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Population in Laos compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2.28 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Laos vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Netherlands
2100 9,342,607 17,359,081
2099 9,389,481 17,392,412
2098 9,435,427 17,425,508
2097 9,480,219 17,459,827
2096 9,524,052 17,495,124
2095 9,567,045 17,532,593
2094 9,609,471 17,571,051
2093 9,651,065 17,610,792
2092 9,691,590 17,649,611
2091 9,731,446 17,688,532
2090 9,770,116 17,730,570
2089 9,807,690 17,770,380
2088 9,844,143 17,809,825
2087 9,879,110 17,845,820
2086 9,912,903 17,885,001
2085 9,945,223 17,921,302
2084 9,975,614 17,957,639
2083 10,005,023 17,994,232
2082 10,032,558 18,029,404
2081 10,058,731 18,063,233
2080 10,083,222 18,093,703
2079 10,106,703 18,124,294
2078 10,128,372 18,152,738
2077 10,148,533 18,181,372
2076 10,165,829 18,206,864
2075 10,182,062 18,227,791
2074 10,196,505 18,245,652
2073 10,208,837 18,263,765
2072 10,218,581 18,280,443
2071 10,225,726 18,295,700
2070 10,231,909 18,311,141
2069 10,235,317 18,326,509
2068 10,235,668 18,341,711
2067 10,233,930 18,356,770
2066 10,228,744 18,374,904
2065 10,222,027 18,396,018
2064 10,212,674 18,417,894
2063 10,200,753 18,441,434
2062 10,186,526 18,464,922
2061 10,169,161 18,492,436
2060 10,149,107 18,520,315
2059 10,126,671 18,548,786
2058 10,100,989 18,577,700
2057 10,072,578 18,608,370
2056 10,041,736 18,638,918
2055 10,008,916 18,666,514
2054 9,972,602 18,692,598
2053 9,933,363 18,718,268
2052 9,891,383 18,741,740
2051 9,846,656 18,768,309
2050 9,799,766 18,789,481
2049 9,750,669 18,809,886
2048 9,697,931 18,827,655
2047 9,643,484 18,844,635
2046 9,586,249 18,855,920
2045 9,527,029 18,867,286
2044 9,465,046 18,877,101
2043 9,401,665 18,882,735
2042 9,334,890 18,885,839
2041 9,266,149 18,885,255
2040 9,195,755 18,879,571
2039 9,122,969 18,870,248
2038 9,046,689 18,855,512
2037 8,968,700 18,837,172
2036 8,888,903 18,811,873
2035 8,807,373 18,783,312
2034 8,723,937 18,750,125
2033 8,638,238 18,708,101
2032 8,550,017 18,662,054
2031 8,459,669 18,609,452
2030 8,367,305 18,549,634
2029 8,273,173 18,481,269
2028 8,176,811 18,404,195
2027 8,078,122 18,320,644
2026 7,977,666 18,227,403
2025 7,874,813 18,118,662
2024 7,769,819 17,993,485
2023 7,664,993 17,877,117
2022 7,559,007 17,700,982
2021 7,453,194 17,533,044
2020 7,346,533 17,441,500
2019 7,237,636 17,344,874
2018 7,128,045 17,231,624
2017 7,018,147 17,131,296
2016 6,908,802 17,030,314
2015 6,801,645 16,939,923
2014 6,703,172 16,865,008
2013 6,611,385 16,804,432
2012 6,518,978 16,754,962
2011 6,426,590 16,693,074
2010 6,334,194 16,615,394
2009 6,241,642 16,530,388
2008 6,148,969 16,445,593
2007 6,056,236 16,381,696
2006 5,963,200 16,346,101
2005 5,869,523 16,319,868
2004 5,781,626 16,281,779
2003 5,697,945 16,225,302
2002 5,610,889 16,148,929
2001 5,521,482 16,046,180
2000 5,431,212 15,925,513
1999 5,340,784 15,812,088
1998 5,248,266 15,707,209
1997 5,152,011 15,610,650
1996 5,045,678 15,530,498
1995 4,929,409 15,459,006
1994 4,809,220 15,382,838
1993 4,685,060 15,290,368
1992 4,559,646 15,184,166
1991 4,435,118 15,069,798
1990 4,311,955 14,951,510
1989 4,190,974 14,848,907
1988 4,072,601 14,760,094
1987 3,957,612 14,665,037
1986 3,846,715 14,572,278
1985 3,739,985 14,491,632
1984 3,637,843 14,424,211
1983 3,541,001 14,367,070
1982 3,450,026 14,312,690
1981 3,366,631 14,247,208
1980 3,292,573 14,149,800
1979 3,228,202 14,038,270
1978 3,171,740 13,941,700
1977 3,118,923 13,856,185
1976 3,064,876 13,774,037
1975 3,005,521 13,666,335
1974 2,939,761 13,545,056
1973 2,870,573 13,439,322
1972 2,801,660 13,328,593
1971 2,734,628 13,194,497
1970 2,669,702 13,038,526
1969 2,606,959 12,877,984
1968 2,546,377 12,729,721
1967 2,487,715 12,598,201
1966 2,431,084 12,456,251
1965 2,376,200 12,294,732
1964 2,322,826 12,127,120
1963 2,271,061 11,965,966
1962 2,219,910 11,805,689
1961 2,169,796 11,638,712
1960 2,121,514 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Netherlands
2100 -0.5% -0.19%
2099 -0.49% -0.19%
2098 -0.47% -0.2%
2097 -0.46% -0.2%
2096 -0.45% -0.21%
2095 -0.44% -0.22%
2094 -0.43% -0.23%
2093 -0.42% -0.22%
2092 -0.41% -0.22%
2091 -0.4% -0.24%
2090 -0.38% -0.22%
2089 -0.37% -0.22%
2088 -0.35% -0.2%
2087 -0.34% -0.22%
2086 -0.32% -0.2%
2085 -0.3% -0.2%
2084 -0.29% -0.2%
2083 -0.27% -0.2%
2082 -0.26% -0.19%
2081 -0.24% -0.17%
2080 -0.23% -0.17%
2079 -0.21% -0.16%
2078 -0.2% -0.16%
2077 -0.17% -0.14%
2076 -0.16% -0.11%
2075 -0.14% -0.1%
2074 -0.12% -0.1%
2073 -0.1% -0.09%
2072 -0.07% -0.08%
2071 -0.06% -0.08%
2070 -0.03% -0.08%
2069 -0.003% -0.08%
2068 0.02% -0.08%
2067 0.05% -0.1%
2066 0.07% -0.11%
2065 0.09% -0.12%
2064 0.12% -0.13%
2063 0.14% -0.13%
2062 0.17% -0.15%
2061 0.2% -0.15%
2060 0.22% -0.15%
2059 0.25% -0.16%
2058 0.28% -0.16%
2057 0.31% -0.16%
2056 0.33% -0.15%
2055 0.36% -0.14%
2054 0.4% -0.14%
2053 0.42% -0.13%
2052 0.45% -0.14%
2051 0.48% -0.11%
2050 0.5% -0.11%
2049 0.54% -0.09%
2048 0.56% -0.09%
2047 0.6% -0.06%
2046 0.62% -0.06%
2045 0.65% -0.05%
2044 0.67% -0.03%
2043 0.72% -0.02%
2042 0.74% 0.003%
2041 0.77% 0.03%
2040 0.8% 0.05%
2039 0.84% 0.08%
2038 0.87% 0.1%
2037 0.9% 0.13%
2036 0.93% 0.15%
2035 0.96% 0.18%
2034 0.99% 0.22%
2033 1.03% 0.25%
2032 1.07% 0.28%
2031 1.1% 0.32%
2030 1.14% 0.37%
2029 1.18% 0.42%
2028 1.22% 0.46%
2027 1.26% 0.51%
2026 1.31% 0.6%
2025 1.35% 0.7%
2024 1.37% 0.65%
2023 1.4% 1%
2022 1.42% 0.96%
2021 1.45% 0.52%
2020 1.5% 0.56%
2019 1.54% 0.66%
2018 1.57% 0.59%
2017 1.58% 0.59%
2016 1.58% 0.53%
2015 1.47% 0.44%
2014 1.39% 0.36%
2013 1.42% 0.3%
2012 1.44% 0.37%
2011 1.46% 0.47%
2010 1.48% 0.51%
2009 1.51% 0.52%
2008 1.53% 0.39%
2007 1.56% 0.22%
2006 1.6% 0.16%
2005 1.52% 0.23%
2004 1.47% 0.35%
2003 1.55% 0.47%
2002 1.62% 0.64%
2001 1.66% 0.76%
2000 1.69% 0.72%
1999 1.76% 0.67%
1998 1.87% 0.62%
1997 2.11% 0.52%
1996 2.36% 0.46%
1995 2.5% 0.5%
1994 2.65% 0.6%
1993 2.75% 0.7%
1992 2.81% 0.76%
1991 2.86% 0.79%
1990 2.89% 0.69%
1989 2.91% 0.6%
1988 2.91% 0.65%
1987 2.88% 0.64%
1986 2.85% 0.56%
1985 2.81% 0.47%
1984 2.73% 0.4%
1983 2.64% 0.38%
1982 2.48% 0.46%
1981 2.25% 0.69%
1980 1.99% 0.79%
1979 1.78% 0.69%
1978 1.69% 0.62%
1977 1.76% 0.6%
1976 1.97% 0.79%
1975 2.24% 0.9%
1974 2.41% 0.79%
1973 2.46% 0.83%
1972 2.45% 1.02%
1971 2.43% 1.2%
1970 2.41% 1.25%
1969 2.38% 1.16%
1968 2.36% 1.04%
1967 2.33% 1.14%
1966 2.31% 1.31%
1965 2.3% 1.38%
1964 2.28% 1.35%
1963 2.3% 1.36%
1962 2.31% 1.43%
1961 2.28% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Laos Netherlands
Current population
8004838
18252623
Population rank 103/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.22%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +319
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 121/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +104,681
Net migration rank 134/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 104,681
2024 - -10,284 - 121,628
2023 115,359 -10,003 -5,363 144,558
2022 116,620 -10,003 -1,770 224,472
2021 115,323 -10,305 7,014 106,416
2020 118,609 -10,305 0 67,598
2019 119,797 -10,305 17,345 109,003
2018 119,986 -10,305 15,508 87,197
2017 120,515 -10,400 18,844 86,332
2016 119,978 -11,401 23,843 88,743
2015 118,723 -12,991 23,716 55,585
2014 118,103 -26,881 35,417 36,591
2013 119,845 -27,492 30,248 19,973
2012 121,324 -28,871 35,186 14,861
2011 122,863 -30,538 45,072 31,224
2010 122,516 -30,046 48,184 33,703
2009 122,174 -29,545 51,244 39,832
2008 121,042 -28,318 49,337 32,406
2007 119,980 -27,233 49,145 -304
2006 118,602 -25,286 49,038 -25,401
2005 118,165 -24,138 50,592 -22,496
2004 121,888 -40,120 56,987 -9,230
2003 122,158 -36,572 58,411 7,937
2002 122,110 -33,595 59,751 28,824
2001 123,847 -33,552 62,580 56,096
2000 124,201 -33,965 66,887 59,308
1999 127,255 -36,632 60,086 47,179
1998 128,409 -33,997 61,258 52,058
1997 130,388 -32,288 56,198 31,302
1996 131,142 -16,574 51,251 21,792
1995 132,241 -14,279 54,106 15,056
1994 134,201 -11,782 61,532 20,193
1993 135,295 -9,390 58,103 44,514
1992 132,417 -7,502 66,811 50,148
1991 129,523 -5,390 69,321 51,670
1990 125,297 -3,100 68,777 53,564
1989 121,044 -1,272 59,396 31,165
1988 117,050 -80 61,993 31,026
1987 113,005 0 64,526 39,559
1986 109,266 -475 59,746 30,380
1985 106,047 -1,376 55,069 27,356
1984 102,318 -2,698 54,812 12,902
1983 98,178 -4,108 51,722 11,007
1982 94,058 -6,184 54,388 7,644
1981 89,963 -11,061 62,688 17,643
1980 86,548 -17,339 66,504 54,010
1979 82,852 -23,317 63,172 42,772
1978 80,604 -27,208 61,344 26,639
1977 79,149 -26,908 63,739 19,809
1976 77,575 -21,738 63,361 18,774
1975 76,725 -13,858 64,232 68,569
1974 74,652 -6,000 75,853 31,645
1973 70,513 -774 84,668 18,705
1972 68,095 0 101,297 17,470
1971 65,959 0 116,112 32,756
1970 63,896 0 129,082 32,438
1969 61,595 0 139,082 21,850
1968 59,567 0 132,389 7,243
1967 57,763 0 138,580 -10,673
1966 55,494 0 138,265 20,740
1965 54,268 0 146,308 19,444
1964 52,482 0 157,653 15,014
1963 51,056 0 154,361 -21
1962 51,244 0 153,474 18,024
1961 48,992 0 159,450 8,258
1960 47,575 0 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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