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Population density: Laos vs Syria compared

Updated on by Georank team

Laos has a population density of 89.5 people per square mile compared to 375 people in Syria. Laos has 328,051 sq ft of land per person vs 80,788 sq ft in Syria. Laos and Syria rank 150th and 68th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Laos has 0.1% of the world's population and 0.15% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.3% of the population and 0.12% of the land area for Syria, making the population density in Laos 76.1% lower than in Syria.

Population density by year

Laos
Syria

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Laos Syria
2026 89.5 375
2025 88.4 362
2024 87.2 348
2023 86 333
2022 84.8 317
2021 83.6 305
2020 82.4 296.9
2019 81.2 287.1
2018 80 276.1
2017 78.8 271.2
2016 77.5 270.7
2015 76.3 274
2014 75.2 285.9
2013 74.2 306
2012 73.2 321
2011 72.1 323
2010 71.1 317
2009 70 310
2008 69 305
2007 68 294.5
2006 66.9 277
2005 65.9 265.4
2004 64.9 258.7
2003 63.9 252.4
2002 63 246.2
2001 62 240.3
2000 60.9 234.5
1999 59.9 228.7
1998 58.9 223
1997 57.8 217.3
1996 56.6 211.6
1995 55.3 206
1994 54 200.2
1993 52.6 194.4
1992 51.2 188.6
1991 49.8 182.9
1990 48.4 177.3
1989 47 171.6
1988 45.7 166
1987 44.4 160.5
1986 43.2 155.1
1985 42 149.7
1984 40.8 144.6
1983 39.7 139.6
1982 38.7 134.9
1981 37.8 130.5
1980 36.9 126.2
1979 36.2 122.1
1978 35.6 118
1977 35 114
1976 34.4 110.2
1975 33.7 106.5
1974 33 102.9
1973 32.2 99.5
1972 31.4 96.2
1971 30.7 93
1970 30 89.9
1969 29.3 87
1968 28.6 84.3
1967 27.9 81.6
1966 27.3 79
1965 26.7 76.6
1964 26.1 74.3
1963 25.5 72
1962 24.9 69.9
1961 24.3 67.9

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/laos/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Laos increased by 33.8%, compared to a 35.5% growth in Syria.

In 2006, Laos ranked 152nd by population density and is 150th now. Syria was 75th in 2006 and ranks 68th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Laos
Syria
1x
Year Urban population
Laos Syria
2024 39.6% 72.1%
2023 38.8% 72.2%
2022 38.1% 72.6%
2021 37.3% 73%
2020 36.6% 73.4%
2019 35.9% 73.8%
2018 35.2% 74.1%
2017 34.5% 74.5%
2016 33.8% 75.2%
2015 33.1% 75.8%
2014 32.7% 76%
2013 32.2% 73.1%
2012 31.7% 65.1%
2011 31.2% 58.5%
2010 30.6% 55.7%
2009 30% 55%
2008 29.4% 54.6%
2007 28.7% 54.3%
2006 28% 54.1%
2005 27.3% 53.8%
2004 26.5% 53.5%
2003 25.6% 53.1%
2002 24.5% 52.7%
2001 23.4% 52.3%
2000 22.2% 51.9%
1999 21% 51.5%
1998 19.9% 51.1%
1997 18.8% 50.7%
1996 18% 50.4%
1995 17.3% 50%
1994 16.8% 49.8%
1993 16.3% 49.5%
1992 15.9% 49.3%
1991 15.6% 49%
1990 15.2% 48.8%
1989 14.9% 48.6%
1988 14.7% 48.5%
1987 14.4% 48.3%
1986 14.1% 48.1%
1985 13.8% 47.9%
1984 13.5% 47.7%
1983 13.2% 47.5%
1982 12.9% 47.3%
1981 12.7% 47%
1980 12.4% 46.7%
1979 12.1% 46.4%
1978 11.9% 46.1%
1977 11.6% 45.8%
1976 11.3% 45.5%
1975 11.1% 45.2%
1974 10.8% 44.8%
1973 10.5% 44.5%
1972 10.2% 44.1%
1971 9.84% 43.8%
1970 9.48% 43.4%
1969 9.13% 43%
1968 8.82% 42.7%
1967 8.57% 42.4%
1966 8.4% 42%
1965 8.28% 41.7%
1964 8.17% 41.4%
1963 8.07% 41%
1962 7.98% 40.7%
1961 7.9% 40.4%
1960 7.85% 40%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/laos/syria | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 26.5% to 39.6% in Laos and from 53.5% to 72.1% in Syria.

Densely populated cities

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/laos/syria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2004–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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