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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 35,977,838 people in Malaysia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 36,600,906 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 +1.47% per year vs +1.45% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.6M (38.5% growth).

Laos vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Malaysia
2100 9,340,510 44,342,183
2099 9,387,374 44,456,013
2098 9,433,309 44,568,480
2097 9,478,091 44,684,459
2096 9,521,914 44,803,334
2095 9,564,898 44,920,823
2094 9,607,314 45,035,868
2093 9,648,899 45,153,485
2092 9,689,414 45,267,003
2091 9,729,262 45,378,303
2090 9,767,923 45,489,767
2089 9,805,489 45,598,290
2088 9,841,933 45,706,098
2087 9,876,893 45,811,274
2086 9,910,678 45,914,874
2085 9,942,991 46,008,880
2084 9,973,375 46,099,604
2083 10,002,778 46,190,377
2082 10,030,306 46,272,999
2081 10,056,473 46,347,751
2080 10,080,959 46,423,514
2079 10,104,434 46,484,118
2078 10,126,099 46,537,169
2077 10,146,255 46,582,178
2076 10,163,547 46,607,029
2075 10,179,776 46,631,092
2074 10,194,216 46,646,324
2073 10,206,546 46,658,819
2072 10,216,287 46,658,396
2071 10,223,430 46,648,409
2070 10,229,612 46,633,600
2069 10,233,020 46,611,221
2068 10,233,371 46,588,049
2067 10,231,633 46,557,261
2066 10,226,448 46,518,384
2065 10,219,732 46,469,909
2064 10,210,382 46,405,405
2063 10,198,463 46,338,727
2062 10,184,239 46,260,178
2061 10,166,878 46,166,190
2060 10,146,829 46,064,001
2059 10,124,398 45,946,872
2058 10,098,721 45,825,593
2057 10,070,317 45,695,432
2056 10,039,482 45,554,612
2055 10,006,669 45,407,246
2054 9,970,363 45,241,331
2053 9,931,133 45,057,472
2052 9,889,162 44,862,361
2051 9,844,445 44,657,253
2050 9,797,566 44,434,221
2049 9,748,481 44,206,196
2048 9,695,755 43,963,591
2047 9,641,319 43,701,058
2046 9,584,097 43,427,087
2045 9,524,890 43,146,785
2044 9,462,921 42,855,667
2043 9,399,555 42,546,972
2042 9,332,795 42,229,093
2041 9,264,069 41,911,573
2040 9,193,691 41,587,509
2039 9,120,921 41,260,315
2038 9,044,658 40,918,517
2037 8,966,687 40,574,312
2036 8,886,908 40,223,758
2035 8,805,396 39,866,097
2034 8,721,979 39,505,672
2033 8,636,299 39,141,994
2032 8,548,097 38,762,420
2031 8,457,770 38,376,399
2030 8,365,427 37,985,824
2029 8,271,316 37,597,060
2028 8,174,975 37,198,261
2027 8,076,308 36,797,098
2026 7,975,876 36,393,693
2025 7,873,046 35,977,838
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,811,221 people (a 15.1% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th 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 22.1% to 9,797,566 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Malaysia will increase by 21.4% to 44,434,221 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 1.33% 1.18%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.18%.

Live population counters

Laos Malaysia
Current population
8027464
36600906
Population rank 103/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.44%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
1.25 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
1.2 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
2.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +1,151
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +420,165
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +1.18%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 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 114,574 -10,284 252,068 174,770
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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 91.7% of the population change in Laos is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 people). In Malaysia 60.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,914,129 people) and 39.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,897,138 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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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