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Laos vs North Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has a population of 7.77M (ranked 103/197), compared with 26.5M in North Korea (ranked 56/197). Laos' land area is 89,112 sq mi versus 46,491 sq mi for North Korea (ranked 79th vs. 97th).

By GDP, Laos ranks 139/197 ($16.5B) and North Korea ranks 106/197 ($34.9B). By GDP per capita, Laos ranks 155/197 ($2,124), while North Korea ranks 168/197 ($1,319).

Main facts and rankings

Laos North Korea
Population
8004838
26659144
Population rank 103/197 57/197
GDP
$16.5B
2024
$34.9B
2024
GDP rank 139/197 106/197
GDP per capita
$2,124
2024
$1,319
2024
GDP per capita rank 155/197 168/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,776
2024
$1,700
2015
Government debt
$16.6B
2024
n/a
Debt-to-GDP ratio
100.5%
2024
n/a
Government debt per person
$2,134
2024
n/a
Government debt per person rank 119/185 n/a
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,096
2026
$1,426
2026
Land area 89,112 sq mi 46,491 sq mi
Population density
89.5 ppl/mi²
2026
573 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.42
2023
1.78
2023
Median age
25.6 years
2024
37.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.7 years
2026
74 years
2026

Laos and North Korea: Comparison Charts

Laos and North Korea economies compared

GDP
Laos

North Korea
1x
Year GDP
Laos North Korea
2024 $16,502,933,121 $34,943,120,000
2023 $15,843,155,731 $32,155,360,000
2022 $15,468,785,204 $28,971,360,000
2021 $18,827,148,531 $32,301,720,000
2020 $18,981,805,250 $27,728,240,000
2019 $18,740,561,513 $28,222,880,000
2018 $18,141,641,090 $28,536,400,000
2017 $17,071,155,481 $29,105,440,000
2016 $15,912,501,723 $28,882,640,000
2015 $14,426,380,126 $30,723,030,000
2014 $13,279,245,886 $30,554,460,000
2013 $11,983,252,627 $30,588,922,000
2012 $10,192,846,339 $29,890,710,000
2011 $8,750,104,617 $29,005,020,000
2010 $7,131,771,015 $25,995,513,000
2009 $5,836,137,330 $23,356,470,000
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/north-korea | CC BY

Laos and North Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Laos

North Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Laos North Korea
2024 $2,124 $1,319
2023 $2,067 $1,217
2022 $2,046 $1,100
2021 $2,526 $1,231
2020 $2,584 $1,061
2019 $2,589 $1,084
2018 $2,545 $1,100
2017 $2,432 $1,127
2016 $2,303 $1,124
2015 $2,121 $1,201
2014 $1,981 $1,201
2013 $1,813 $1,208
2012 $1,564 $1,186
2011 $1,362 $1,156
2010 $1,126 $1,040
2009 $935 $939
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 | Health (1984–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/laos/north-korea | CC BY

Laos vs. North Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Laos

North Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Laos North Korea
2026 69.7 74
2025 69.5 73.9
2024 69.2 73.7
2023 69 73.6
2022 68.7 73.6
2021 67.8 73.4
2020 68.3 72.8
2019 67.9 72.9
2018 67.6 73
2017 67.3 73
2016 67 73
2015 66.7 72.8
2014 66.3 72.5
2013 65.7 71.9
2012 65.1 71.3
2011 64.5 70.8
2010 63.7 70.2
2009 63 69.7
2008 62.2 69.3
2007 61.7 69
2006 61.1 69.1
2005 60.7 69.2
2004 60.1 69.3
2003 59.6 69.4
2002 59.3 60.9
2001 58.9 60.9
2000 58.3 60.9
1999 57.9 60.9
1998 57.5 60.9
1997 57.3 60.9
1996 56.8 60.8
1995 56.3 60.8
1994 55.8 70.5
1993 55.6 70.8
1992 55.1 71
1991 54.7 70.7
1990 54 70.5
1989 53.6 70.3
1988 53.1 70.1
1987 52.6 69.8
1986 52.1 69.5
1985 51.6 69.2
1984 51 68.9
1983 50.5 68.5
1982 49.9 68.1
1981 49.2 67.7
1980 48.6 67.2
1979 47.5 66.7
1978 46.8 66.3
1977 46.4 65.8
1976 46 65.3
1975 46.1 64.8
1974 45.9 64.3
1973 44.7 63.8
1972 44.4 63.3
1971 44.1 62.7
1970 43.8 62
1969 43.5 61.4
1968 43.2 60.8
1967 42.9 60.1
1966 42.3 59.4
1965 42.2 58.8
1964 41.9 58.2
1963 41.5 57.6
1962 42.3 57
1961 41.3 56.4
1960 41 55.8
1959 40.7 55.2
1958 41.2 54.5
1957 40.9 53.7
1956 40.6 52.8
1955 40.3 51.8
1954 40 50.6
1953 39.7 40.3
1952 39.4 32.8
1951 39.2 17.7
1950 38.9 14.2

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

GeoRank.org/facts/laos/north-korea | CC BY

Laos and North Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Laos

North Korea
1x
Year Population
Laos North Korea
2024 7,769,819 26,498,823
2023 7,664,993 26,418,204
2022 7,559,007 26,328,845
2021 7,453,194 26,232,534
2020 7,346,533 26,136,312
2019 7,237,636 26,037,632
2018 7,128,045 25,931,147
2017 7,018,147 25,817,709
2016 6,908,802 25,698,326
2015 6,801,645 25,575,350
2014 6,703,172 25,451,262
2013 6,611,385 25,329,451
2012 6,518,978 25,211,728
2011 6,426,590 25,097,874
2010 6,334,194 24,987,258
2009 6,241,642 24,878,332
2008 6,148,969 24,764,618
2007 6,056,236 24,646,383
2006 5,963,200 24,524,507
2005 5,869,523 24,396,433
2004 5,781,626 24,254,943
2003 5,697,945 24,090,380
2002 5,610,889 23,943,973
2001 5,521,482 23,815,358
2000 5,431,212 23,665,910
1999 5,340,784 23,497,599
1998 5,248,266 23,311,564
1997 5,152,011 23,110,830
1996 5,045,678 22,895,746
1995 4,929,409 22,669,304
1994 4,809,220 22,393,975
1993 4,685,060 22,073,352
1992 4,559,646 21,750,911
1991 4,435,118 21,428,638
1990 4,311,955 21,112,137
1989 4,190,974 20,804,367
1988 4,072,601 20,503,161
1987 3,957,612 20,205,483
1986 3,846,715 19,910,855
1985 3,739,985 19,620,388
1984 3,637,843 19,335,043
1983 3,541,001 19,054,034
1982 3,450,026 18,776,357
1981 3,366,631 18,501,295
1980 3,292,573 18,236,786
1979 3,228,202 17,983,470
1978 3,171,740 17,735,995
1977 3,118,923 17,492,798
1976 3,064,876 17,243,450
1975 3,005,521 16,971,055
1974 2,939,761 16,673,121
1973 2,870,573 16,350,367
1972 2,801,660 15,975,069
1971 2,734,628 15,572,457
1970 2,669,702 15,172,775
1969 2,606,959 14,767,615
1968 2,546,377 14,365,596
1967 2,487,715 13,958,350
1966 2,431,084 13,569,094
1965 2,376,200 13,219,369
1964 2,322,826 12,889,770
1963 2,271,061 12,567,057
1962 2,219,910 12,262,882
1961 2,169,796 11,990,713
1960 2,121,514 11,722,953

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

GeoRank.org/facts/laos/north-korea | CC BY

Fertility rates in Laos and North Korea

Fertility rate
Laos

North Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Laos North Korea
2023 2.42 1.78
2022 2.46 1.8
2021 2.49 1.81
2020 2.54 1.82
2019 2.59 1.83
2018 2.63 1.83
2017 2.69 1.85
2016 2.74 1.86
2015 2.8 1.86
2014 2.8 1.87
2013 2.87 1.88
2012 2.95 1.88
2011 3.05 1.88
2010 3.14 1.89
2009 3.23 1.91
2008 3.33 1.97
2007 3.44 1.94
2006 3.56 1.94
2005 3.69 1.87
2004 3.9 1.9
2003 4.02 1.91
2002 4.13 1.92
2001 4.29 1.94
2000 4.43 1.94
1999 4.64 1.97
1998 4.79 1.99
1997 4.96 2.03
1996 5.15 2.09
1995 5.36 2.15
1994 5.6 2.18
1993 5.8 2.22
1992 5.9 2.29
1991 5.99 2.35
1990 6.06 2.39
1989 6.1 2.41
1988 6.16 2.47
1987 6.21 2.53
1986 6.26 2.59
1985 6.33 2.65
1984 6.37 2.71
1983 6.38 2.78
1982 6.37 2.85
1981 6.35 2.92
1980 6.33 2.84
1979 6.31 2.85
1978 6.3 2.79
1977 6.29 2.77
1976 6.29 2.84
1975 6.29 3.05
1974 6.29 3.14
1973 6.28 3.35
1972 6.28 3.89
1971 6.3 3.74
1970 6.31 3.85
1969 6.3 3.86
1968 6.3 3.87
1967 6.31 4.05
1966 6.31 3.71
1965 6.32 3.56
1964 6.31 3.55
1963 6.32 3.63
1962 6.31 3.41
1961 6.31 3.26
1960 6.29 3.57

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

GeoRank.org/facts/laos/north-korea | CC BY

Laos and North Korea demographics compared

Median age
Laos

North Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Laos North Korea
2024 25.6 37.3
2023 25.3 37.1
2022 25 36.8
2021 24.7 36.6
2020 24.4 36.4
2019 24.1 36.2
2018 23.8 35.9
2017 23.6 35.7
2016 23.3 35.4
2015 23 35.2
2014 22.7 35
2013 22.3 34.7
2012 21.9 34.5
2011 21.4 34.3
2010 21 34
2009 20.5 33.7
2008 20 33.3
2007 19.6 32.9
2006 19.2 32.5
2005 18.9 32.1
2004 18.7 31.8
2003 18.5 31.4
2002 18.4 31
2001 18.2 30.5
2000 18.1 30.1
1999 18 29.6
1998 18 29.2
1997 18 28.8
1996 17.9 28.3
1995 17.9 28
1994 17.9 27.6
1993 17.9 27.2
1992 17.9 26.8
1991 17.9 26.4
1990 17.9 26
1989 17.9 25.6
1988 17.9 25.1
1987 17.8 24.8
1986 17.8 24.5
1985 17.8 24.2
1984 17.8 23.9
1983 17.8 23.5
1982 17.8 23.1
1981 17.9 22.8
1980 17.9 22.5
1979 18 22.2
1978 18.1 21.8
1977 18.3 21.4
1976 18.4 21.1
1975 18.5 20.9
1974 18.6 20.7
1973 18.7 20.7
1972 18.7 20.9
1971 18.7 21.2
1970 18.7 21.4
1969 18.8 21.4
1968 18.8 21.4
1967 18.9 21.4
1966 18.9 21.3
1965 18.9 21.2
1964 19 21
1963 19 20.8
1962 19.1 20.6
1961 19.2 20.2
1960 19.2 19.9

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

GeoRank.org/facts/laos/north-korea | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Laos North Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2024
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
n/a
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.23%
2023
n/a
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.19%
2013
n/a
Armed forces personnel
129,000
2020
1,469,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.34%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
1.21%
2022
25.6%
2013
Services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
29%
2024
n/a
Economic freedom index
50.9
2026
3.1
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31.2%
2018
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2018
n/a
Total reserves including gold
$1.77B
2023
n/a
Personal remittances received
$247M
2024
n/a
International tourist arrivals
886,400
2020
n/a
International tourism as share of exports
3.51%
2020
n/a
Banked people share
37.7%
2024
n/a

Energy

Laos North Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
815 kg
2022
641 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2022
n/a
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
26.1 megatons
2024
66.2 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.35 tons
2024
2.5 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2022
85.1%
2022
Renewable energy use share
49.2%
2022
14.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
54.2%
2022
8.5%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-49%
2022
4.9%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
1,264 kWh
2022
830 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.3%
2021
63.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
75.9%
2022
62.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
96.5%
2023
57.5%
2023

Society

Laos North Korea
% of world population
0.1%
2024
0.33%
2024
Annual migration change
-10,645
2025
-2,787
2025
Urban population
39.6%
2024
63.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.2:49.8
2024
49.5:50.5
2024
Average male height
5.34 ft
2025
5.73 ft
2025
Average female height
5.02 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
29.2
2026
10.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
34
2025
15
2025
Higher education index
19
2026
10
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7.01
2015
4.4
2015
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.9
2019
24.2
2019
Visa free countries
61
2025
48
2025
Adult literacy rate
75.6%
2023
100%
2018
English speaking
6%
2025
0%
2025
People using the Internet
63.6%
2023
0%
2012

Health

Laos North Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$27.4
2023
n/a
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$12.3
2023
n/a
Life expectancy
69.7 years
2026
74 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
15.4%
2023
n/a
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.33
2022
3.63
2017
Maternal mortality per 100K births
112
2023
67
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
39
2023
18
2023
Obesity rate
8.32%
2022
11.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.7%
2024
9.9%
2024
Air quality index
20
2026
42
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
27.2%
2022
16.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
3.87 liters
2020

Territory

Laos North Korea
% of world land
0.15%
2026
0.08%
2026
Land area per capita
11,469 sq mi
2024
1,754 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
8,831 sq mi
2026
10,021 sq mi
2026
Forest area
63,676 sq mi
2026
23,036 sq mi
2026
Roads length
24,598 mi
2009
15,879 mi
2006

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 (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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