Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 7,124,343 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 +1.48% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Laos vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Nicaragua
2100 9,342,607 8,688,116
2099 9,389,481 8,724,538
2098 9,435,427 8,760,232
2097 9,480,219 8,794,755
2096 9,524,052 8,828,433
2095 9,567,045 8,861,157
2094 9,609,471 8,892,755
2093 9,651,065 8,924,287
2092 9,691,590 8,954,488
2091 9,731,446 8,984,026
2090 9,770,116 9,012,075
2089 9,807,690 9,039,709
2088 9,844,143 9,065,862
2087 9,879,110 9,090,942
2086 9,912,903 9,115,336
2085 9,945,223 9,138,363
2084 9,975,614 9,160,205
2083 10,005,023 9,180,483
2082 10,032,558 9,199,639
2081 10,058,731 9,217,574
2080 10,083,222 9,233,677
2079 10,106,703 9,247,995
2078 10,128,372 9,260,269
2077 10,148,533 9,271,296
2076 10,165,829 9,280,355
2075 10,182,062 9,287,263
2074 10,196,505 9,293,340
2073 10,208,837 9,297,217
2072 10,218,581 9,298,930
2071 10,225,726 9,298,548
2070 10,231,909 9,296,541
2069 10,235,317 9,292,245
2068 10,235,668 9,285,519
2067 10,233,930 9,277,073
2066 10,228,744 9,266,063
2065 10,222,027 9,253,359
2064 10,212,674 9,238,451
2063 10,200,753 9,221,261
2062 10,186,526 9,201,687
2061 10,169,161 9,180,231
2060 10,149,107 9,156,164
2059 10,126,671 9,129,485
2058 10,100,989 9,100,437
2057 10,072,578 9,069,770
2056 10,041,736 9,037,076
2055 10,008,916 9,002,004
2054 9,972,602 8,964,646
2053 9,933,363 8,925,248
2052 9,891,383 8,883,323
2051 9,846,656 8,838,651
2050 9,799,766 8,791,647
2049 9,750,669 8,743,003
2048 9,697,931 8,691,701
2047 9,643,484 8,638,293
2046 9,586,249 8,583,244
2045 9,527,029 8,525,953
2044 9,465,046 8,466,669
2043 9,401,665 8,405,733
2042 9,334,890 8,342,871
2041 9,266,149 8,278,159
2040 9,195,755 8,211,510
2039 9,122,969 8,143,346
2038 9,046,689 8,072,943
2037 8,968,700 8,000,701
2036 8,888,903 7,926,969
2035 8,807,373 7,851,540
2034 8,723,937 7,774,327
2033 8,638,238 7,695,506
2032 8,550,017 7,615,273
2031 8,459,669 7,533,169
2030 8,367,305 7,449,842
2029 8,273,173 7,364,850
2028 8,176,811 7,278,061
2027 8,078,122 7,189,755
2026 7,977,666 7,100,090
2025 7,874,813 7,008,896
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th 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 22.4% to 9,799,766 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

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 1.35% 1.34%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Laos Nicaragua
Current population
8004838
7124343
Population rank 103/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.09%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
5.68 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +253
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 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 - -10,284 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 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 (1960–2024, 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/nicaragua | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.