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Laos vs Vietnam statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has a population of 7.77M (ranked 103/197), compared with 101M in Vietnam (ranked 16/197). Laos' land area is 89,112 sq mi versus 121,016 sq mi for Vietnam (ranked 79th vs. 67th).

By GDP, Laos ranks 139/197 ($16.5B) and Vietnam ranks 33/197 ($476B). By GDP per capita, Laos ranks 155/197 ($2,124), while Vietnam ranks 122/197 ($4,717).

Main facts and rankings

Laos Vietnam
Population
8004838
102365351
Population rank 103/197 16/197
GDP
$16.5B
2024
$476B
2024
GDP rank 139/197 33/197
GDP per capita
$2,124
2024
$4,717
2024
GDP per capita rank 155/197 122/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$9,776
2024
$16,386
2024
Government debt
$16.6B
2024
$149B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
100.5%
2024
31.3%
2024
Government debt per person
$2,134
2024
$1,475
2024
Government debt per person rank 119/185 132/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,096
2026
$4,020
2026
Land area 89,112 sq mi 121,016 sq mi
Population density
89.5 ppl/mi²
2026
845 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
2.42
2023
1.91
2023
Median age
25.6 years
2024
33.9 years
2024
Life expectancy
69.7 years
2026
75 years
2026

Laos and Vietnam: Comparison Charts

Laos and Vietnam economies compared

GDP
Laos

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP
Laos Vietnam
2024 $16,502,933,121 $476,388,230,307
2023 $15,843,155,731 $433,857,681,378
2022 $15,468,785,204 $413,445,230,669
2021 $18,827,148,531 $366,474,752,771
2020 $18,981,805,250 $346,615,738,538
2019 $18,740,561,513 $334,365,270,497
2018 $18,141,641,090 $310,106,478,395
2017 $17,071,155,481 $281,353,605,987
2016 $15,912,501,723 $257,096,001,178
2015 $14,426,380,126 $239,258,328,382
2014 $13,279,245,886 $233,451,469,643
2013 $11,983,252,627 $213,708,811,665
2012 $10,192,846,339 $195,590,661,129
2011 $8,750,104,617 $172,595,049,184
2010 $7,131,771,015 $147,201,173,197
2009 $5,836,137,330 $106,014,659,565
2008 $5,446,433,157 $99,130,304,099
2007 $4,223,152,739 $77,414,425,532
2006 $3,455,030,061 $66,371,664,817
2005 $2,735,558,735 $57,633,255,738
2004 $2,366,398,120 $45,427,854,693
2003 $2,023,324,407 $39,552,513,232
2002 $1,758,176,653 $35,064,105,501
2001 $1,768,619,058 $32,685,198,809
2000 $1,731,198,022 $31,172,518,403
1999 $1,454,430,642 $28,683,659,007
1998 $1,280,177,839 $27,209,602,050
1997 $1,747,011,857 $26,843,700,442
1996 $1,873,671,550 $24,657,470,575
1995 $1,763,536,305 $20,736,164,459
1994 $1,543,606,345 $16,286,433,533
1993 $1,327,748,690 $13,180,953,598
1992 $1,127,806,945 $9,866,990,236
1991 $1,028,087,972 $9,613,369,520
1990 $865,559,879 $6,471,740,806
1989 $714,046,821 $6,293,304,975
1988 $598,961,269 $25,423,812,649
1987 $1,087,273,104 $36,658,108,850
1986 $1,776,842,097 $26,336,616,250
1985 $2,366,666,616 $14,094,687,821
1984 $1,757,142,856 -

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

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

Laos and Vietnam economies compared

GDP per capita
Laos

Vietnam
1x
Year GDP per capita
Laos Vietnam
2024 $2,124 $4,717
2023 $2,067 $4,323
2022 $2,046 $4,148
2021 $2,526 $3,704
2020 $2,584 $3,534
2019 $2,589 $3,441
2018 $2,545 $3,222
2017 $2,432 $2,956
2016 $2,303 $2,735
2015 $2,121 $2,578
2014 $1,981 $2,546
2013 $1,813 $2,360
2012 $1,564 $2,185
2011 $1,362 $1,951
2010 $1,126 $1,683
2009 $935 $1,226
2008 $886 $1,164
2007 $697 $926
2006 $579 $808
2005 $466 $711
2004 $409 $565
2003 $355 $497
2002 $313 $445
2001 $320 $419
2000 $319 $404
1999 $272.3 $376
1998 $243.9 $361
1997 $339 $362
1996 $371 $337
1995 $358 $287.8
1994 $321 $229.9
1993 $283.4 $189.4
1992 $247.3 $144.5
1991 $231.8 $143.7
1990 $200.7 $98.8
1989 $170.4 $98.1
1988 $147.1 $405
1987 $274.7 $595
1986 $462 $436
1985 $633 $238.6
1984 $483 -

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

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

Laos vs. Vietnam life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Laos

Vietnam
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Laos Vietnam
2026 69.7 75
2025 69.5 74.9
2024 69.2 74.7
2023 69 74.6
2022 68.7 74.5
2021 67.8 74.1
2020 68.3 75.4
2019 67.9 74.2
2018 67.6 74.1
2017 67.3 74
2016 67 74
2015 66.7 74
2014 66.3 73.9
2013 65.7 73.8
2012 65.1 73.8
2011 64.5 73.7
2010 63.7 73.6
2009 63 73.5
2008 62.2 73.5
2007 61.7 73.4
2006 61.1 73.3
2005 60.7 73.2
2004 60.1 73.1
2003 59.6 73.2
2002 59.3 73.1
2001 58.9 73
2000 58.3 72.7
1999 57.9 72.6
1998 57.5 72.3
1997 57.3 71.7
1996 56.8 71.3
1995 56.3 70.9
1994 55.8 70.4
1993 55.6 70
1992 55.1 69.6
1991 54.7 69.3
1990 54 69
1989 53.6 68.8
1988 53.1 68.6
1987 52.6 68
1986 52.1 67.6
1985 51.6 67.2
1984 51 66.9
1983 50.5 66.5
1982 49.9 66.2
1981 49.2 65.8
1980 48.6 65.3
1979 47.5 65
1978 46.8 64.5
1977 46.4 64.1
1976 46 63.7
1975 46.1 61.9
1974 45.9 54.8
1973 44.7 55.7
1972 44.4 51.9
1971 44.1 55.6
1970 43.8 54.9
1969 43.5 54.8
1968 43.2 52.7
1967 42.9 56.7
1966 42.3 56.9
1965 42.2 57
1964 41.9 57.5
1963 41.5 56.9
1962 42.3 58.2
1961 41.3 58.5
1960 41 58
1959 40.7 57.4
1958 41.2 56.8
1957 40.9 56.2
1956 40.6 55.5
1955 40.3 54.8
1954 40 52
1953 39.7 50
1952 39.4 49.4
1951 39.2 48.7
1950 38.9 48

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

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

Laos and Vietnam population clocks and comparison

Population
Laos

Vietnam
1x
Year Population
Laos Vietnam
2024 7,769,819 100,987,686
2023 7,664,993 100,352,192
2022 7,559,007 99,680,655
2021 7,453,194 98,935,098
2020 7,346,533 98,079,191
2019 7,237,636 97,173,776
2018 7,128,045 96,237,319
2017 7,018,147 95,176,977
2016 6,908,802 94,000,117
2015 6,801,645 92,823,254
2014 6,703,172 91,679,578
2013 6,611,385 90,573,104
2012 6,518,978 89,510,356
2011 6,426,590 88,468,314
2010 6,334,194 87,455,152
2009 6,241,642 86,460,018
2008 6,148,969 85,175,788
2007 6,056,236 83,633,375
2006 5,963,200 82,167,897
2005 5,869,523 81,088,313
2004 5,781,626 80,338,971
2003 5,697,945 79,563,777
2002 5,610,889 78,772,224
2001 5,521,482 77,969,361
2000 5,431,212 77,154,011
1999 5,340,784 76,287,452
1998 5,248,266 75,299,660
1997 5,152,011 74,226,889
1996 5,045,678 73,156,447
1995 4,929,409 72,049,940
1994 4,809,220 70,854,391
1993 4,685,060 69,586,384
1992 4,559,646 68,260,337
1991 4,435,118 66,891,775
1990 4,311,955 65,504,552
1989 4,190,974 64,147,348
1988 4,072,601 62,843,228
1987 3,957,612 61,584,651
1986 3,846,715 60,347,048
1985 3,739,985 59,060,622
1984 3,637,843 57,706,067
1983 3,541,001 56,337,921
1982 3,450,026 55,011,289
1981 3,366,631 53,738,141
1980 3,292,573 52,490,101
1979 3,228,202 51,378,211
1978 3,171,740 50,249,552
1977 3,118,923 48,954,872
1976 3,064,876 47,684,931
1975 3,005,521 46,482,903
1974 2,939,761 45,413,537
1973 2,870,573 44,409,861
1972 2,801,660 43,429,168
1971 2,734,628 42,449,276
1970 2,669,702 41,475,230
1969 2,606,959 40,582,096
1968 2,546,377 39,734,609
1967 2,487,715 38,895,080
1966 2,431,084 38,024,836
1965 2,376,200 37,129,656
1964 2,322,826 36,201,563
1963 2,271,061 35,249,101
1962 2,219,910 34,288,560
1961 2,169,796 33,409,059
1960 2,121,514 32,531,933

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

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

Fertility rates in Laos and Vietnam

Fertility rate
Laos

Vietnam
1x
Year Fertility rate
Laos Vietnam
2023 2.42 1.91
2022 2.46 1.93
2021 2.49 1.94
2020 2.54 1.96
2019 2.59 1.94
2018 2.63 1.88
2017 2.69 1.99
2016 2.74 2
2015 2.8 2.1
2014 2.8 2.09
2013 2.87 1.98
2012 2.95 1.97
2011 3.05 1.93
2010 3.14 1.91
2009 3.23 1.92
2008 3.33 1.93
2007 3.44 1.91
2006 3.56 1.87
2005 3.69 1.89
2004 3.9 1.97
2003 4.02 2
2002 4.13 2.01
2001 4.29 2.02
2000 4.43 2.03
1999 4.64 2
1998 4.79 2.1
1997 4.96 2.27
1996 5.15 2.47
1995 5.36 2.7
1994 5.6 2.94
1993 5.8 3.17
1992 5.9 3.35
1991 5.99 3.52
1990 6.06 3.6
1989 6.1 3.64
1988 6.16 3.62
1987 6.21 3.72
1986 6.26 3.96
1985 6.33 4.21
1984 6.37 4.41
1983 6.38 4.52
1982 6.37 4.59
1981 6.35 4.67
1980 6.33 4.8
1979 6.31 4.94
1978 6.3 5.1
1977 6.29 5.29
1976 6.29 5.46
1975 6.29 5.62
1974 6.29 5.78
1973 6.28 6.11
1972 6.28 6.1
1971 6.3 6.07
1970 6.31 6.02
1969 6.3 6.01
1968 6.3 6.03
1967 6.31 5.88
1966 6.31 5.97
1965 6.32 6.16
1964 6.31 6.29
1963 6.32 6.39
1962 6.31 6.26
1961 6.31 5.48
1960 6.29 6.27

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

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

Laos and Vietnam demographics compared

Median age
Laos

Vietnam
1x
Year Median age, years
Laos Vietnam
2024 25.6 33.9
2023 25.3 33.4
2022 25 33
2021 24.7 32.5
2020 24.4 32.1
2019 24.1 31.6
2018 23.8 31.2
2017 23.6 30.8
2016 23.3 30.5
2015 23 30.2
2014 22.7 29.8
2013 22.3 29.4
2012 21.9 29
2011 21.4 28.7
2010 21 28.3
2009 20.5 27.9
2008 20 27.4
2007 19.6 26.9
2006 19.2 26.3
2005 18.9 25.8
2004 18.7 25.4
2003 18.5 25
2002 18.4 24.6
2001 18.2 24.2
2000 18.1 23.7
1999 18 23.3
1998 18 22.9
1997 18 22.4
1996 17.9 22
1995 17.9 21.7
1994 17.9 21.4
1993 17.9 21.1
1992 17.9 20.9
1991 17.9 20.7
1990 17.9 20.5
1989 17.9 20.4
1988 17.9 20.2
1987 17.8 20.1
1986 17.8 20
1985 17.8 19.9
1984 17.8 19.8
1983 17.8 19.7
1982 17.8 19.6
1981 17.9 19.5
1980 17.9 19.4
1979 18 19.3
1978 18.1 19.1
1977 18.3 19
1976 18.4 18.8
1975 18.5 18.7
1974 18.6 18.6
1973 18.7 18.5
1972 18.7 18.5
1971 18.7 18.4
1970 18.7 18.4
1969 18.8 18.4
1968 18.8 18.4
1967 18.9 18.5
1966 18.9 18.7
1965 18.9 18.9
1964 19 19.2
1963 19 19.7
1962 19.1 20.2
1961 19.2 20.7
1960 19.2 21.2

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Laos Vietnam
GNI, Atlas method
$15.5B
2024
$454B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
15.7%
2024
19.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.23%
2023
2.89%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.19%
2013
1.81%
2018
Armed forces personnel
129,000
2020
522,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+2.34%
2024
-1.54%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.21%
2022
1.53%
2024
Services, % of GDP
43.5%
2024
42.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29%
2024
37.6%
2024
Economic freedom index
50.9
2026
64.4
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31.2%
2018
28.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
3%
2018
2.6%
2022
Number of billionaires n/a
5
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.000007%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
393
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$205B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.77B
2023
$83.1B
2024
Personal remittances received
$247M
2024
$16B
2024
International tourist arrivals
886,400
2020
3,837,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
3.51%
2020
1.11%
2020
Banked people share
37.7%
2024
70.6%
2024

Energy

Laos Vietnam
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
815 kg
2022
1,023 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$10.8
2022
$13.6
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
26.1 megatons
2024
431 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
3.35 tons
2024
4.27 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2022
79.4%
2022
Renewable energy use share
49.2%
2022
24.2%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
54.2%
2022
11.3%
2022
Net energy imports use share
-49%
2022
34%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
1,264 kWh
2022
2,624 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
63.3%
2021
41.2%
2021
Hydroelectric share
75.9%
2022
34.7%
2022
Nuclear share
0%
2021
0%
2021
Electricity access
96.5%
2023
99.8%
2023

Society

Laos Vietnam
% of world population
0.1%
2024
1.24%
2024
Annual migration change
-10,645
2025
-48,171
2025
Urban population
39.6%
2024
38.5%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.2:49.8
2024
49:51
2024
Average male height
5.34 ft
2025
5.54 ft
2025
Average female height
5.02 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
29.2
2026
48.9
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
34
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
19
2026
54
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7.01
2015
1.54
2011
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.9
2019
30.6
2019
Visa free countries
61
2025
67
2025
Adult literacy rate
75.6%
2023
96.1%
2022
English speaking
6%
2025
16%
2025
People using the Internet
63.6%
2023
84.2%
2024

Health

Laos Vietnam
Government health expenditure per capita
$27.4
2023
$197.2
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$12.3
2023
$77.3
2023
Life expectancy
69.7 years
2026
75 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
15.4%
2023
1.15%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.33
2022
1.11
2021
Maternal mortality per 100K births
112
2023
48
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
39
2023
20
2023
Obesity rate
8.32%
2022
2.04%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.7%
2024
3.4%
2024
Air quality index
20
2026
20
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
27.2%
2022
22.5%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
10.8 liters
2020
8.04 liters
2020

Territory

Laos Vietnam
% of world land
0.15%
2026
0.21%
2026
Land area per capita
11,469 sq mi
2024
1,198 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
8,831 sq mi
2026
47,456 sq mi
2026
Forest area
63,676 sq mi
2026
57,416 sq mi
2026
Roads length
24,598 mi
2009
354,460 mi
2019

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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