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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 29,651,054 people in Nepal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 29,596,762 in Nepal.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 3.7 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Nepal is the 52nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.36% for Nepal.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +0.66% in Nepal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Nepal has grown from 26.6M to 29.6M (11.4% growth).

Laos vs Nepal: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Nepal
2100 9,342,607 31,902,377
2099 9,389,481 32,090,762
2098 9,435,427 32,277,789
2097 9,480,219 32,464,318
2096 9,524,052 32,647,891
2095 9,567,045 32,828,594
2094 9,609,471 33,009,460
2093 9,651,065 33,186,290
2092 9,691,590 33,361,327
2091 9,731,446 33,532,505
2090 9,770,116 33,699,660
2089 9,807,690 33,863,636
2088 9,844,143 34,022,597
2087 9,879,110 34,175,457
2086 9,912,903 34,322,945
2085 9,945,223 34,468,441
2084 9,975,614 34,605,513
2083 10,005,023 34,735,114
2082 10,032,558 34,856,938
2081 10,058,731 34,972,075
2080 10,083,222 35,080,783
2079 10,106,703 35,183,584
2078 10,128,372 35,277,254
2077 10,148,533 35,362,658
2076 10,165,829 35,440,746
2075 10,182,062 35,510,291
2074 10,196,505 35,573,094
2073 10,208,837 35,627,375
2072 10,218,581 35,670,886
2071 10,225,726 35,709,979
2070 10,231,909 35,739,580
2069 10,235,317 35,759,193
2068 10,235,668 35,770,405
2067 10,233,930 35,774,081
2066 10,228,744 35,770,220
2065 10,222,027 35,758,824
2064 10,212,674 35,737,661
2063 10,200,753 35,709,945
2062 10,186,526 35,669,839
2061 10,169,161 35,623,365
2060 10,149,107 35,567,728
2059 10,126,671 35,503,043
2058 10,100,989 35,427,419
2057 10,072,578 35,345,633
2056 10,041,736 35,253,644
2055 10,008,916 35,155,433
2054 9,972,602 35,050,330
2053 9,933,363 34,936,594
2052 9,891,383 34,816,009
2051 9,846,656 34,684,328
2050 9,799,766 34,546,267
2049 9,750,669 34,400,898
2048 9,697,931 34,250,249
2047 9,643,484 34,091,495
2046 9,586,249 33,921,975
2045 9,527,029 33,747,892
2044 9,465,046 33,566,784
2043 9,401,665 33,380,395
2042 9,334,890 33,186,321
2041 9,266,149 32,987,097
2040 9,195,755 32,781,189
2039 9,122,969 32,569,731
2038 9,046,689 32,349,742
2037 8,968,700 32,125,036
2036 8,888,903 31,892,962
2035 8,807,373 31,653,976
2034 8,723,937 31,407,460
2033 8,638,238 31,152,292
2032 8,550,017 30,890,627
2031 8,459,669 30,623,706
2030 8,367,305 30,349,201
2029 8,273,173 30,068,368
2028 8,176,811 29,780,585
2027 8,078,122 29,627,864
2026 7,977,666 29,585,230
2025 7,874,813 29,605,298
2024 7,769,819 29,651,054
2023 7,664,993 29,694,614
2022 7,559,007 29,715,436
2021 7,453,194 29,475,010
2020 7,346,533 28,966,574
2019 7,237,636 28,414,064
2018 7,128,045 28,079,689
2017 7,018,147 28,011,258
2016 6,908,802 27,955,462
2015 6,801,645 27,823,629
2014 6,703,172 27,672,370
2013 6,611,385 27,589,996
2012 6,518,978 27,534,915
2011 6,426,590 27,464,494
2010 6,334,194 27,341,952
2009 6,241,642 27,173,035
2008 6,148,969 26,990,037
2007 6,056,236 26,788,492
2006 5,963,200 26,565,425
2005 5,869,523 26,309,458
2004 5,781,626 26,016,656
2003 5,697,945 25,688,758
2002 5,610,889 25,328,981
2001 5,521,482 24,946,748
2000 5,431,212 24,546,509
1999 5,340,784 24,125,199
1998 5,248,266 23,680,357
1997 5,152,011 23,219,463
1996 5,045,678 22,741,862
1995 4,929,409 22,245,439
1994 4,809,220 21,717,479
1993 4,685,060 21,180,159
1992 4,559,646 20,609,707
1991 4,435,118 20,036,500
1990 4,311,955 19,524,573
1989 4,190,974 19,057,807
1988 4,072,601 18,638,661
1987 3,957,612 18,250,505
1986 3,846,715 17,868,124
1985 3,739,985 17,477,692
1984 3,637,843 17,085,242
1983 3,541,001 16,689,119
1982 3,450,026 16,297,987
1981 3,366,631 15,922,423
1980 3,292,573 15,553,105
1979 3,228,202 15,190,590
1978 3,171,740 14,839,695
1977 3,118,923 14,499,175
1976 3,064,876 14,177,649
1975 3,005,521 13,870,695
1974 2,939,761 13,568,435
1973 2,870,573 13,275,239
1972 2,801,660 12,989,099
1971 2,734,628 12,710,061
1970 2,669,702 12,436,190
1969 2,606,959 12,167,036
1968 2,546,377 11,906,266
1967 2,487,715 11,652,716
1966 2,431,084 11,408,710
1965 2,376,200 11,173,411
1964 2,322,826 10,946,392
1963 2,271,061 10,729,818
1962 2,219,910 10,521,116
1961 2,169,796 10,318,396
1960 2,121,514 10,123,658

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/nepal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Nepal gained 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Nepal's population increased by 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Nepal was ranked 43rd in 2006 and ranked 52nd 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 Nepal will increase by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people and rank change from 52nd to 58th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 35.8M people in 2067 for Nepal.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Nepal
2100 -0.5% -0.59%
2099 -0.49% -0.58%
2098 -0.47% -0.57%
2097 -0.46% -0.56%
2096 -0.45% -0.55%
2095 -0.44% -0.55%
2094 -0.43% -0.53%
2093 -0.42% -0.52%
2092 -0.41% -0.51%
2091 -0.4% -0.5%
2090 -0.38% -0.48%
2089 -0.37% -0.47%
2088 -0.35% -0.45%
2087 -0.34% -0.43%
2086 -0.32% -0.42%
2085 -0.3% -0.4%
2084 -0.29% -0.37%
2083 -0.27% -0.35%
2082 -0.26% -0.33%
2081 -0.24% -0.31%
2080 -0.23% -0.29%
2079 -0.21% -0.27%
2078 -0.2% -0.24%
2077 -0.17% -0.22%
2076 -0.16% -0.2%
2075 -0.14% -0.18%
2074 -0.12% -0.15%
2073 -0.1% -0.12%
2072 -0.07% -0.11%
2071 -0.06% -0.08%
2070 -0.03% -0.05%
2069 -0.003% -0.03%
2068 0.02% -0.01%
2067 0.05% 0.01%
2066 0.07% 0.03%
2065 0.09% 0.06%
2064 0.12% 0.08%
2063 0.14% 0.11%
2062 0.17% 0.13%
2061 0.2% 0.16%
2060 0.22% 0.18%
2059 0.25% 0.21%
2058 0.28% 0.23%
2057 0.31% 0.26%
2056 0.33% 0.28%
2055 0.36% 0.3%
2054 0.4% 0.33%
2053 0.42% 0.35%
2052 0.45% 0.38%
2051 0.48% 0.4%
2050 0.5% 0.42%
2049 0.54% 0.44%
2048 0.56% 0.47%
2047 0.6% 0.5%
2046 0.62% 0.52%
2045 0.65% 0.54%
2044 0.67% 0.56%
2043 0.72% 0.58%
2042 0.74% 0.6%
2041 0.77% 0.63%
2040 0.8% 0.65%
2039 0.84% 0.68%
2038 0.87% 0.7%
2037 0.9% 0.73%
2036 0.93% 0.75%
2035 0.96% 0.78%
2034 0.99% 0.82%
2033 1.03% 0.85%
2032 1.07% 0.87%
2031 1.1% 0.9%
2030 1.14% 0.93%
2029 1.18% 0.97%
2028 1.22% 0.52%
2027 1.26% 0.14%
2026 1.31% -0.07%
2025 1.35% -0.15%
2024 1.37% -0.15%
2023 1.4% -0.07%
2022 1.42% 0.82%
2021 1.45% 1.76%
2020 1.5% 1.94%
2019 1.54% 1.19%
2018 1.57% 0.24%
2017 1.58% 0.2%
2016 1.58% 0.47%
2015 1.47% 0.55%
2014 1.39% 0.3%
2013 1.42% 0.2%
2012 1.44% 0.26%
2011 1.46% 0.45%
2010 1.48% 0.62%
2009 1.51% 0.68%
2008 1.53% 0.75%
2007 1.56% 0.84%
2006 1.6% 0.97%
2005 1.52% 1.13%
2004 1.47% 1.28%
2003 1.55% 1.42%
2002 1.62% 1.53%
2001 1.66% 1.63%
2000 1.69% 1.75%
1999 1.76% 1.88%
1998 1.87% 1.98%
1997 2.11% 2.1%
1996 2.36% 2.23%
1995 2.5% 2.43%
1994 2.65% 2.54%
1993 2.75% 2.77%
1992 2.81% 2.86%
1991 2.86% 2.62%
1990 2.89% 2.45%
1989 2.91% 2.25%
1988 2.91% 2.13%
1987 2.88% 2.14%
1986 2.85% 2.23%
1985 2.81% 2.3%
1984 2.73% 2.37%
1983 2.64% 2.4%
1982 2.48% 2.36%
1981 2.25% 2.37%
1980 1.99% 2.39%
1979 1.78% 2.36%
1978 1.69% 2.35%
1977 1.76% 2.27%
1976 1.97% 2.21%
1975 2.24% 2.23%
1974 2.41% 2.21%
1973 2.46% 2.2%
1972 2.45% 2.2%
1971 2.43% 2.2%
1970 2.41% 2.21%
1969 2.38% 2.19%
1968 2.36% 2.18%
1967 2.33% 2.14%
1966 2.31% 2.11%
1965 2.3% 2.07%
1964 2.28% 2.02%
1963 2.3% 1.98%
1962 2.31% 1.96%
1961 2.28% 1.92%

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/nepal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Nepal's population declined by 0.15%.

Live population counters

Laos Nepal
Current population
8004838
29596762
Population rank 103/197 52/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.36%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
12.1 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
54.9 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
2.55 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 -119
Annual growth/decline +104,826 -43,560
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% -0.15%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 174/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
1.45 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 -364,699
Net migration rank 134/196 193/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 470,719
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 82/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 1.6%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 142/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Nepal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Nepal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -364,699
2024 - -10,284 - -401,282
2023 115,359 -10,003 368,450 -409,782
2022 116,620 -10,003 379,021 -379,321
2021 115,323 -10,305 351,165 130,001
2020 118,609 -10,305 373,553 162,139
2019 119,797 -10,305 387,113 182,203
2018 119,986 -10,305 394,576 -295,151
2017 120,515 -10,400 406,219 -368,787
2016 119,978 -11,401 415,921 -341,748
2015 118,723 -12,991 410,565 -221,062
2014 118,103 -26,881 423,166 -310,156
2013 119,845 -27,492 424,804 -373,064
2012 121,324 -28,871 430,151 -371,707
2011 122,863 -30,538 429,957 -347,552
2010 122,516 -30,046 432,631 -269,963
2009 122,174 -29,545 441,290 -266,144
2008 121,042 -28,318 452,353 -261,540
2007 119,980 -27,233 464,780 -252,526
2006 118,602 -25,286 475,335 -241,455
2005 118,165 -24,138 489,093 -211,024
2004 121,888 -40,120 504,853 -197,336
2003 122,158 -36,572 516,575 -168,314
2002 122,110 -33,595 525,045 -153,730
2001 123,847 -33,552 542,118 -148,973
2000 124,201 -33,965 554,506 -147,193
1999 127,255 -36,632 557,847 -122,551
1998 128,409 -33,997 562,787 -108,400
1997 130,388 -32,288 565,882 -98,454
1996 131,142 -16,574 580,099 -92,307
1995 132,241 -14,279 591,283 -86,232
1994 134,201 -11,782 578,293 -27,415
1993 135,295 -9,390 561,549 -37,782
1992 132,417 -7,502 533,029 84,113
1991 129,523 -5,390 512,233 17,056
1990 125,297 -3,100 495,202 -640
1989 121,044 -1,272 478,771 -39,808
1988 117,050 -80 463,581 -64,246
1987 113,005 0 449,400 -72,437
1986 109,266 -475 434,802 -47,017
1985 106,047 -1,376 423,240 -30,154
1984 102,318 -2,698 411,122 -19,300
1983 98,178 -4,108 399,103 1,304
1982 94,058 -6,184 385,741 -3,898
1981 89,963 -11,061 374,145 -4,855
1980 86,548 -17,339 364,254 5,084
1979 82,852 -23,317 355,597 88
1978 80,604 -27,208 345,765 346
1977 79,149 -26,908 332,843 2,108
1976 77,575 -21,738 323,222 -15,119
1975 76,725 -13,858 312,479 -6,686
1974 74,652 -6,000 303,078 -4,361
1973 70,513 -774 288,750 -1,076
1972 68,095 0 286,708 -2,107
1971 65,959 0 280,752 -7,284
1970 63,896 0 272,439 1,847
1969 61,595 0 264,560 -527
1968 59,567 0 258,259 -746
1967 57,763 0 249,240 347
1966 55,494 0 241,716 -3,306
1965 54,268 0 233,726 -1,551
1964 52,482 0 227,948 -6,087
1963 51,056 0 219,586 -8,303
1962 51,244 0 215,368 -9,249
1961 48,992 0 209,917 -10,601
1960 47,575 0 203,374 -13,223

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/nepal | 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 Nepal 67.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 470,719 people or 1.6% in Nepal.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K

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/nepal | 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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