Laos is a lower-middle-income country with a population of 7.77M people. The capital and largest city is Vientiane, with 948K residents. Laos shares land borders with Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China and Myanmar.
Laos ranks 139/197 by GDP ($16.5B) and 155/197 by GDP per capita ($2,124). The top export category is raw materials & minerals, while the top import is machinery & equipment.
Main facts and rankings
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Population |
8004838
|
103/197 |
| GDP |
$16.5B
2024 |
139/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$2,124
2024 |
155/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$9,776
2024 |
134/197 |
| Government debt |
$16.6B
2024 |
105/185 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
100.5%
2024 |
24/185 |
| Government debt per person |
$2,134
2024 |
119/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$2,096
2026 |
163/197 |
| Land area | 89,112 sq mi | 79/197 |
| Population density | 89.5 ppl/mi² | 150/197 |
| Fertility rate | 2.42 | 78/196 |
| Median age | 25.6 years | 130/196 |
| Life expectancy | 69.7 years | 139/197 |
Laos trends dashboard: time-series charts
| Year | GDP |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,502,933,121 |
| 2023 | $15,843,155,731 |
| 2022 | $15,468,785,204 |
| 2021 | $18,827,148,531 |
| 2020 | $18,981,805,250 |
| 2019 | $18,740,561,513 |
| 2018 | $18,141,641,090 |
| 2017 | $17,071,155,481 |
| 2016 | $15,912,501,723 |
| 2015 | $14,426,380,126 |
| 2014 | $13,279,245,886 |
| 2013 | $11,983,252,627 |
| 2012 | $10,192,846,339 |
| 2011 | $8,750,104,617 |
| 2010 | $7,131,771,015 |
| 2009 | $5,836,137,330 |
| 2008 | $5,446,433,157 |
| 2007 | $4,223,152,739 |
| 2006 | $3,455,030,061 |
| 2005 | $2,735,558,735 |
| 2004 | $2,366,398,120 |
| 2003 | $2,023,324,407 |
| 2002 | $1,758,176,653 |
| 2001 | $1,768,619,058 |
| 2000 | $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/laos | CC BY 
| Year | GDP per capita |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,124 |
| 2023 | $2,067 |
| 2022 | $2,046 |
| 2021 | $2,526 |
| 2020 | $2,584 |
| 2019 | $2,589 |
| 2018 | $2,545 |
| 2017 | $2,432 |
| 2016 | $2,303 |
| 2015 | $2,121 |
| 2014 | $1,981 |
| 2013 | $1,813 |
| 2012 | $1,564 |
| 2011 | $1,362 |
| 2010 | $1,126 |
| 2009 | $935 |
| 2008 | $886 |
| 2007 | $697 |
| 2006 | $579 |
| 2005 | $466 |
| 2004 | $409 |
| 2003 | $355 |
| 2002 | $313 |
| 2001 | $320 |
| 2000 | $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/laos | CC BY
Laos' life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 69.7 |
| 2025 | 69.5 |
| 2024 | 69.2 |
| 2023 | 69 |
| 2022 | 68.7 |
| 2021 | 67.8 |
| 2020 | 68.3 |
| 2019 | 67.9 |
| 2018 | 67.6 |
| 2017 | 67.3 |
| 2016 | 67 |
| 2015 | 66.7 |
| 2014 | 66.3 |
| 2013 | 65.7 |
| 2012 | 65.1 |
| 2011 | 64.5 |
| 2010 | 63.7 |
| 2009 | 63 |
| 2008 | 62.2 |
| 2007 | 61.7 |
| 2006 | 61.1 |
| 2005 | 60.7 |
| 2004 | 60.1 |
| 2003 | 59.6 |
| 2002 | 59.3 |
| 2001 | 58.9 |
| 2000 | 58.3 |
| 1999 | 57.9 |
| 1998 | 57.5 |
| 1997 | 57.3 |
| 1996 | 56.8 |
| 1995 | 56.3 |
| 1994 | 55.8 |
| 1993 | 55.6 |
| 1992 | 55.1 |
| 1991 | 54.7 |
| 1990 | 54 |
| 1989 | 53.6 |
| 1988 | 53.1 |
| 1987 | 52.6 |
| 1986 | 52.1 |
| 1985 | 51.6 |
| 1984 | 51 |
| 1983 | 50.5 |
| 1982 | 49.9 |
| 1981 | 49.2 |
| 1980 | 48.6 |
| 1979 | 47.5 |
| 1978 | 46.8 |
| 1977 | 46.4 |
| 1976 | 46 |
| 1975 | 46.1 |
| 1974 | 45.9 |
| 1973 | 44.7 |
| 1972 | 44.4 |
| 1971 | 44.1 |
| 1970 | 43.8 |
| 1969 | 43.5 |
| 1968 | 43.2 |
| 1967 | 42.9 |
| 1966 | 42.3 |
| 1965 | 42.2 |
| 1964 | 41.9 |
| 1963 | 41.5 |
| 1962 | 42.3 |
| 1961 | 41.3 |
| 1960 | 41 |
| 1959 | 40.7 |
| 1958 | 41.2 |
| 1957 | 40.9 |
| 1956 | 40.6 |
| 1955 | 40.3 |
| 1954 | 40 |
| 1953 | 39.7 |
| 1952 | 39.4 |
| 1951 | 39.2 |
| 1950 | 38.9 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).
GeoRank.org/facts/laos | CC BY
Laos' population clock and projection
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,769,819 |
| 2023 | 7,664,993 |
| 2022 | 7,559,007 |
| 2021 | 7,453,194 |
| 2020 | 7,346,533 |
| 2019 | 7,237,636 |
| 2018 | 7,128,045 |
| 2017 | 7,018,147 |
| 2016 | 6,908,802 |
| 2015 | 6,801,645 |
| 2014 | 6,703,172 |
| 2013 | 6,611,385 |
| 2012 | 6,518,978 |
| 2011 | 6,426,590 |
| 2010 | 6,334,194 |
| 2009 | 6,241,642 |
| 2008 | 6,148,969 |
| 2007 | 6,056,236 |
| 2006 | 5,963,200 |
| 2005 | 5,869,523 |
| 2004 | 5,781,626 |
| 2003 | 5,697,945 |
| 2002 | 5,610,889 |
| 2001 | 5,521,482 |
| 2000 | 5,431,212 |
| 1999 | 5,340,784 |
| 1998 | 5,248,266 |
| 1997 | 5,152,011 |
| 1996 | 5,045,678 |
| 1995 | 4,929,409 |
| 1994 | 4,809,220 |
| 1993 | 4,685,060 |
| 1992 | 4,559,646 |
| 1991 | 4,435,118 |
| 1990 | 4,311,955 |
| 1989 | 4,190,974 |
| 1988 | 4,072,601 |
| 1987 | 3,957,612 |
| 1986 | 3,846,715 |
| 1985 | 3,739,985 |
| 1984 | 3,637,843 |
| 1983 | 3,541,001 |
| 1982 | 3,450,026 |
| 1981 | 3,366,631 |
| 1980 | 3,292,573 |
| 1979 | 3,228,202 |
| 1978 | 3,171,740 |
| 1977 | 3,118,923 |
| 1976 | 3,064,876 |
| 1975 | 3,005,521 |
| 1974 | 2,939,761 |
| 1973 | 2,870,573 |
| 1972 | 2,801,660 |
| 1971 | 2,734,628 |
| 1970 | 2,669,702 |
| 1969 | 2,606,959 |
| 1968 | 2,546,377 |
| 1967 | 2,487,715 |
| 1966 | 2,431,084 |
| 1965 | 2,376,200 |
| 1964 | 2,322,826 |
| 1963 | 2,271,061 |
| 1962 | 2,219,910 |
| 1961 | 2,169,796 |
| 1960 | 2,121,514 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/laos | CC BY
Laos' birth and fertility rates
| Year | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 2.42 |
| 2022 | 2.46 |
| 2021 | 2.49 |
| 2020 | 2.54 |
| 2019 | 2.59 |
| 2018 | 2.63 |
| 2017 | 2.69 |
| 2016 | 2.74 |
| 2015 | 2.8 |
| 2014 | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 2.87 |
| 2012 | 2.95 |
| 2011 | 3.05 |
| 2010 | 3.14 |
| 2009 | 3.23 |
| 2008 | 3.33 |
| 2007 | 3.44 |
| 2006 | 3.56 |
| 2005 | 3.69 |
| 2004 | 3.9 |
| 2003 | 4.02 |
| 2002 | 4.13 |
| 2001 | 4.29 |
| 2000 | 4.43 |
| 1999 | 4.64 |
| 1998 | 4.79 |
| 1997 | 4.96 |
| 1996 | 5.15 |
| 1995 | 5.36 |
| 1994 | 5.6 |
| 1993 | 5.8 |
| 1992 | 5.9 |
| 1991 | 5.99 |
| 1990 | 6.06 |
| 1989 | 6.1 |
| 1988 | 6.16 |
| 1987 | 6.21 |
| 1986 | 6.26 |
| 1985 | 6.33 |
| 1984 | 6.37 |
| 1983 | 6.38 |
| 1982 | 6.37 |
| 1981 | 6.35 |
| 1980 | 6.33 |
| 1979 | 6.31 |
| 1978 | 6.3 |
| 1977 | 6.29 |
| 1976 | 6.29 |
| 1975 | 6.29 |
| 1974 | 6.29 |
| 1973 | 6.28 |
| 1972 | 6.28 |
| 1971 | 6.3 |
| 1970 | 6.31 |
| 1969 | 6.3 |
| 1968 | 6.3 |
| 1967 | 6.31 |
| 1966 | 6.31 |
| 1965 | 6.32 |
| 1964 | 6.31 |
| 1963 | 6.32 |
| 1962 | 6.31 |
| 1961 | 6.31 |
| 1960 | 6.29 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/laos | CC BY
| Year | Median age, years |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 25.6 |
| 2023 | 25.3 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2021 | 24.7 |
| 2020 | 24.4 |
| 2019 | 24.1 |
| 2018 | 23.8 |
| 2017 | 23.6 |
| 2016 | 23.3 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2014 | 22.7 |
| 2013 | 22.3 |
| 2012 | 21.9 |
| 2011 | 21.4 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2009 | 20.5 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2007 | 19.6 |
| 2006 | 19.2 |
| 2005 | 18.9 |
| 2004 | 18.7 |
| 2003 | 18.5 |
| 2002 | 18.4 |
| 2001 | 18.2 |
| 2000 | 18.1 |
| 1999 | 18 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1997 | 18 |
| 1996 | 17.9 |
| 1995 | 17.9 |
| 1994 | 17.9 |
| 1993 | 17.9 |
| 1992 | 17.9 |
| 1991 | 17.9 |
| 1990 | 17.9 |
| 1989 | 17.9 |
| 1988 | 17.9 |
| 1987 | 17.8 |
| 1986 | 17.8 |
| 1985 | 17.8 |
| 1984 | 17.8 |
| 1983 | 17.8 |
| 1982 | 17.8 |
| 1981 | 17.9 |
| 1980 | 17.9 |
| 1979 | 18 |
| 1978 | 18.1 |
| 1977 | 18.3 |
| 1976 | 18.4 |
| 1975 | 18.5 |
| 1974 | 18.6 |
| 1973 | 18.7 |
| 1972 | 18.7 |
| 1971 | 18.7 |
| 1970 | 18.7 |
| 1969 | 18.8 |
| 1968 | 18.8 |
| 1967 | 18.9 |
| 1966 | 18.9 |
| 1965 | 18.9 |
| 1964 | 19 |
| 1963 | 19 |
| 1962 | 19.1 |
| 1961 | 19.2 |
| 1960 | 19.2 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/facts/laos | CC BY
Laos vs. World: Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to toggle between world maps that display different statistics comparing Laos with other countries.
Laos: National Statistics
Finance
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$15.5B
2024 |
140/194 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
15.7%
2024 |
180/195 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
1.23%
2023 |
186/193 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
0.19%
2013 |
161/163 |
| Armed forces personnel |
129,000
2020 |
47/174 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
+2.34%
2024 |
21/188 |
| Unemployment rate |
1.21%
2022 |
187/196 |
| Services, % of GDP |
43.5%
2024 |
164/191 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
29%
2024 |
62/194 |
| Economic freedom index |
50.9
2026 |
157/197 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
31.2%
2018 |
45/169 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
3%
2018 |
60/169 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.77B
2023 |
129/177 |
| Personal remittances received |
$247M
2024 |
135/191 |
| International tourist arrivals |
886,400
2020 |
100/188 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
3.51%
2020 |
108/184 |
| Banked people share |
37.7%
2024 |
136/158 |
Energy
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
815 kg
2022 |
108/177 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$10.8
2022 |
126/173 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
26.1 megatons
2024 |
79/187 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
3.35 tons
2024 |
81/187 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
0%
2022 |
159/176 |
| Renewable energy use share |
49.2%
2022 |
50/193 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
54.2%
2022 |
3/147 |
| Net energy imports use share |
-49%
2022 |
113/144 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
1,264 kWh
2022 |
97/147 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
63.3%
2021 |
49/192 |
| Hydroelectric share |
75.9%
2022 |
17/192 |
| Nuclear share |
0%
2021 |
111/192 |
| Electricity access |
96.5%
2023 |
131/195 |
Society
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
0.1%
2024 |
103/197 |
| Annual migration change |
-10,645
2025 |
134/196 |
| Urban population |
39.6%
2024 |
153/195 |
| Male:Female ratio |
50.2:49.8
2024 |
N/A |
| Average male height |
5.34 ft
2025 |
189/190 |
| Average female height |
5.02 ft
2025 |
185/190 |
| Quality of life index |
29.2
2026 |
159/197 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
34
2025 |
126/197 |
| Higher education index |
19
2026 |
151/183 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
7.01
2015 |
57/197 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
17.9
2019 |
75/197 |
| Visa free countries |
61
2025 |
163/195 |
| Adult literacy rate |
75.6%
2023 |
163/196 |
| English speaking |
6%
2025 |
144/197 |
| People using the Internet |
63.6%
2023 |
131/195 |
Health
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$27.4
2023 |
186/192 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$12.3
2023 |
173/192 |
| Life expectancy |
69.7 years
2026 |
139/197 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
15.4%
2023 |
45/181 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
0.33
2022 |
147/193 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
112
2023 |
63/193 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
39
2023 |
45/192 |
| Obesity rate |
8.32%
2022 |
168/189 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
6.7%
2024 |
142/195 |
| Air quality index |
20
2026 |
159/197 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
27.2%
2022 |
41/164 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
10.8 liters
2020 |
15/186 |
Territory
|
Laos
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.15%
2026 |
79/197 |
| Land area per capita |
11,469 sq mi
2024 |
48/197 |
| Agricultural land area |
8,831 sq mi
2026 |
113/194 |
| Forest area |
63,676 sq mi
2026 |
41/196 |
| Roads length |
24,598 mi
2009 |
76/176 |
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
- Wikidata (2020, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
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