Skip to content

Laos vs Thailand statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has a population of 7.77M (ranked 103/197), compared with 71.7M in Thailand (ranked 20/197). Laos' land area is 89,112 sq mi versus 197,256 sq mi for Thailand (ranked 79th vs. 50th).

By GDP, Laos ranks 139/197 ($16.5B) and Thailand ranks 31/197 ($527B). By GDP per capita, Laos ranks 155/197 ($2,124), while Thailand ranks 100/197 ($7,347).

Main facts and rankings

Laos Thailand
Population
8004838
71571743
Population rank 103/197 21/197
GDP
$16.5B
2024
$527B
2024
GDP rank 139/197 31/197
GDP per capita
$2,124
2024
$7,347
2024
GDP per capita rank 155/197 100/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,776
2024
$24,712
2024
Government debt
$16.6B
2024
$333B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
100.5%
2024
63.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,134
2024
$4,643
2024
Government debt per person rank 119/185 84/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,096
2026
$6,733
2026
Land area 89,112 sq mi 197,256 sq mi
Population density
89.5 ppl/mi²
2026
363 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.42
2023
1.21
2023
Median age
25.6 years
2024
41.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.7 years
2026
77.1 years
2026

Laos and Thailand: Comparison Charts

Laos and Thailand economies compared

GDP
Laos

Thailand
1x
Year GDP
Laos Thailand
2024 $16,502,933,121 $526,517,658,842
2023 $15,843,155,731 $515,906,283,941
2022 $15,468,785,204 $495,644,697,588
2021 $18,827,148,531 $506,194,668,790
2020 $18,981,805,250 $500,461,898,480
2019 $18,740,561,513 $543,976,691,794
2018 $18,141,641,090 $506,754,208,404
2017 $17,071,155,481 $456,356,813,537
2016 $15,912,501,723 $413,366,349,748
2015 $14,426,380,126 $401,296,238,228
2014 $13,279,245,886 $407,339,040,198
2013 $11,983,252,627 $420,333,654,593
2012 $10,192,846,339 $397,558,325,279
2011 $8,750,104,617 $370,818,739,624
2010 $7,131,771,015 $341,104,766,329
2009 $5,836,137,330 $281,710,630,187
2008 $5,446,433,157 $291,382,982,431
2007 $4,223,152,739 $262,942,621,455
2006 $3,455,030,061 $221,758,296,022
2005 $2,735,558,735 $189,318,408,469
2004 $2,366,398,120 $172,895,685,155
2003 $2,023,324,407 $152,280,615,246
2002 $1,758,176,653 $134,300,904,400
2001 $1,768,619,058 $120,296,476,180
2000 $1,731,198,022 $126,392,224,254
1999 $1,454,430,642 $126,669,211,779
1998 $1,280,177,839 $113,675,596,788
1997 $1,747,011,857 $150,180,456,566
1996 $1,873,671,550 $183,035,237,429
1995 $1,763,536,305 $169,278,916,593
1994 $1,543,606,345 $146,683,778,959
1993 $1,327,748,690 $128,889,262,951
1992 $1,127,806,945 $111,452,746,518
1991 $1,028,087,972 $98,234,714,971
1990 $865,559,879 $85,343,190,719
1989 $714,046,821 $72,250,748,100
1988 $598,961,269 $61,667,253,471
1987 $1,087,273,104 $50,535,446,555
1986 $1,776,842,097 $43,096,773,981
1985 $2,366,666,616 $38,900,711,333
1984 $1,757,142,856 $41,797,647,776
1983 - $40,042,798,388
1982 - $36,589,772,404
1981 - $34,846,039,194
1980 - $32,353,514,989
1979 - $27,371,650,825
1978 - $24,006,566,637
1977 - $19,779,312,261
1976 - $16,985,208,648
1975 - $14,882,770,594
1974 - $13,702,998,512
1973 - $10,838,587,358
1972 - $8,177,873,151
1971 - $7,375,000,024
1970 - $7,086,538,438
1969 - $6,695,336,567
1968 - $6,081,009,428
1967 - $5,638,461,442
1966 - $5,279,230,817
1965 - $4,388,937,649
1964 - $3,889,129,942
1963 - $3,540,403,457
1962 - $3,308,912,797
1961 - $3,034,037,811
1960 - $2,760,750,861

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

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

Laos and Thailand economies compared

GDP per capita
Laos

Thailand
1x
Year GDP per capita
Laos Thailand
2024 $2,124 $7,347
2023 $2,067 $7,195
2022 $2,046 $6,909
2021 $2,526 $7,057
2020 $2,584 $6,986
2019 $2,589 $7,606
2018 $2,545 $7,100
2017 $2,432 $6,413
2016 $2,303 $5,834
2015 $2,121 $5,689
2014 $1,981 $5,801
2013 $1,813 $6,018
2012 $1,564 $5,726
2011 $1,362 $5,374
2010 $1,126 $4,974
2009 $935 $4,135
2008 $886 $4,309
2007 $697 $3,919
2006 $579 $3,331
2005 $466 $2,868
2004 $409 $2,642
2003 $355 $2,348
2002 $313 $2,090
2001 $320 $1,890
2000 $319 $2,006
1999 $272.3 $2,033
1998 $243.9 $1,848
1997 $339 $2,473
1996 $371 $3,055
1995 $358 $2,864
1994 $321 $2,518
1993 $283.4 $2,245
1992 $247.3 $1,972
1991 $231.8 $1,766
1990 $200.7 $1,559
1989 $170.4 $1,342
1988 $147.1 $1,164
1987 $274.7 $970
1986 $462 $842
1985 $633 $774
1984 $483 $847
1983 - $827
1982 - $770
1981 - $748
1980 - $709
1979 - $612
1978 - $548
1977 - $462
1976 - $405
1975 - $364
1974 - $343
1973 - $278.3
1972 - $215.6
1971 - $199.7
1970 - $197.1
1969 - $191.4
1968 - $178.8
1967 - $170.7
1966 - $164.5
1965 - $140.9
1964 - $128.6
1963 - $120.7
1962 - $116.2
1961 - $109.7
1960 - $102.8

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

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

Laos vs. Thailand life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Laos

Thailand
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Laos Thailand
2026 69.7 77.1
2025 69.5 76.8
2024 69.2 76.6
2023 69 76.4
2022 68.7 75.3
2021 67.8 77.6
2020 68.3 77.3
2019 67.9 77.2
2018 67.6 77.2
2017 67.3 77
2016 67 76.8
2015 66.7 76.6
2014 66.3 76.3
2013 65.7 76
2012 65.1 75.6
2011 64.5 75.3
2010 63.7 75
2009 63 74.7
2008 62.2 74.2
2007 61.7 73.8
2006 61.1 73.3
2005 60.7 72.9
2004 60.1 72.1
2003 59.6 72.1
2002 59.3 71.8
2001 58.9 71.5
2000 58.3 71.2
1999 57.9 71
1998 57.5 70.7
1997 57.3 70.4
1996 56.8 69.9
1995 56.3 69.8
1994 55.8 69.7
1993 55.6 69.6
1992 55.1 69.4
1991 54.7 69.1
1990 54 68.9
1989 53.6 68.6
1988 53.1 68.2
1987 52.6 67.8
1986 52.1 67.3
1985 51.6 66.5
1984 51 65.5
1983 50.5 64.5
1982 49.9 63.6
1981 49.2 62.9
1980 48.6 62.2
1979 47.5 61.7
1978 46.8 61.3
1977 46.4 60.9
1976 46 60.4
1975 46.1 59.7
1974 45.9 59
1973 44.7 58.3
1972 44.4 57.7
1971 44.1 57.1
1970 43.8 56.5
1969 43.5 55.7
1968 43.2 55
1967 42.9 54.3
1966 42.3 53.7
1965 42.2 53.1
1964 41.9 52.5
1963 41.5 52
1962 42.3 51.4
1961 41.3 51.1
1960 41 50.6
1959 40.7 50.1
1958 41.2 49.5
1957 40.9 49.1
1956 40.6 48.6
1955 40.3 48.1
1954 40 47.6
1953 39.7 47.1
1952 39.4 46.5
1951 39.2 45.9
1950 38.9 45.2

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

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

Laos and Thailand population clocks and comparison

Population
Laos

Thailand
1x
Year Population
Laos Thailand
2024 7,769,819 71,668,011
2023 7,664,993 71,702,435
2022 7,559,007 71,735,329
2021 7,453,194 71,727,332
2020 7,346,533 71,641,484
2019 7,237,636 71,522,271
2018 7,128,045 71,376,079
2017 7,018,147 71,160,187
2016 6,908,802 70,859,841
2015 6,801,645 70,540,795
2014 6,703,172 70,216,367
2013 6,611,385 69,845,114
2012 6,518,978 69,436,098
2011 6,426,590 69,007,208
2010 6,334,194 68,579,447
2009 6,241,642 68,121,080
2008 6,148,969 67,619,830
2007 6,056,236 67,102,394
2006 5,963,200 66,567,687
2005 5,869,523 66,017,420
2004 5,781,626 65,452,047
2003 5,697,945 64,868,166
2002 5,610,889 64,266,437
2001 5,521,482 63,651,141
2000 5,431,212 63,007,815
1999 5,340,784 62,299,043
1998 5,248,266 61,522,630
1997 5,152,011 60,724,584
1996 5,045,678 59,920,064
1995 4,929,409 59,098,232
1994 4,809,220 58,260,854
1993 4,685,060 57,408,198
1992 4,559,646 56,528,834
1991 4,435,118 55,637,434
1990 4,311,955 54,738,329
1989 4,190,974 53,848,956
1988 4,072,601 52,969,595
1987 3,957,612 52,074,105
1986 3,846,715 51,177,834
1985 3,739,985 50,270,753
1984 3,637,843 49,351,708
1983 3,541,001 48,423,309
1982 3,450,026 47,494,577
1981 3,366,631 46,575,855
1980 3,292,573 45,650,022
1979 3,228,202 44,718,434
1978 3,171,740 43,788,976
1977 3,118,923 42,843,974
1976 3,064,876 41,896,504
1975 3,005,521 40,940,005
1974 2,939,761 39,952,891
1973 2,870,573 38,947,787
1972 2,801,660 37,933,929
1971 2,734,628 36,937,387
1970 2,669,702 35,954,408
1969 2,606,959 34,973,782
1968 2,546,377 34,002,560
1967 2,487,715 33,037,801
1966 2,431,084 32,086,071
1965 2,376,200 31,149,337
1964 2,322,826 30,232,141
1963 2,271,061 29,342,322
1962 2,219,910 28,481,040
1961 2,169,796 27,650,334
1960 2,121,514 26,851,747

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

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

Fertility rates in Laos and Thailand

Fertility rate
Laos

Thailand
1x
Year Fertility rate
Laos Thailand
2023 2.42 1.21
2022 2.46 1.22
2021 2.49 1.23
2020 2.54 1.26
2019 2.59 1.29
2018 2.63 1.32
2017 2.69 1.36
2016 2.74 1.4
2015 2.8 1.45
2014 2.8 1.48
2013 2.87 1.53
2012 2.95 1.56
2011 3.05 1.57
2010 3.14 1.56
2009 3.23 1.57
2008 3.33 1.59
2007 3.44 1.62
2006 3.56 1.63
2005 3.69 1.64
2004 3.9 1.67
2003 4.02 1.67
2002 4.13 1.69
2001 4.29 1.71
2000 4.43 1.73
1999 4.64 1.77
1998 4.79 1.82
1997 4.96 1.85
1996 5.15 1.87
1995 5.36 1.89
1994 5.6 1.93
1993 5.8 1.97
1992 5.9 2.01
1991 5.99 2.04
1990 6.06 2.07
1989 6.1 2.14
1988 6.16 2.17
1987 6.21 2.26
1986 6.26 2.36
1985 6.33 2.45
1984 6.37 2.58
1983 6.38 2.76
1982 6.37 2.94
1981 6.35 3.13
1980 6.33 3.29
1979 6.31 3.45
1978 6.3 3.62
1977 6.29 3.87
1976 6.29 4.12
1975 6.29 4.36
1974 6.29 4.6
1973 6.28 4.85
1972 6.28 5.08
1971 6.3 5.25
1970 6.31 5.45
1969 6.3 5.7
1968 6.3 5.93
1967 6.31 6.08
1966 6.31 6.18
1965 6.32 6.26
1964 6.31 6.31
1963 6.32 6.34
1962 6.31 6.33
1961 6.31 6.32
1960 6.29 6.33

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

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

Laos and Thailand demographics compared

Median age
Laos

Thailand
1x
Year Median age, years
Laos Thailand
2024 25.6 41.1
2023 25.3 40.7
2022 25 40.2
2021 24.7 39.7
2020 24.4 39.2
2019 24.1 38.7
2018 23.8 38.2
2017 23.6 37.7
2016 23.3 37.3
2015 23 36.8
2014 22.7 36.3
2013 22.3 35.9
2012 21.9 35.4
2011 21.4 35
2010 21 34.5
2009 20.5 34
2008 20 33.6
2007 19.6 33.1
2006 19.2 32.6
2005 18.9 32.2
2004 18.7 31.7
2003 18.5 31.3
2002 18.4 30.9
2001 18.2 30.5
2000 18.1 30
1999 18 29.5
1998 18 28.9
1997 18 28.3
1996 17.9 27.7
1995 17.9 27.2
1994 17.9 26.6
1993 17.9 26
1992 17.9 25.4
1991 17.9 24.8
1990 17.9 24.3
1989 17.9 23.7
1988 17.9 23.3
1987 17.8 22.8
1986 17.8 22.4
1985 17.8 21.9
1984 17.8 21.5
1983 17.8 21
1982 17.8 20.6
1981 17.9 20.2
1980 17.9 19.9
1979 18 19.5
1978 18.1 19.2
1977 18.3 18.9
1976 18.4 18.7
1975 18.5 18.4
1974 18.6 18.2
1973 18.7 18
1972 18.7 17.8
1971 18.7 17.6
1970 18.7 17.5
1969 18.8 17.4
1968 18.8 17.3
1967 18.9 17.3
1966 18.9 17.3
1965 18.9 17.4
1964 19 17.5
1963 19 17.6
1962 19.1 17.7
1961 19.2 17.9
1960 19.2 18

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Laos Thailand
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2024
$509B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
22.7%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.23%
2023
2.52%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.19%
2013
1.08%
2024
Armed forces personnel
129,000
2020
455,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.34%
2024
-1.29%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.21%
2022
0.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29%
2024
32.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
50.9
2026
62.2
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31.2%
2018
26.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2018
3.4%
2023
Number of millionaires n/a
100,001
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.18%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
25
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
860
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$520B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.77B
2023
$237B
2024
Personal remittances received
$247M
2024
$9.46B
2024
International tourist arrivals
886,400
2020
39,916,000
2019
International tourism as share of exports
3.51%
2020
5.97%
2020
Banked people share
37.7%
2024
91.8%
2024

Energy

Laos Thailand
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
815 kg
2022
1,851 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2022
$12.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
26.1 megatons
2024
283.8 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.35 tons
2024
3.96 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2022
79.7%
2022
Renewable energy use share
49.2%
2022
19%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
54.2%
2022
1.02%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-49%
2022
57.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
1,264 kWh
2022
2,965 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
63.3%
2021
19.9%
2021
Hydroelectric share
75.9%
2022
3.45%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
96.5%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Laos Thailand
% of world population
0.1%
2024
0.88%
2024
Annual migration change
-10,645
2025
+27,509
2025
Urban population
39.6%
2024
61.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.2:49.8
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.34 ft
2025
5.63 ft
2025
Average female height
5.02 ft
2025
5.23 ft
2025
Quality of life index
29.2
2026
56.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
34
2025
33
2025
Higher education index
19
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7.01
2015
4.81
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.9
2019
32.2
2019
Visa free countries
61
2025
93
2025
Adult literacy rate
75.6%
2023
91.1%
2022
English speaking
6%
2025
27.2%
2023
People using the Internet
63.6%
2023
90.9%
2024

Health

Laos Thailand
Government health expenditure per capita
$27.4
2023
$327
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$12.3
2023
$32.4
2023
Life expectancy
69.7 years
2026
77.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
15.4%
2023
0.1%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.33
2022
0.54
2021
Age at first childbirth n/a
23.3 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
112
2023
34
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
39
2023
9.2
2023
Obesity rate
8.32%
2022
15.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.7%
2024
10.2%
2024
Air quality index
20
2026
35
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
27.2%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
7.99 liters
2020

Territory

Laos Thailand
% of world land
0.15%
2026
0.34%
2026
Land area per capita
11,469 sq mi
2024
2,752 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
8,831 sq mi
2026
86,394 sq mi
2026
Forest area
63,676 sq mi
2026
76,313 sq mi
2026
Roads length
24,598 mi
2009
436,817 mi
2020

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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 (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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.