963,200
2005 661,865 5,869,523
2004 650,544 5,781,626
2003 637,663 5,697,945
2002 624,409 5,610,889
2001 610,794 5,521,482
2000 596,863 5,431,212
1999 582,579 5,340,784
1998 569,435 5,248,266
1997 558,697 5,152,011
1996 548,784 5,045,678
1995 547,989 4,929,409
1994 554,497 4,809,220
1993 554,673 4,685,060
1992 577,774 4,559,646
1991 599,784 4,435,118
1990 589,287 4,311,955
1989 573,586 4,190,974
1988 556,986 4,072,601
1987 540,557 3,957,612
1986 524,324 3,846,715
1985 508,392 3,739,985
1984 492,784 3,637,843
1983 477,460 3,541,001
1982 462,485 3,450,026
1981 447,836 3,366,631
1980 433,404 3,292,573
1979 419,200 3,228,202
1978 405,243 3,171,740
1977 391,639 3,118,923
1976 378,490 3,064,876
1975 365,791 3,005,521
1974 353,538 2,939,761
1973 341,705 2,870,573
1972 330,264 2,801,660
1971 319,211 2,734,628
1970 308,528 2,669,702
1969 298,214 2,606,959
1968 288,311 2,546,377
1967 278,852 2,487,715
1966 269,820 2,431,084
1965 261,200 2,376,200
1964 252,987 2,322,826
1963 245,156 2,271,061
1962 237,636 2,219,910
1961 230,602 2,169,796
1960 224,084 2,121,514

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

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

Fertility rates in Bhutan and Laos

Fertility rate
Bhutan

Laos
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bhutan Laos
2023 1.46 2.42
2022 1.48 2.46
2021 1.49 2.49
2020 1.5 2.54
2019 1.45 2.59
2018 1.52 2.63
2017 1.62 2.69
2016 1.74 2.74
2015 1.84 2.8
2014 1.92 2.8
2013 2 2.87
2012 2.07 2.95
2011 2.15 3.05
2010 2.25 3.14
2009 2.36 3.23
2008 2.48 3.33
2007 2.59 3.44
2006 2.66 3.56
2005 2.73 3.69
2004 2.78 3.9
2003 2.87 4.02
2002 3.01 4.13
2001 3.19 4.29
2000 3.38 4.43
1999 3.61 4.64
1998 3.85 4.79
1997 4.09 4.96
1996 4.37 5.15
1995 4.62 5.36
1994 4.87 5.6
1993 5.07 5.8
1992 5.27 5.9
1991 5.45 5.99
1990 5.6 6.06
1989 5.76 6.1
1988 5.88 6.16
1987 6 6.21
1986 6.1 6.26
1985 6.18 6.33
1984 6.26 6.37
1983 6.34 6.38
1982 6.4 6.37
1981 6.46 6.35
1980 6.51 6.33
1979 6.55 6.31
1978 6.58 6.3
1977 6.61 6.29
1976 6.62 6.29
1975 6.62 6.29
1974 6.62 6.29
1973 6.63 6.28
1972 6.64 6.28
1971 6.64 6.3
1970 6.65 6.31
1969 6.66 6.3
1968 6.66 6.3
1967 6.67 6.31
1966 6.67 6.31
1965 6.68 6.32
1964 6.68 6.31
1963 6.69 6.32
1962 6.69 6.31
1961 6.7 6.31
1960 6.7 6.29

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

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

Bhutan and Laos demographics compared

Median age
Bhutan

Laos
1x
Year Median age, years
Bhutan Laos
2024 30.9 25.6
2023 30.4 25.3
2022 29.8 25
2021 29.2 24.7
2020 28.6 24.4
2019 28 24.1
2018 27.5 23.8
2017 26.9 23.6
2016 26.4 23.3
2015 26 23
2014 25.6 22.7
2013 25.1 22.3
2012 24.7 21.9
2011 24.4 21.4
2010 24 21
2009 23.7 20.5
2008 23.3 20
2007 22.9 19.6
2006 22.6 19.2
2005 22.2 18.9
2004 21.8 18.7
2003 21.3 18.5
2002 20.8 18.4
2001 20.4 18.2
2000 20 18.1
1999 19.8 18
1998 19.5 18
1997 19.3 18
1996 19.1 17.9
1995 18.9 17.9
1994 18.8 17.9
1993 18.7 17.9
1992 18.6 17.9
1991 18.6 17.9
1990 18.6 17.9
1989 18.5 17.9
1988 18.5 17.9
1987 18.5 17.8
1986 18.5 17.8
1985 18.6 17.8
1984 18.6 17.8
1983 18.7 17.8
1982 18.7 17.8
1981 18.8 17.9
1980 18.9 17.9
1979 18.9 18
1978 19 18.1
1977 19 18.3
1976 19.1 18.4
1975 19.1 18.5
1974 19.2 18.6
1973 19.2 18.7
1972 19.3 18.7
1971 19.3 18.7
1970 19.3 18.7
1969 19.3 18.8
1968 19.3 18.8
1967 19.3 18.9
1966 19.2 18.9
1965 19.1 18.9
1964 19.1 19
1963 19 19
1962 18.9 19.1
1961 18.9 19.2
1960 18.8 19.2

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Bhutan Laos
GNI, Atlas method
$2.93B
2023
$15.5B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
15.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.85%
2023
1.23%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.19%
2013
Armed forces personnel
6,000
2000
129,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.17%
2024
+2.34%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
1.21%
2022
Services, % of GDP
52.8%
2023
43.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2023
29%
2024
Economic freedom index
57.5
2026
50.9
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
31.2%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
3%
2018
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$1.77B
2023
Personal remittances received
$110M
2024
$247M
2024
International tourist arrivals
29,799
2020
886,400
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.7%
2020
3.51%
2020
Banked people share
33.7%
2014
37.7%
2024

Energy

Bhutan Laos
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
360 kg
2007
815 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.9
2007
$10.8
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1.59 megatons
2024
26.1 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.01 tons
2024
3.35 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
0%
2022
Renewable energy use share
82.5%
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
100%
2021
63.3%
2021
Hydroelectric share
100%
2021
75.9%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
96.5%
2023

Society

Bhutan Laos
% of world population
0.01%
2024
0.1%
2024
Annual migration change
+455
2025
-10,645
2025
Urban population
42.6%
2024
39.6%
2024
Male:Female ratio
53.4:46.6
2024
50.2:49.8
2024
Average male height
5.48 ft
2025
5.34 ft
2025
Average female height
5.09 ft
2025
5.02 ft
2025
Quality of life index
55.3
2026
29.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
71
2025
34
2025
Higher education index n/a
19
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.46
2020
7.01
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
16.2
2019
17.9
2019
Visa free countries
63
2025
61
2025
Adult literacy rate
64.9%
2022
75.6%
2023
English speaking
75%
2025
6%
2025
People using the Internet
88.4%
2023
63.6%
2023

Health

Bhutan Laos
Government health expenditure per capita
$162.2
2023
$27.4
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$41.3
2023
$12.3
2023
Life expectancy
73.8 years
2026
69.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
6.44%
2023
15.4%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.55
2022
0.33
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
47
2023
112
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
23.1
2023
39
2023
Obesity rate
12.7%
2022
8.32%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
12%
2024
6.7%
2024
Air quality index
6
2026
20
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
18.7%
2022
27.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.18 liters
2020
10.8 liters
2020

Territory

Bhutan Laos
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.15%
2026
Land area per capita
18,605 sq mi
2024
11,469 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,035 sq mi
2026
8,831 sq mi
2026
Forest area
10,545 sq mi
2026
63,676 sq mi
2026
Roads length
7,584 mi
2017
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) (2000–2019, 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. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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