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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 7,007,502 people in Nicaragua in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 7,144,725 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Laos' population is 1.12 times bigger than Nicaragua's.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.18% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +1.32% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.14M (31.8% growth).

Laos vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Nicaragua
2100 9,340,510 8,686,387
2099 9,387,374 8,722,801
2098 9,433,309 8,758,489
2097 9,478,091 8,793,005
2096 9,521,914 8,826,676
2095 9,564,898 8,859,393
2094 9,607,314 8,890,985
2093 9,648,899 8,922,511
2092 9,689,414 8,952,706
2091 9,729,262 8,982,238
2090 9,767,923 9,010,281
2089 9,805,489 9,037,910
2088 9,841,933 9,064,058
2087 9,876,893 9,089,133
2086 9,910,678 9,113,522
2085 9,942,991 9,136,545
2084 9,973,375 9,158,382
2083 10,002,778 9,178,656
2082 10,030,306 9,197,809
2081 10,056,473 9,215,739
2080 10,080,959 9,231,840
2079 10,104,434 9,246,154
2078 10,126,099 9,258,426
2077 10,146,255 9,269,451
2076 10,163,547 9,278,508
2075 10,179,776 9,285,415
2074 10,194,216 9,291,490
2073 10,206,546 9,295,367
2072 10,216,287 9,297,079
2071 10,223,430 9,296,698
2070 10,229,612 9,294,691
2069 10,233,020 9,290,396
2068 10,233,371 9,283,672
2067 10,231,633 9,275,227
2066 10,226,448 9,264,219
2065 10,219,732 9,251,518
2064 10,210,382 9,236,612
2063 10,198,463 9,219,426
2062 10,184,239 9,199,856
2061 10,166,878 9,178,404
2060 10,146,829 9,154,342
2059 10,124,398 9,127,668
2058 10,098,721 9,098,625
2057 10,070,317 9,067,965
2056 10,039,482 9,035,277
2055 10,006,669 9,000,212
2054 9,970,363 8,962,862
2053 9,931,133 8,923,471
2052 9,889,162 8,881,555
2051 9,844,445 8,836,892
2050 9,797,566 8,789,897
2049 9,748,481 8,741,263
2048 9,695,755 8,689,971
2047 9,641,319 8,636,574
2046 9,584,097 8,581,536
2045 9,524,890 8,524,256
2044 9,462,921 8,464,984
2043 9,399,555 8,404,060
2042 9,332,795 8,341,211
2041 9,264,069 8,276,512
2040 9,193,691 8,209,876
2039 9,120,921 8,141,726
2038 9,044,658 8,071,337
2037 8,966,687 7,999,109
2036 8,886,908 7,925,391
2035 8,805,396 7,849,978
2034 8,721,979 7,772,780
2033 8,636,299 7,693,975
2032 8,548,097 7,613,757
2031 8,457,770 7,531,669
2030 8,365,427 7,448,359
2029 8,271,316 7,363,385
2028 8,174,975 7,276,613
2027 8,076,308 7,188,324
2026 7,975,876 7,098,677
2025 7,873,046 7,007,502
2024 7,769,819 6,916,140
2023 7,664,993 6,823,613
2022 7,559,007 6,730,654
2021 7,453,194 6,644,741
2020 7,346,533 6,565,267
2019 7,237,636 6,483,657
2018 7,128,045 6,400,080
2017 7,018,147 6,316,231
2016 6,908,802 6,232,666
2015 6,801,645 6,149,417
2014 6,703,172 6,066,492
2013 6,611,385 5,983,845
2012 6,518,978 5,901,287
2011 6,426,590 5,819,051
2010 6,334,194 5,737,450
2009 6,241,642 5,656,601
2008 6,148,969 5,576,593
2007 6,056,236 5,497,243
2006 5,963,200 5,418,855
2005 5,869,523 5,342,105
2004 5,781,626 5,272,912
2003 5,697,945 5,210,963
2002 5,610,889 5,149,909
2001 5,521,482 5,087,825
2000 5,431,212 5,022,633
1999 5,340,784 4,954,018
1998 5,248,266 4,883,655
1997 5,152,011 4,809,573
1996 5,045,678 4,729,974
1995 4,929,409 4,642,931
1994 4,809,220 4,549,316
1993 4,685,060 4,453,732
1992 4,559,646 4,357,026
1991 4,435,118 4,259,637
1990 4,311,955 4,162,559
1989 4,190,974 4,066,476
1988 4,072,601 3,972,320
1987 3,957,612 3,882,164
1986 3,846,715 3,794,157
1985 3,739,985 3,706,479
1984 3,637,843 3,619,104
1983 3,541,001 3,530,282
1982 3,450,026 3,438,745
1981 3,366,631 3,345,674
1980 3,292,573 3,252,403
1979 3,228,202 3,164,525
1978 3,171,740 3,080,314
1977 3,118,923 2,992,534
1976 3,064,876 2,903,851
1975 3,005,521 2,816,943
1974 2,939,761 2,732,075
1973 2,870,573 2,649,278
1972 2,801,660 2,573,578
1971 2,734,628 2,499,825
1970 2,669,702 2,423,065
1969 2,606,959 2,348,398
1968 2,546,377 2,275,836
1967 2,487,715 2,205,567
1966 2,431,084 2,137,820
1965 2,376,200 2,072,681
1964 2,322,826 2,010,176
1963 2,271,061 1,950,159
1962 2,219,910 1,892,320
1961 2,169,796 1,836,451
1960 2,121,514 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 912,059 people (a 14.6% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23% to 8,789,897 people and rank change from 107th to 109th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 9.3M people in 2072 for Nicaragua.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Nicaragua
2100 -0.5% -0.42%
2099 -0.49% -0.41%
2098 -0.47% -0.39%
2097 -0.46% -0.38%
2096 -0.45% -0.37%
2095 -0.44% -0.36%
2094 -0.43% -0.35%
2093 -0.42% -0.34%
2092 -0.41% -0.33%
2091 -0.4% -0.31%
2090 -0.38% -0.31%
2089 -0.37% -0.29%
2088 -0.35% -0.28%
2087 -0.34% -0.27%
2086 -0.32% -0.25%
2085 -0.3% -0.24%
2084 -0.29% -0.22%
2083 -0.27% -0.21%
2082 -0.26% -0.19%
2081 -0.24% -0.17%
2080 -0.23% -0.15%
2079 -0.21% -0.13%
2078 -0.2% -0.12%
2077 -0.17% -0.1%
2076 -0.16% -0.07%
2075 -0.14% -0.07%
2074 -0.12% -0.04%
2073 -0.1% -0.02%
2072 -0.07% 0.004%
2071 -0.06% 0.02%
2070 -0.03% 0.05%
2069 -0.003% 0.07%
2068 0.02% 0.09%
2067 0.05% 0.12%
2066 0.07% 0.14%
2065 0.09% 0.16%
2064 0.12% 0.19%
2063 0.14% 0.21%
2062 0.17% 0.23%
2061 0.2% 0.26%
2060 0.22% 0.29%
2059 0.25% 0.32%
2058 0.28% 0.34%
2057 0.31% 0.36%
2056 0.33% 0.39%
2055 0.36% 0.42%
2054 0.4% 0.44%
2053 0.42% 0.47%
2052 0.45% 0.51%
2051 0.48% 0.53%
2050 0.5% 0.56%
2049 0.54% 0.59%
2048 0.56% 0.62%
2047 0.6% 0.64%
2046 0.62% 0.67%
2045 0.65% 0.7%
2044 0.67% 0.72%
2043 0.72% 0.75%
2042 0.74% 0.78%
2041 0.77% 0.81%
2040 0.8% 0.84%
2039 0.84% 0.87%
2038 0.87% 0.9%
2037 0.9% 0.93%
2036 0.93% 0.96%
2035 0.96% 0.99%
2034 0.99% 1.02%
2033 1.03% 1.05%
2032 1.07% 1.09%
2031 1.1% 1.12%
2030 1.14% 1.15%
2029 1.18% 1.19%
2028 1.22% 1.23%
2027 1.26% 1.26%
2026 1.31% 1.3%
2025 1.33% 1.32%
2024 1.37% 1.36%
2023 1.4% 1.38%
2022 1.42% 1.29%
2021 1.45% 1.21%
2020 1.5% 1.26%
2019 1.54% 1.31%
2018 1.57% 1.33%
2017 1.58% 1.34%
2016 1.58% 1.35%
2015 1.47% 1.37%
2014 1.39% 1.38%
2013 1.42% 1.4%
2012 1.44% 1.41%
2011 1.46% 1.42%
2010 1.48% 1.43%
2009 1.51% 1.43%
2008 1.53% 1.44%
2007 1.56% 1.45%
2006 1.6% 1.44%
2005 1.52% 1.31%
2004 1.47% 1.19%
2003 1.55% 1.19%
2002 1.62% 1.22%
2001 1.66% 1.3%
2000 1.69% 1.39%
1999 1.76% 1.44%
1998 1.87% 1.54%
1997 2.11% 1.68%
1996 2.36% 1.87%
1995 2.5% 2.06%
1994 2.65% 2.15%
1993 2.75% 2.22%
1992 2.81% 2.29%
1991 2.86% 2.33%
1990 2.89% 2.36%
1989 2.91% 2.37%
1988 2.91% 2.32%
1987 2.88% 2.32%
1986 2.85% 2.37%
1985 2.81% 2.41%
1984 2.73% 2.52%
1983 2.64% 2.66%
1982 2.48% 2.78%
1981 2.25% 2.87%
1980 1.99% 2.78%
1979 1.78% 2.73%
1978 1.69% 2.93%
1977 1.76% 3.05%
1976 1.97% 3.09%
1975 2.24% 3.11%
1974 2.41% 3.13%
1973 2.46% 2.94%
1972 2.45% 2.95%
1971 2.43% 3.17%
1970 2.41% 3.18%
1969 2.38% 3.19%
1968 2.36% 3.19%
1967 2.33% 3.17%
1966 2.31% 3.14%
1965 2.3% 3.11%
1964 2.28% 3.08%
1963 2.3% 3.06%
1962 2.31% 3.04%
1961 2.28% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.32%.

Live population counters

Laos Nicaragua
Current population
8027464
7144725
Population rank 103/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.09%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
5.77 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
3.97 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
16.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +250
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +91,362
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +1.32%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 78/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -10,645 -8,371
Net migration rank 134/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -8,371
2024 114,574 -10,284 100,318 -8,189
2023 115,359 -10,003 100,921 -7,996
2022 116,620 -10,003 100,987 -7,996
2021 115,323 -10,305 89,213 -10,383
2020 118,609 -10,305 90,515 -10,383
2019 119,797 -10,305 102,817 -19,730
2018 119,986 -10,305 104,814 -20,742
2017 120,515 -10,400 105,468 -21,849
2016 119,978 -11,401 106,585 -23,076
2015 118,723 -12,991 107,344 -24,353
2014 118,103 -26,881 108,420 -25,570
2013 119,845 -27,492 109,032 -26,587
2012 121,324 -28,871 110,065 -27,389
2011 122,863 -30,538 110,026 -28,221
2010 122,516 -30,046 110,475 -29,081
2009 122,174 -29,545 110,213 -29,913
2008 121,042 -28,318 110,395 -30,675
2007 119,980 -27,233 110,341 -31,357
2006 118,602 -25,286 110,073 -32,274
2005 118,165 -24,138 108,984 -33,280
2004 121,888 -40,120 106,904 -44,222
2003 122,158 -36,572 106,142 -44,931
2002 122,110 -33,595 105,805 -44,906
2001 123,847 -33,552 107,109 -43,837
2000 124,201 -33,965 109,192 -42,087
1999 127,255 -36,632 110,217 -40,095
1998 128,409 -33,997 108,862 -38,260
1997 130,388 -32,288 114,415 -36,851
1996 131,142 -16,574 116,849 -35,208
1995 132,241 -14,279 118,325 -25,889
1994 134,201 -11,782 119,565 -24,773
1993 135,295 -9,390 120,469 -24,091
1992 132,417 -7,502 121,204 -24,171
1991 129,523 -5,390 121,787 -24,028
1990 125,297 -3,100 120,677 -24,280
1989 121,044 -1,272 120,128 -24,364
1988 117,050 -80 117,299 -24,753
1987 113,005 0 112,885 -25,127
1986 109,266 -475 113,054 -24,805
1985 106,047 -1,376 110,949 -23,840
1984 102,318 -2,698 110,133 -22,493
1983 98,178 -4,108 110,618 -20,620
1982 94,058 -6,184 112,468 -19,395
1981 89,963 -11,061 110,421 -17,353
1980 86,548 -17,339 108,604 -15,130
1979 82,852 -23,317 96,429 -14,152
1978 80,604 -27,208 98,419 -12,273
1977 79,149 -26,908 100,498 -11,082
1976 77,575 -21,738 98,100 -10,155
1975 76,725 -13,858 95,230 -9,349
1974 74,652 -6,000 92,505 -8,639
1973 70,513 -774 89,662 -7,947
1972 68,095 0 76,906 -7,219
1971 65,959 0 84,139 -6,328
1970 63,896 0 81,127 -5,423
1969 61,595 0 78,237 -4,592
1968 59,567 0 75,458 -3,979
1967 57,763 0 72,722 -3,666
1966 55,494 0 69,883 -3,443
1965 54,268 0 67,056 -3,231
1964 52,482 0 64,227 -3,043
1963 51,056 0 61,738 -2,881
1962 51,244 0 59,547 -2,727
1961 48,992 0 57,499 -2,579
1960 47,575 0 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 86.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,008,982 people) and 13.3% is from migration (a loss of 154,697 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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