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Population in Cambodia compared to Laos: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Cambodia was 17,638,801 in 2024 vs 7,769,819 people in Laos in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cambodia's population is 18,113,986 people compared to 8,004,838 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Cambodia's population is 2.26 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Cambodia is ranked the 73rd most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.22% for Cambodia vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, Cambodia has had an average growth rate of +1.38% per year vs +1.48% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Cambodia has increased from 13.6M people to 18.1M (32.8% growth), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8M (34.2% growth).

Cambodia vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Cambodia
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Cambodia Laos
2100 22,906,442 9,342,607
2099 22,962,923 9,389,481
2098 23,019,882 9,435,427
2097 23,073,551 9,480,219
2096 23,123,425 9,524,052
2095 23,167,283 9,567,045
2094 23,212,055 9,609,471
2093 23,252,118 9,651,065
2092 23,290,144 9,691,590
2091 23,322,120 9,731,446
2090 23,354,198 9,770,116
2089 23,385,733 9,807,690
2088 23,409,247 9,844,143
2087 23,433,812 9,879,110
2086 23,455,606 9,912,903
2085 23,473,699 9,945,223
2084 23,490,880 9,975,614
2083 23,503,304 10,005,023
2082 23,511,399 10,032,558
2081 23,517,527 10,058,731
2080 23,523,490 10,083,222
2079 23,527,816 10,106,703
2078 23,528,640 10,128,372
2077 23,524,419 10,148,533
2076 23,517,089 10,165,829
2075 23,511,041 10,182,062
2074 23,498,649 10,196,505
2073 23,486,231 10,208,837
2072 23,468,351 10,218,581
2071 23,447,776 10,225,726
2070 23,425,399 10,231,909
2069 23,398,087 10,235,317
2068 23,367,005 10,235,668
2067 23,328,780 10,233,930
2066 23,288,003 10,228,744
2065 23,246,605 10,222,027
2064 23,196,515 10,212,674
2063 23,143,893 10,200,753
2062 23,088,053 10,186,526
2061 23,025,211 10,169,161
2060 22,956,351 10,149,107
2059 22,882,368 10,126,671
2058 22,803,687 10,100,989
2057 22,719,975 10,072,578
2056 22,633,081 10,041,736
2055 22,541,997 10,008,916
2054 22,444,525 9,972,602
2053 22,342,736 9,933,363
2052 22,235,734 9,891,383
2051 22,121,782 9,846,656
2050 22,005,604 9,799,766
2049 21,881,810 9,750,669
2048 21,754,090 9,697,931
2047 21,622,327 9,643,484
2046 21,484,727 9,586,249
2045 21,344,443 9,527,029
2044 21,199,702 9,465,046
2043 21,050,598 9,401,665
2042 20,897,569 9,334,890
2041 20,742,759 9,266,149
2040 20,586,310 9,195,755
2039 20,425,222 9,122,969
2038 20,260,230 9,046,689
2037 20,092,632 8,968,700
2036 19,926,280 8,888,903
2035 19,751,811 8,807,373
2034 19,577,662 8,723,937
2033 19,399,100 8,638,238
2032 19,219,058 8,550,017
2031 19,034,316 8,459,669
2030 18,847,504 8,367,305
2029 18,656,059 8,273,173
2028 18,459,936 8,176,811
2027 18,260,437 8,078,122
2026 18,059,685 7,977,666
2025 17,851,510 7,874,813
2024 17,638,801 7,769,819
2023 17,423,880 7,664,993
2022 17,201,724 7,559,007
2021 16,974,305 7,453,194
2020 16,725,474 7,346,533
2019 16,481,304 7,237,636
2018 16,274,522 7,128,045
2017 16,073,372 7,018,147
2016 15,852,803 6,908,802
2015 15,623,251 6,801,645
2014 15,396,772 6,703,172
2013 15,170,208 6,611,385
2012 14,945,085 6,518,978
2011 14,722,584 6,426,590
2010 14,500,726 6,334,194
2009 14,276,810 6,241,642
2008 14,053,479 6,148,969
2007 13,841,770 6,056,236
2006 13,639,028 5,963,200
2005 13,439,202 5,869,523
2004 13,244,731 5,781,626
2003 13,050,968 5,697,945
2002 12,855,241 5,610,889
2001 12,658,484 5,521,482
2000 12,462,336 5,431,212
1999 12,265,731 5,340,784
1998 12,058,173 5,248,266
1997 11,570,982 5,152,011
1996 10,801,270 5,045,678
1995 10,018,497 4,929,409
1994 9,239,162 4,809,220
1993 8,616,381 4,685,060
1992 8,113,083 4,559,646
1991 7,686,850 4,435,118
1990 7,374,752 4,311,955
1989 7,073,473 4,190,974
1988 6,812,014 4,072,601
1987 6,557,970 3,957,612
1986 6,285,693 3,846,715
1985 6,043,783 3,739,985
1984 5,845,117 3,637,843
1983 5,636,203 3,541,001
1982 5,436,432 3,450,026
1981 5,284,495 3,366,631
1980 5,199,872 3,292,573
1979 5,088,808 3,228,202
1978 5,211,653 3,171,740
1977 5,668,551 3,118,923
1976 6,134,991 3,064,876
1975 6,581,371 3,005,521
1974 6,783,240 2,939,761
1973 6,739,726 2,870,573
1972 6,673,886 2,801,660
1971 6,620,880 2,734,628
1970 6,639,182 2,669,702
1969 6,604,725 2,606,959
1968 6,467,324 2,546,377
1967 6,332,944 2,487,715
1966 6,201,232 2,431,084
1965 6,072,289 2,376,200
1964 5,946,178 2,322,826
1963 5,823,010 2,271,061
1962 5,697,558 2,219,910
1961 5,571,168 2,169,796
1960 5,449,966 2,121,514

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cambodia/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cambodia increased by 2,213,775 people (a 16.2% growth), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cambodia gained 2,261,183 people (a 14.3% growth), while Laos' population increased by 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth).

Cambodia was ranked 67th most populous country in 2006 and is 73rd in 2026. Laos was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 103rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cambodia's population will grow by 21.5% to 22,005,604 people and will still be ranked 73rd. The population of Laos will increase by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

Cambodia is projected to reach its peak in 2078 at 23.5M people compared to the peak of 10.2M people in 2068 for Laos.

Population growth rate by year

Cambodia
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Cambodia Laos
2100 -0.25% -0.5%
2099 -0.25% -0.49%
2098 -0.23% -0.47%
2097 -0.22% -0.46%
2096 -0.19% -0.45%
2095 -0.19% -0.44%
2094 -0.17% -0.43%
2093 -0.16% -0.42%
2092 -0.14% -0.41%
2091 -0.14% -0.4%
2090 -0.13% -0.38%
2089 -0.1% -0.37%
2088 -0.1% -0.35%
2087 -0.09% -0.34%
2086 -0.08% -0.32%
2085 -0.07% -0.3%
2084 -0.05% -0.29%
2083 -0.03% -0.27%
2082 -0.03% -0.26%
2081 -0.03% -0.24%
2080 -0.02% -0.23%
2079 -0.004% -0.21%
2078 0.02% -0.2%
2077 0.03% -0.17%
2076 0.03% -0.16%
2075 0.05% -0.14%
2074 0.05% -0.12%
2073 0.08% -0.1%
2072 0.09% -0.07%
2071 0.1% -0.06%
2070 0.12% -0.03%
2069 0.13% -0.003%
2068 0.16% 0.02%
2067 0.18% 0.05%
2066 0.18% 0.07%
2065 0.22% 0.09%
2064 0.23% 0.12%
2063 0.24% 0.14%
2062 0.27% 0.17%
2061 0.3% 0.2%
2060 0.32% 0.22%
2059 0.35% 0.25%
2058 0.37% 0.28%
2057 0.38% 0.31%
2056 0.4% 0.33%
2055 0.43% 0.36%
2054 0.46% 0.4%
2053 0.48% 0.42%
2052 0.52% 0.45%
2051 0.53% 0.48%
2050 0.57% 0.5%
2049 0.59% 0.54%
2048 0.61% 0.56%
2047 0.64% 0.6%
2046 0.66% 0.62%
2045 0.68% 0.65%
2044 0.71% 0.67%
2043 0.73% 0.72%
2042 0.75% 0.74%
2041 0.76% 0.77%
2040 0.79% 0.8%
2039 0.81% 0.84%
2038 0.83% 0.87%
2037 0.83% 0.9%
2036 0.88% 0.93%
2035 0.89% 0.96%
2034 0.92% 0.99%
2033 0.94% 1.03%
2032 0.97% 1.07%
2031 0.99% 1.1%
2030 1.03% 1.14%
2029 1.06% 1.18%
2028 1.09% 1.22%
2027 1.11% 1.26%
2026 1.17% 1.31%
2025 1.21% 1.35%
2024 1.23% 1.37%
2023 1.29% 1.4%
2022 1.34% 1.42%
2021 1.49% 1.45%
2020 1.48% 1.5%
2019 1.27% 1.54%
2018 1.25% 1.57%
2017 1.39% 1.58%
2016 1.47% 1.58%
2015 1.47% 1.47%
2014 1.49% 1.39%
2013 1.51% 1.42%
2012 1.51% 1.44%
2011 1.53% 1.46%
2010 1.57% 1.48%
2009 1.59% 1.51%
2008 1.53% 1.53%
2007 1.49% 1.56%
2006 1.49% 1.6%
2005 1.47% 1.52%
2004 1.48% 1.47%
2003 1.52% 1.55%
2002 1.55% 1.62%
2001 1.57% 1.66%
2000 1.6% 1.69%
1999 1.72% 1.76%
1998 4.21% 1.87%
1997 7.13% 2.11%
1996 7.81% 2.36%
1995 8.44% 2.5%
1994 7.23% 2.65%
1993 6.2% 2.75%
1992 5.54% 2.81%
1991 4.23% 2.86%
1990 4.26% 2.89%
1989 3.84% 2.91%
1988 3.87% 2.91%
1987 4.33% 2.88%
1986 4% 2.85%
1985 3.4% 2.81%
1984 3.71% 2.73%
1983 3.67% 2.64%
1982 2.88% 2.48%
1981 1.63% 2.25%
1980 2.18% 1.99%
1979 -2.36% 1.78%
1978 -8.06% 1.69%
1977 -7.6% 1.76%
1976 -6.78% 1.97%
1975 -2.98% 2.24%
1974 0.65% 2.41%
1973 0.99% 2.46%
1972 0.8% 2.45%
1971 -0.28% 2.43%
1970 0.52% 2.41%
1969 2.12% 2.38%
1968 2.12% 2.36%
1967 2.12% 2.33%
1966 2.12% 2.31%
1965 2.12% 2.3%
1964 2.12% 2.28%
1963 2.2% 2.3%
1962 2.27% 2.31%
1961 2.22% 2.28%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cambodia/laos | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Cambodia grew by 1.23%, while Laos' population grew by 1.37%.

Live population counters

Cambodia Laos
Current population
18113986
8004838
Population rank 73/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.22% 0.1%
One net population change
2.45 minutes
5.01 minutes
One birth every
1.45 minutes
3.22 minutes
One death every
4.72 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline +589 +287
Annual growth/decline +214,921 +104,826
Annual growth/decline rate +1.23% +1.37%
Population growth rate rank 88/197 77/197
One migration net change every
16.7 minutes
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change -31,469 -10,645
Net migration rank 167/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 83,925 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 136/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.5% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 175/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Cambodia
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Cambodia Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -31,469 - -10,645
2024 - -32,960 - -10,284
2023 250,242 -31,837 115,359 -10,003
2022 257,269 -31,350 116,620 -10,003
2021 255,939 -27,025 115,323 -10,305
2020 268,745 0 118,609 -10,305
2019 276,870 -57,268 119,797 -10,305
2018 280,671 -86,702 119,986 -10,305
2017 282,698 -74,362 120,515 -10,400
2016 284,130 -51,324 119,978 -11,401
2015 284,390 -58,101 118,723 -12,991
2014 283,193 -56,536 118,103 -26,881
2013 281,013 -54,554 119,845 -27,492
2012 276,649 -52,874 121,324 -28,871
2011 272,161 -50,941 122,863 -30,538
2010 272,266 -49,781 122,516 -30,046
2009 274,700 -49,354 122,174 -29,545
2008 272,132 -50,809 121,042 -28,318
2007 270,745 -68,653 119,980 -27,233
2006 263,697 -60,315 118,602 -25,286
2005 256,756 -60,473 118,165 -24,138
2004 251,650 -58,972 121,888 -40,120
2003 251,884 -57,026 122,158 -36,572
2002 251,860 -55,245 122,110 -33,595
2001 250,726 -53,815 123,847 -33,552
2000 246,330 -50,957 124,201 -33,965
1999 245,425 -47,608 127,255 -36,632
1998 251,076 -33,781 128,409 -33,997
1997 252,351 504,742 130,388 -32,288
1996 274,147 508,187 131,142 -16,574
1995 280,168 503,042 132,241 -14,279
1994 286,728 488,732 134,201 -11,782
1993 282,221 187,883 135,295 -9,390
1992 260,673 275,823 132,417 -7,502
1991 257,709 58,264 129,523 -5,390
1990 249,776 58,455 125,297 -3,100
1989 239,211 55,125 121,044 -1,272
1988 243,203 -14,627 117,050 -80
1987 235,064 44,442 113,005 0
1986 221,684 43,356 109,266 -475
1985 214,101 4,677 106,047 -1,376
1984 207,700 -29,141 102,318 -2,698
1983 192,849 46,428 98,178 -4,108
1982 180,300 -20,026 94,058 -6,184
1981 166,578 -22,982 89,963 -11,061
1980 159,157 -133,508 86,548 -17,339
1979 78,143 118,334 82,852 -23,317
1978 -357,478 -84,695 80,604 -27,208
1977 -416,117 -55,504 79,149 -26,908
1976 -408,505 -52,741 77,575 -21,738
1975 -383,806 -47,717 76,725 -13,858
1974 73,001 -45,225 74,652 -6,000
1973 101,304 -42,053 70,513 -774
1972 113,190 -40,764 68,095 0
1971 113,813 -80,232 65,959 0
1970 122,832 -193,008 63,896 0
1969 156,777 -17,676 61,595 0
1968 153,444 -17,745 59,567 0
1967 150,046 -16,983 57,763 0
1966 147,583 -17,216 55,494 0
1965 144,460 -16,930 54,268 0
1964 141,216 -16,516 52,482 0
1963 137,562 -15,929 51,056 0
1962 132,861 -3,578 51,244 0
1961 128,259 -4,764 48,992 0
1960 124,237 -5,339 47,575 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/cambodia/laos | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 85.2% of the population change in Cambodia is from natural causes (a gain of 2,724,147 people) and 14.8% is from migration (a loss of 474,505 people). In Laos 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 people).

As of 2024, 83,925 residents or 0.5% of the population were not native-born in Cambodia, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

Biggest cities by population

Cambodia
City Population
Phnom Penh 2.13M
Siem Reap 245K
Battambang 130K
Serei Saophoan 99K
Sihanoukville 71.1K
Kampong Cham 61.8K
Svay Rieng 41.4K
Kampot 39.2K
Prey Veng 33.1K
Stung Treng 29.7K
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/cambodia/laos | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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