Laos has a population density of 87.2 people per square mile compared to the World's average of 141.6 people. Laos has 328,051 sq ft of land per person. In the list of countries ranked from the most to the least densely populated, Laos ranked 150th out of 197.
Laos has 0.1% of the world's population and 0.15% of all countries' land area.
Population density in Laos compared to the World's average
Laos
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 87.2 ppl/mi² | 141.6 ppl/mi² |
| Population density rank | 150/197 | N/A |
| Population |
7954155
|
8266870341
|
| Land area | 89,112 sq mi | 57,506,055 sq mi |
| Land area per capita | 319,739 sq ft | 196,901 sq ft |
| Rural population | 61.1% | 42.3% |
| Urban population | 38.9% | 57.7% |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 0% | 28.6% |
Laos population density by year chart
The chart below plots how population density in Laos has been changing over time. From 2004 to 2024, population density increased by 34.4%. The population density rank was 150th 21 years ago and is 150th still.
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | Density rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 87.2 | 150 |
| 2023 | 86 | 150 |
| 2022 | 84.8 | 150 |
| 2021 | 83.6 | 150 |
| 2020 | 82.4 | 151 |
| 2019 | 81.2 | 151 |
| 2018 | 80 | 153 |
| 2017 | 78.8 | 153 |
| 2016 | 77.5 | 153 |
| 2015 | 76.3 | 153 |
| 2014 | 75.2 | 153 |
| 2013 | 74.2 | 153 |
| 2012 | 73.2 | 153 |
| 2011 | 72.1 | 153 |
| 2010 | 71.1 | 152 |
| 2009 | 70 | 152 |
| 2008 | 69 | 152 |
| 2007 | 68 | 152 |
| 2006 | 66.9 | 152 |
| 2005 | 65.9 | 150 |
| 2004 | 64.9 | 150 |
| 2003 | 63.9 | 149 |
| 2002 | 63 | 148 |
| 2001 | 62 | 148 |
| 2000 | 60.9 | 148 |
| 1999 | 59.9 | 145 |
| 1998 | 58.9 | 145 |
| 1997 | 57.8 | 144 |
| 1996 | 56.6 | 144 |
| 1995 | 55.3 | 145 |
| 1994 | 54 | 145 |
| 1993 | 52.6 | 145 |
| 1992 | 51.2 | 142 |
| 1991 | 49.8 | 125 |
| 1990 | 48.4 | 123 |
| 1989 | 47 | 123 |
| 1988 | 45.7 | 123 |
| 1987 | 44.4 | 125 |
| 1986 | 43.2 | 125 |
| 1985 | 42 | 126 |
| 1984 | 40.8 | 127 |
| 1983 | 39.7 | 128 |
| 1982 | 38.7 | 128 |
| 1981 | 37.8 | 128 |
| 1980 | 36.9 | 127 |
| 1979 | 36.2 | 126 |
| 1978 | 35.6 | 125 |
| 1977 | 35 | 124 |
| 1976 | 34.4 | 124 |
| 1975 | 33.7 | 124 |
| 1974 | 33 | 124 |
| 1973 | 32.2 | 124 |
| 1972 | 31.4 | 124 |
| 1971 | 30.7 | 122 |
| 1970 | 30 | 122 |
| 1969 | 29.3 | 123 |
| 1968 | 28.6 | 123 |
| 1967 | 27.9 | 123 |
| 1966 | 27.3 | 123 |
| 1965 | 26.7 | 123 |
| 1964 | 26.1 | 124 |
| 1963 | 25.5 | 124 |
| 1962 | 24.9 | 124 |
| 1961 | 24.3 | 124 |
Share of urban population by year chart
The following chart shows the share of the urban population in Laos from 1960 to 2024: 7.95% of population lived in urban areas in 1960, 22% in 2000, and in 2024 the share of the urban population was 38.9%.
| Year | Urban population | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38.9% | 156 |
| 2023 | 38.2% | 156 |
| 2022 | 37.6% | 158 |
| 2021 | 36.9% | 159 |
| 2020 | 36.3% | 160 |
| 2019 | 35.6% | 160 |
| 2018 | 35% | 160 |
| 2017 | 34.4% | 161 |
| 2016 | 33.7% | 161 |
| 2015 | 33.1% | 161 |
| 2014 | 32.5% | 162 |
| 2013 | 31.9% | 163 |
| 2012 | 31.3% | 164 |
| 2011 | 30.7% | 165 |
| 2010 | 30.1% | 165 |
| 2009 | 29.5% | 165 |
| 2008 | 28.9% | 165 |
| 2007 | 28.3% | 165 |
| 2006 | 27.7% | 167 |
| 2005 | 27.2% | 168 |
| 2004 | 26.2% | 169 |
| 2003 | 25.1% | 172 |
| 2002 | 24% | 172 |
| 2001 | 23% | 173 |
| 2000 | 22% | 177 |
| 1999 | 21% | 179 |
| 1998 | 20% | 179 |
| 1997 | 19.1% | 179 |
| 1996 | 18.2% | 181 |
| 1995 | 17.4% | 181 |
| 1994 | 16.9% | 182 |
| 1993 | 16.5% | 183 |
| 1992 | 16.1% | 183 |
| 1991 | 15.8% | 183 |
| 1990 | 15.4% | 183 |
| 1989 | 15.1% | 183 |
| 1988 | 14.8% | 183 |
| 1987 | 14.4% | 182 |
| 1986 | 14.1% | 183 |
| 1985 | 13.8% | 183 |
| 1984 | 13.5% | 183 |
| 1983 | 13.2% | 183 |
| 1982 | 12.9% | 183 |
| 1981 | 12.7% | 183 |
| 1980 | 12.4% | 182 |
| 1979 | 12.1% | 182 |
| 1978 | 11.8% | 182 |
| 1977 | 11.6% | 182 |
| 1976 | 11.3% | 180 |
| 1975 | 11.1% | 180 |
| 1974 | 10.8% | 180 |
| 1973 | 10.6% | 178 |
| 1972 | 10.3% | 178 |
| 1971 | 9.95% | 178 |
| 1970 | 9.63% | 178 |
| 1969 | 9.3% | 176 |
| 1968 | 8.99% | 176 |
| 1967 | 8.69% | 176 |
| 1966 | 8.4% | 177 |
| 1965 | 8.32% | 177 |
| 1964 | 8.25% | 176 |
| 1963 | 8.17% | 175 |
| 1962 | 8.1% | 174 |
| 1961 | 8.02% | 174 |
| 1960 | 7.95% | 174 |
Densely populated cities
|
Laos
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Vientiane | 948K |
| Thakhek | 90.8K |
| Luang Prabang | 53.8K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
people per square mile
Population density
Relevant pages:
Laos topic pages:
Population density comparisons
