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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 4.56 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.54% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Laos vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Malaysia
2100 9,342,607 44,353,615
2099 9,389,481 44,467,475
2098 9,435,427 44,579,971
2097 9,480,219 44,695,979
2096 9,524,052 44,814,885
2095 9,567,045 44,932,404
2094 9,609,471 45,047,479
2093 9,651,065 45,165,126
2092 9,691,590 45,278,674
2091 9,731,446 45,390,002
2090 9,770,116 45,501,495
2089 9,807,690 45,610,046
2088 9,844,143 45,717,882
2087 9,879,110 45,823,085
2086 9,912,903 45,926,712
2085 9,945,223 46,020,742
2084 9,975,614 46,111,490
2083 10,005,023 46,202,286
2082 10,032,558 46,284,929
2081 10,058,731 46,359,700
2080 10,083,222 46,435,482
2079 10,106,703 46,496,102
2078 10,128,372 46,549,167
2077 10,148,533 46,594,188
2076 10,165,829 46,619,045
2075 10,182,062 46,643,115
2074 10,196,505 46,658,350
2073 10,208,837 46,670,848
2072 10,218,581 46,670,426
2071 10,225,726 46,660,436
2070 10,231,909 46,645,623
2069 10,235,317 46,623,238
2068 10,235,668 46,600,060
2067 10,233,930 46,569,264
2066 10,228,744 46,530,377
2065 10,222,027 46,481,890
2064 10,212,674 46,417,369
2063 10,200,753 46,350,674
2062 10,186,526 46,272,105
2061 10,169,161 46,178,092
2060 10,149,107 46,075,877
2059 10,126,671 45,958,718
2058 10,100,989 45,837,407
2057 10,072,578 45,707,213
2056 10,041,736 45,566,357
2055 10,008,916 45,418,953
2054 9,972,602 45,252,995
2053 9,933,363 45,069,089
2052 9,891,383 44,873,927
2051 9,846,656 44,668,767
2050 9,799,766 44,445,677
2049 9,750,669 44,217,593
2048 9,697,931 43,974,925
2047 9,643,484 43,712,325
2046 9,586,249 43,438,283
2045 9,527,029 43,157,909
2044 9,465,046 42,866,716
2043 9,401,665 42,557,941
2042 9,334,890 42,239,980
2041 9,266,149 41,922,379
2040 9,195,755 41,598,231
2039 9,122,969 41,270,953
2038 9,046,689 40,929,067
2037 8,968,700 40,584,773
2036 8,888,903 40,234,128
2035 8,807,373 39,876,375
2034 8,723,937 39,515,857
2033 8,638,238 39,152,086
2032 8,550,017 38,772,414
2031 8,459,669 38,386,293
2030 8,367,305 37,995,617
2029 8,273,173 37,606,753
2028 8,176,811 37,207,852
2027 8,078,122 36,806,585
2026 7,977,666 36,403,076
2025 7,874,813 35,987,113
2024 7,769,819 35,557,673
2023 7,664,993 35,126,298
2022 7,559,007 34,695,493
2021 7,453,194 34,282,399
2020 7,346,533 33,889,558
2019 7,237,636 33,440,596
2018 7,128,045 32,910,967
2017 7,018,147 32,355,644
2016 6,908,802 31,789,685
2015 6,801,645 31,232,798
2014 6,703,172 30,696,137
2013 6,611,385 30,174,265
2012 6,518,978 29,662,831
2011 6,426,590 29,162,039
2010 6,334,194 28,655,776
2009 6,241,642 28,124,778
2008 6,148,969 27,570,059
2007 6,056,236 26,998,389
2006 5,963,200 26,417,909
2005 5,869,523 25,836,071
2004 5,781,626 25,256,772
2003 5,697,945 24,679,602
2002 5,610,889 24,102,477
2001 5,521,482 23,526,538
2000 5,431,212 22,967,816
1999 5,340,784 22,435,531
1998 5,248,266 21,906,713
1997 5,152,011 21,375,218
1996 5,045,678 20,850,087
1995 4,929,409 20,330,599
1994 4,809,220 19,820,446
1993 4,685,060 19,322,664
1992 4,559,646 18,834,572
1991 4,435,118 18,342,464
1990 4,311,955 17,833,171
1989 4,190,974 17,314,997
1988 4,072,601 16,796,605
1987 3,957,612 16,276,737
1986 3,846,715 15,760,419
1985 3,739,985 15,252,258
1984 3,637,843 14,759,009
1983 3,541,001 14,285,907
1982 3,450,026 13,832,798
1981 3,366,631 13,399,203
1980 3,292,573 12,983,363
1979 3,228,202 12,627,862
1978 3,171,740 12,328,157
1977 3,118,923 12,035,713
1976 3,064,876 11,750,097
1975 3,005,521 11,471,914
1974 2,939,761 11,200,906
1973 2,870,573 10,935,621
1972 2,801,660 10,676,835
1971 2,734,628 10,423,453
1970 2,669,702 10,178,802
1969 2,606,959 9,947,597
1968 2,546,377 9,725,281
1967 2,487,715 9,507,099
1966 2,431,084 9,284,688
1965 2,376,200 9,056,408
1964 2,322,826 8,828,406
1963 2,271,061 8,602,160
1962 2,219,910 8,380,172
1961 2,169,796 8,164,443
1960 2,121,514 7,956,197

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/laos/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Laos' population will grow by 22.4% to 9,799,766 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Malaysia
2100 -0.5% -0.26%
2099 -0.49% -0.25%
2098 -0.47% -0.26%
2097 -0.46% -0.27%
2096 -0.45% -0.26%
2095 -0.44% -0.26%
2094 -0.43% -0.26%
2093 -0.42% -0.25%
2092 -0.41% -0.25%
2091 -0.4% -0.25%
2090 -0.38% -0.24%
2089 -0.37% -0.24%
2088 -0.35% -0.23%
2087 -0.34% -0.23%
2086 -0.32% -0.2%
2085 -0.3% -0.2%
2084 -0.29% -0.2%
2083 -0.27% -0.18%
2082 -0.26% -0.16%
2081 -0.24% -0.16%
2080 -0.23% -0.13%
2079 -0.21% -0.11%
2078 -0.2% -0.1%
2077 -0.17% -0.05%
2076 -0.16% -0.05%
2075 -0.14% -0.03%
2074 -0.12% -0.03%
2073 -0.1% 0.001%
2072 -0.07% 0.02%
2071 -0.06% 0.03%
2070 -0.03% 0.05%
2069 -0.003% 0.05%
2068 0.02% 0.07%
2067 0.05% 0.08%
2066 0.07% 0.1%
2065 0.09% 0.14%
2064 0.12% 0.14%
2063 0.14% 0.17%
2062 0.17% 0.2%
2061 0.2% 0.22%
2060 0.22% 0.25%
2059 0.25% 0.26%
2058 0.28% 0.28%
2057 0.31% 0.31%
2056 0.33% 0.32%
2055 0.36% 0.37%
2054 0.4% 0.41%
2053 0.42% 0.43%
2052 0.45% 0.46%
2051 0.48% 0.5%
2050 0.5% 0.52%
2049 0.54% 0.55%
2048 0.56% 0.6%
2047 0.6% 0.63%
2046 0.62% 0.65%
2045 0.65% 0.68%
2044 0.67% 0.73%
2043 0.72% 0.75%
2042 0.74% 0.76%
2041 0.77% 0.78%
2040 0.8% 0.79%
2039 0.84% 0.84%
2038 0.87% 0.85%
2037 0.9% 0.87%
2036 0.93% 0.9%
2035 0.96% 0.91%
2034 0.99% 0.93%
2033 1.03% 0.98%
2032 1.07% 1.01%
2031 1.1% 1.03%
2030 1.14% 1.03%
2029 1.18% 1.07%
2028 1.22% 1.09%
2027 1.26% 1.11%
2026 1.31% 1.16%
2025 1.35% 1.21%
2024 1.37% 1.23%
2023 1.4% 1.24%
2022 1.42% 1.2%
2021 1.45% 1.16%
2020 1.5% 1.34%
2019 1.54% 1.61%
2018 1.57% 1.72%
2017 1.58% 1.78%
2016 1.58% 1.78%
2015 1.47% 1.75%
2014 1.39% 1.73%
2013 1.42% 1.72%
2012 1.44% 1.72%
2011 1.46% 1.77%
2010 1.48% 1.89%
2009 1.51% 2.01%
2008 1.53% 2.12%
2007 1.56% 2.2%
2006 1.6% 2.25%
2005 1.52% 2.29%
2004 1.47% 2.34%
2003 1.55% 2.39%
2002 1.62% 2.45%
2001 1.66% 2.43%
2000 1.69% 2.37%
1999 1.76% 2.41%
1998 1.87% 2.49%
1997 2.11% 2.52%
1996 2.36% 2.56%
1995 2.5% 2.57%
1994 2.65% 2.58%
1993 2.75% 2.59%
1992 2.81% 2.68%
1991 2.86% 2.86%
1990 2.89% 2.99%
1989 2.91% 3.09%
1988 2.91% 3.19%
1987 2.88% 3.28%
1986 2.85% 3.33%
1985 2.81% 3.34%
1984 2.73% 3.31%
1983 2.64% 3.28%
1982 2.48% 3.24%
1981 2.25% 3.2%
1980 1.99% 2.82%
1979 1.78% 2.43%
1978 1.69% 2.43%
1977 1.76% 2.43%
1976 1.97% 2.42%
1975 2.24% 2.42%
1974 2.41% 2.43%
1973 2.46% 2.42%
1972 2.45% 2.43%
1971 2.43% 2.4%
1970 2.41% 2.32%
1969 2.38% 2.29%
1968 2.36% 2.29%
1967 2.33% 2.4%
1966 2.31% 2.52%
1965 2.3% 2.58%
1964 2.28% 2.63%
1963 2.3% 2.65%
1962 2.31% 2.64%
1961 2.28% 2.62%

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/laos/malaysia | CC BY

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

Live population counters

Laos Malaysia
Current population
8004838
36512221
Population rank 103/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.44%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
1.22 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 89/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +166,615
Net migration rank 134/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 166,615
2024 - -10,284 - 174,770
2023 115,359 -10,003 254,806 181,071
2022 116,620 -10,003 237,560 188,154
2021 115,323 -10,305 212,002 188,506
2020 118,609 -10,305 283,282 101,907
2019 119,797 -10,305 309,426 203,284
2018 119,986 -10,305 324,568 221,965
2017 120,515 -10,400 336,434 227,677
2016 119,978 -11,401 345,681 222,141
2015 118,723 -12,991 358,302 187,663
2014 118,103 -26,881 367,587 159,791
2013 119,845 -27,492 366,738 149,637
2012 121,324 -28,871 371,497 134,975
2011 122,863 -30,538 372,836 122,269
2010 122,516 -30,046 360,260 157,164
2009 122,174 -29,545 366,157 178,410
2008 121,042 -28,318 362,380 202,481
2007 119,980 -27,233 348,711 229,784
2006 118,602 -25,286 349,509 232,971
2005 118,165 -24,138 355,324 225,864
2004 121,888 -40,120 365,138 212,278
2003 122,158 -36,572 377,425 199,510
2002 122,110 -33,595 381,084 196,227
2001 123,847 -33,552 400,939 173,613
2000 124,201 -33,965 417,371 125,499
1999 127,255 -36,632 432,355 89,335
1998 128,409 -33,997 436,316 99,639
1997 130,388 -32,288 447,768 79,266
1996 131,142 -16,574 450,174 73,040
1995 132,241 -14,279 443,349 72,393
1994 134,201 -11,782 437,873 66,685
1993 135,295 -9,390 429,910 61,079
1992 132,417 -7,502 418,900 66,286
1991 129,523 -5,390 401,938 97,111
1990 125,297 -3,100 384,518 135,020
1989 121,044 -1,272 373,277 143,544
1988 117,050 -80 386,507 133,478
1987 113,005 0 381,999 137,759
1986 109,266 -475 385,799 127,081
1985 106,047 -1,376 383,243 120,215
1984 102,318 -2,698 376,797 106,248
1983 98,178 -4,108 365,290 97,862
1982 94,058 -6,184 353,138 89,942
1981 89,963 -11,061 339,991 84,142
1980 86,548 -17,339 326,947 80,617
1979 82,852 -23,317 317,439 -13,980
1978 80,604 -27,208 311,027 -15,059
1977 79,149 -26,908 305,515 -16,601
1976 77,575 -21,738 300,615 -18,316
1975 76,725 -13,858 294,541 -20,480
1974 74,652 -6,000 289,880 -21,919
1973 70,513 -774 284,611 -21,995
1972 68,095 0 276,263 -21,305
1971 65,959 0 272,323 -20,535
1970 63,896 0 269,341 -31,839
1969 61,595 0 264,327 -39,420
1968 59,567 0 260,705 -40,996
1967 57,763 0 258,764 -42,108
1966 55,494 0 262,162 -33,993
1965 54,268 0 264,836 -36,456
1964 52,482 0 266,406 -38,785
1963 51,056 0 265,815 -40,952
1962 51,244 0 262,140 -43,033
1961 48,992 0 257,270 -44,916
1960 47,575 0 251,090 -46,948

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

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

Over the last 10 years, 90.6% of the population change in Laos is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 people). In Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/laos/malaysia | 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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