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Population in Laos compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 5,324,700 people in New Zealand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 5,380,024 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • Laos' population is 1.49 times bigger than New Zealand's.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +1.51% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.38M (28.6% growth).

Laos vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos New Zealand
2100 9,340,510 5,915,768
2099 9,387,374 5,920,061
2098 9,433,309 5,924,133
2097 9,478,091 5,927,189
2096 9,521,914 5,929,831
2095 9,564,898 5,931,770
2094 9,607,314 5,933,105
2093 9,648,899 5,935,725
2092 9,689,414 5,936,005
2091 9,729,262 5,937,584
2090 9,767,923 5,938,671
2089 9,805,489 5,941,788
2088 9,841,933 5,942,552
2087 9,876,893 5,945,502
2086 9,910,678 5,948,659
2085 9,942,991 5,952,187
2084 9,973,375 5,956,025
2083 10,002,778 5,960,521
2082 10,030,306 5,963,849
2081 10,056,473 5,965,417
2080 10,080,959 5,967,986
2079 10,104,434 5,969,234
2078 10,126,099 5,969,831
2077 10,146,255 5,968,708
2076 10,163,547 5,968,290
2075 10,179,776 5,967,889
2074 10,194,216 5,966,738
2073 10,206,546 5,965,412
2072 10,216,287 5,961,455
2071 10,223,430 5,961,400
2070 10,229,612 5,960,718
2069 10,233,020 5,959,460
2068 10,233,371 5,957,827
2067 10,231,633 5,955,348
2066 10,226,448 5,951,452
2065 10,219,732 5,947,293
2064 10,210,382 5,943,767
2063 10,198,463 5,941,828
2062 10,184,239 5,937,757
2061 10,166,878 5,936,521
2060 10,146,829 5,933,016
2059 10,124,398 5,928,350
2058 10,098,721 5,922,743
2057 10,070,317 5,916,754
2056 10,039,482 5,910,221
2055 10,006,669 5,901,290
2054 9,970,363 5,891,739
2053 9,931,133 5,881,824
2052 9,889,162 5,873,115
2051 9,844,445 5,861,135
2050 9,797,566 5,849,861
2049 9,748,481 5,841,135
2048 9,695,755 5,830,154
2047 9,641,319 5,819,016
2046 9,584,097 5,806,848
2045 9,524,890 5,792,780
2044 9,462,921 5,777,886
2043 9,399,555 5,761,590
2042 9,332,795 5,743,549
2041 9,264,069 5,724,283
2040 9,193,691 5,705,914
2039 9,120,921 5,687,068
2038 9,044,658 5,667,019
2037 8,966,687 5,647,323
2036 8,886,908 5,627,207
2035 8,805,396 5,606,247
2034 8,721,979 5,585,417
2033 8,636,299 5,562,621
2032 8,548,097 5,539,615
2031 8,457,770 5,514,530
2030 8,365,427 5,488,472
2029 8,271,316 5,460,094
2028 8,174,975 5,429,936
2027 8,076,308 5,397,099
2026 7,975,876 5,361,990
2025 7,873,046 5,324,700
2024 7,769,819 5,290,000
2023 7,664,993 5,200,000
2022 7,559,007 5,081,700
2021 7,453,194 5,084,600
2020 7,346,533 5,072,400
2019 7,237,636 4,970,300
2018 7,128,045 4,900,600
2017 7,018,147 4,813,600
2016 6,908,802 4,714,100
2015 6,801,645 4,609,400
2014 6,703,172 4,516,500
2013 6,611,385 4,442,100
2012 6,518,978 4,408,100
2011 6,426,590 4,384,000
2010 6,334,194 4,350,700
2009 6,241,642 4,302,600
2008 6,148,969 4,259,800
2007 6,056,236 4,223,800
2006 5,963,200 4,184,600
2005 5,869,523 4,133,900
2004 5,781,626 4,087,500
2003 5,697,945 4,027,200
2002 5,610,889 3,948,500
2001 5,521,482 3,880,500
2000 5,431,212 3,857,700
1999 5,340,784 3,835,100
1998 5,248,266 3,815,000
1997 5,152,011 3,781,300
1996 5,045,678 3,732,000
1995 4,929,409 3,673,400
1994 4,809,220 3,620,000
1993 4,685,060 3,572,200
1992 4,559,646 3,531,700
1991 4,435,118 3,495,100
1990 4,311,955 3,329,800
1989 4,190,974 3,299,200
1988 4,072,601 3,283,400
1987 3,957,612 3,274,400
1986 3,846,715 3,246,300
1985 3,739,985 3,247,100
1984 3,637,843 3,227,100
1983 3,541,001 3,199,300
1982 3,450,026 3,156,100
1981 3,366,631 3,124,900
1980 3,292,573 3,112,900
1979 3,228,202 3,109,000
1978 3,171,740 3,121,200
1977 3,118,923 3,120,200
1976 3,064,876 3,110,500
1975 3,005,521 3,083,100
1974 2,939,761 3,023,700
1973 2,870,573 2,961,300
1972 2,801,660 2,903,900
1971 2,734,628 2,853,000
1970 2,669,702 2,810,700
1969 2,606,959 2,772,800
1968 2,546,377 2,748,100
1967 2,487,715 2,724,100
1966 2,431,084 2,675,900
1965 2,376,200 2,628,400
1964 2,322,826 2,585,400
1963 2,271,061 2,531,800
1962 2,219,910 2,482,000
1961 2,169,796 2,419,700
1960 2,121,514 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 665,924 people (a 14.1% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.73% to 5,849,861 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos New Zealand
2100 -0.5% -0.07%
2099 -0.49% -0.07%
2098 -0.47% -0.05%
2097 -0.46% -0.04%
2096 -0.45% -0.03%
2095 -0.44% -0.02%
2094 -0.43% -0.04%
2093 -0.42% -0.005%
2092 -0.41% -0.03%
2091 -0.4% -0.02%
2090 -0.38% -0.05%
2089 -0.37% -0.01%
2088 -0.35% -0.05%
2087 -0.34% -0.05%
2086 -0.32% -0.06%
2085 -0.3% -0.06%
2084 -0.29% -0.08%
2083 -0.27% -0.06%
2082 -0.26% -0.03%
2081 -0.24% -0.04%
2080 -0.23% -0.02%
2079 -0.21% -0.01%
2078 -0.2% 0.02%
2077 -0.17% 0.007%
2076 -0.16% 0.007%
2075 -0.14% 0.02%
2074 -0.12% 0.02%
2073 -0.1% 0.07%
2072 -0.07% 0.001%
2071 -0.06% 0.01%
2070 -0.03% 0.02%
2069 -0.003% 0.03%
2068 0.02% 0.04%
2067 0.05% 0.07%
2066 0.07% 0.07%
2065 0.09% 0.06%
2064 0.12% 0.03%
2063 0.14% 0.07%
2062 0.17% 0.02%
2061 0.2% 0.06%
2060 0.22% 0.08%
2059 0.25% 0.09%
2058 0.28% 0.1%
2057 0.31% 0.11%
2056 0.33% 0.15%
2055 0.36% 0.16%
2054 0.4% 0.17%
2053 0.42% 0.15%
2052 0.45% 0.2%
2051 0.48% 0.19%
2050 0.5% 0.15%
2049 0.54% 0.19%
2048 0.56% 0.19%
2047 0.6% 0.21%
2046 0.62% 0.24%
2045 0.65% 0.26%
2044 0.67% 0.28%
2043 0.72% 0.31%
2042 0.74% 0.34%
2041 0.77% 0.32%
2040 0.8% 0.33%
2039 0.84% 0.35%
2038 0.87% 0.35%
2037 0.9% 0.36%
2036 0.93% 0.37%
2035 0.96% 0.37%
2034 0.99% 0.41%
2033 1.03% 0.42%
2032 1.07% 0.45%
2031 1.1% 0.47%
2030 1.14% 0.52%
2029 1.18% 0.56%
2028 1.22% 0.61%
2027 1.26% 0.65%
2026 1.31% 0.7%
2025 1.33% 0.66%
2024 1.37% 1.73%
2023 1.4% 2.33%
2022 1.42% -0.06%
2021 1.45% 0.24%
2020 1.5% 2.05%
2019 1.54% 1.42%
2018 1.57% 1.81%
2017 1.58% 2.11%
2016 1.58% 2.27%
2015 1.47% 2.06%
2014 1.39% 1.67%
2013 1.42% 0.77%
2012 1.44% 0.55%
2011 1.46% 0.77%
2010 1.48% 1.12%
2009 1.51% 1%
2008 1.53% 0.85%
2007 1.56% 0.94%
2006 1.6% 1.23%
2005 1.52% 1.14%
2004 1.47% 1.5%
2003 1.55% 1.99%
2002 1.62% 1.75%
2001 1.66% 0.59%
2000 1.69% 0.59%
1999 1.76% 0.53%
1998 1.87% 0.89%
1997 2.11% 1.32%
1996 2.36% 1.6%
1995 2.5% 1.48%
1994 2.65% 1.34%
1993 2.75% 1.15%
1992 2.81% 1.05%
1991 2.86% 4.96%
1990 2.89% 0.93%
1989 2.91% 0.48%
1988 2.91% 0.27%
1987 2.88% 0.87%
1986 2.85% -0.02%
1985 2.81% 0.62%
1984 2.73% 0.87%
1983 2.64% 1.37%
1982 2.48% 1%
1981 2.25% 0.39%
1980 1.99% 0.13%
1979 1.78% -0.39%
1978 1.69% 0.03%
1977 1.76% 0.31%
1976 1.97% 0.89%
1975 2.24% 1.96%
1974 2.41% 2.11%
1973 2.46% 1.98%
1972 2.45% 1.78%
1971 2.43% 1.5%
1970 2.41% 1.37%
1969 2.38% 0.9%
1968 2.36% 0.88%
1967 2.33% 1.8%
1966 2.31% 1.81%
1965 2.3% 1.66%
1964 2.28% 2.12%
1963 2.3% 2.01%
1962 2.31% 2.57%
1961 2.28% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while New Zealand's population grew by 0.66%.

Live population counters

Laos New Zealand
Current population
8027464
5380024
Population rank 103/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.06%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
15.2 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
9.01 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
13.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +95
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +34,700
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +0.66%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 118/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +17,403
Net migration rank 134/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 17,403
2024 114,574 -10,284 20,631 18,766
2023 115,359 -10,003 19,031 21,404
2022 116,620 -10,003 20,276 21,404
2021 115,323 -10,305 23,745 -14,944
2020 118,609 -10,305 25,007 42,124
2019 119,797 -10,305 25,349 69,770
2018 119,986 -10,305 24,797 59,139
2017 120,515 -10,400 26,282 68,349
2016 119,978 -11,401 28,237 75,512
2015 118,723 -12,991 29,408 70,870
2014 118,103 -26,881 26,196 57,974
2013 119,845 -27,492 29,096 26,385
2012 121,324 -28,871 31,077 -1,015
2011 122,863 -30,538 31,302 -2,196
2010 122,516 -30,046 35,458 6,722
2009 122,174 -29,545 33,560 12,700
2008 121,042 -28,318 35,143 4,804
2007 119,980 -27,233 35,480 3,053
2006 118,602 -25,286 30,924 14,542
2005 118,165 -24,138 30,674 19,212
2004 121,888 -40,120 29,634 24,521
2003 122,158 -36,572 28,150 42,456
2002 122,110 -33,595 25,941 48,195
2001 123,847 -33,552 27,939 17,793
2000 124,201 -33,965 29,897 -6,604
1999 127,255 -36,632 28,916 -7,634
1998 128,409 -33,997 29,146 -1,387
1997 130,388 -32,288 30,137 12,040
1996 131,142 -16,574 28,997 25,169
1995 132,241 -14,279 29,828 26,743
1994 134,201 -11,782 30,372 20,420
1993 135,295 -9,390 31,685 12,638
1992 132,417 -7,502 32,067 6,460
1991 129,523 -5,390 33,518 31,156
1990 125,297 -3,100 33,298 70,432
1989 121,044 -1,272 30,749 -8,818
1988 117,050 -80 29,846 -17,005
1987 113,005 0 27,603 -7,631
1986 109,266 -475 25,549 -10,234
1985 106,047 -1,376 24,126 -13,462
1984 102,318 -2,698 26,043 -901
1983 98,178 -4,108 24,315 11,464
1982 94,058 -6,184 24,207 7,982
1981 89,963 -11,061 25,374 -7,606
1980 86,548 -17,339 23,658 -15,423
1979 82,852 -23,317 26,675 -26,694
1978 80,604 -27,208 26,156 -28,783
1977 79,149 -26,908 28,020 -22,697
1976 77,575 -21,738 29,456 -9,138
1975 76,725 -13,858 31,355 13,196
1974 74,652 -6,000 33,896 27,580
1973 70,513 -774 35,239 28,261
1972 68,095 0 38,244 17,779
1971 65,959 0 40,000 7,547
1970 63,896 0 37,101 4,511
1969 61,595 0 38,098 -5,212
1968 59,567 0 37,594 -11,853
1967 57,763 0 37,974 -2,289
1966 55,494 0 36,151 9,161
1965 54,268 0 36,982 9,245
1964 52,482 0 39,375 9,806
1963 51,056 0 42,027 10,226
1962 51,244 0 42,865 12,697
1961 48,992 0 43,482 10,689
1960 47,575 0 41,791 3,846

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 36% is from natural causes (a gain of 242,763 people) and 64% is from migration (a gain of 432,394 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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