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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 29,618,118 people in Nepal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 29,619,950 in Nepal.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 3.69 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 +1.47% per year vs +0.62% in Nepal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Nepal has grown from 26.6M to 29.6M (11.5% growth).

Laos vs Nepal: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Nepal
2100 9,340,510 31,916,191
2099 9,387,374 32,104,658
2098 9,433,309 32,291,766
2097 9,478,091 32,478,376
2096 9,521,914 32,662,029
2095 9,564,898 32,842,809
2094 9,607,314 33,023,754
2093 9,648,899 33,200,660
2092 9,689,414 33,375,774
2091 9,729,262 33,547,026
2090 9,767,923 33,714,253
2089 9,805,489 33,878,299
2088 9,841,933 34,037,329
2087 9,876,893 34,190,255
2086 9,910,678 34,337,807
2085 9,942,991 34,483,366
2084 9,973,375 34,620,498
2083 10,002,778 34,750,155
2082 10,030,306 34,872,031
2081 10,056,473 34,987,218
2080 10,080,959 35,095,973
2079 10,104,434 35,198,820
2078 10,126,099 35,292,530
2077 10,146,255 35,377,971
2076 10,163,547 35,456,092
2075 10,179,776 35,525,668
2074 10,194,216 35,588,497
2073 10,206,546 35,642,802
2072 10,216,287 35,686,332
2071 10,223,430 35,725,442
2070 10,229,612 35,755,056
2069 10,233,020 35,774,677
2068 10,233,371 35,785,895
2067 10,231,633 35,789,572
2066 10,226,448 35,785,710
2065 10,219,732 35,774,308
2064 10,210,382 35,753,136
2063 10,198,463 35,725,408
2062 10,184,239 35,685,285
2061 10,166,878 35,638,790
2060 10,146,829 35,583,129
2059 10,124,398 35,518,416
2058 10,098,721 35,442,760
2057 10,070,317 35,360,939
2056 10,039,482 35,268,910
2055 10,006,669 35,170,656
2054 9,970,363 35,065,508
2053 9,931,133 34,951,722
2052 9,889,162 34,831,085
2051 9,844,445 34,699,347
2050 9,797,566 34,561,226
2049 9,748,481 34,415,794
2048 9,695,755 34,265,080
2047 9,641,319 34,106,257
2046 9,584,097 33,936,663
2045 9,524,890 33,762,505
2044 9,462,921 33,581,319
2043 9,399,555 33,394,849
2042 9,332,795 33,200,691
2041 9,264,069 33,001,382
2040 9,193,691 32,795,384
2039 9,120,921 32,583,834
2038 9,044,658 32,363,750
2037 8,966,687 32,138,947
2036 8,886,908 31,906,773
2035 8,805,396 31,667,683
2034 8,721,979 31,421,060
2033 8,636,299 31,165,782
2032 8,548,097 30,904,004
2031 8,457,770 30,636,967
2030 8,365,427 30,362,343
2029 8,271,316 30,081,388
2028 8,174,975 29,793,481
2027 8,076,308 29,640,694
2026 7,975,876 29,598,041
2025 7,873,046 29,618,118
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Nepal's population increased by 1,664,488 people (a 5.95% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th 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 22.1% to 9,797,566 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Nepal will increase by 16.7% to 34,561,226 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 1.33% -0.11%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Nepal's population declined by 0.11%.

Live population counters

Laos Nepal
Current population
8027464
29619950
Population rank 103/197 52/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.36%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
16 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
56.1 seconds
One death every
10.9 minutes
2.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 -90
Annual growth/decline +103,227 -32,936
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% -0.11%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 167/197
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 114,574 -10,284 355,516 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/nepal | 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 Nepal 66.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,842,099 people) and 33.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,942,790 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 (1960–2025, 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/nepal | 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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