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Population in Laos compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 3.33 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.42% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Laos vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos North Korea
2100 9,342,607 19,604,631
2099 9,389,481 19,733,548
2098 9,435,427 19,862,949
2097 9,480,219 19,993,288
2096 9,524,052 20,124,518
2095 9,567,045 20,256,401
2094 9,609,471 20,388,156
2093 9,651,065 20,520,253
2092 9,691,590 20,652,961
2091 9,731,446 20,785,785
2090 9,770,116 20,918,305
2089 9,807,690 21,050,580
2088 9,844,143 21,182,325
2087 9,879,110 21,314,047
2086 9,912,903 21,445,329
2085 9,945,223 21,575,835
2084 9,975,614 21,705,777
2083 10,005,023 21,835,029
2082 10,032,558 21,964,199
2081 10,058,731 22,092,862
2080 10,083,222 22,220,948
2079 10,106,703 22,348,577
2078 10,128,372 22,475,755
2077 10,148,533 22,602,817
2076 10,165,829 22,729,499
2075 10,182,062 22,856,369
2074 10,196,505 22,983,784
2073 10,208,837 23,111,441
2072 10,218,581 23,239,261
2071 10,225,726 23,367,583
2070 10,231,909 23,496,136
2069 10,235,317 23,625,538
2068 10,235,668 23,755,136
2067 10,233,930 23,884,879
2066 10,228,744 24,015,027
2065 10,222,027 24,144,985
2064 10,212,674 24,274,257
2063 10,200,753 24,402,439
2062 10,186,526 24,529,941
2061 10,169,161 24,656,350
2060 10,149,107 24,780,911
2059 10,126,671 24,903,037
2058 10,100,989 25,023,260
2057 10,072,578 25,140,523
2056 10,041,736 25,255,342
2055 10,008,916 25,366,397
2054 9,972,602 25,474,292
2053 9,933,363 25,578,870
2052 9,891,383 25,679,963
2051 9,846,656 25,777,639
2050 9,799,766 25,871,673
2049 9,750,669 25,962,167
2048 9,697,931 26,048,593
2047 9,643,484 26,131,429
2046 9,586,249 26,210,487
2045 9,527,029 26,286,208
2044 9,465,046 26,358,331
2043 9,401,665 26,427,062
2042 9,334,890 26,491,482
2041 9,266,149 26,552,564
2040 9,195,755 26,609,557
2039 9,122,969 26,661,815
2038 9,046,689 26,708,400
2037 8,968,700 26,749,134
2036 8,888,903 26,783,304
2035 8,807,373 26,810,026
2034 8,723,937 26,828,912
2033 8,638,238 26,839,229
2032 8,550,017 26,840,944
2031 8,459,669 26,832,957
2030 8,367,305 26,814,812
2029 8,273,173 26,787,117
2028 8,176,811 26,749,227
2027 8,078,122 26,701,444
2026 7,977,666 26,643,460
2025 7,874,813 26,575,953
2024 7,769,819 26,498,823
2023 7,664,993 26,418,204
2022 7,559,007 26,328,845
2021 7,453,194 26,232,534
2020 7,346,533 26,136,312
2019 7,237,636 26,037,632
2018 7,128,045 25,931,147
2017 7,018,147 25,817,709
2016 6,908,802 25,698,326
2015 6,801,645 25,575,350
2014 6,703,172 25,451,262
2013 6,611,385 25,329,451
2012 6,518,978 25,211,728
2011 6,426,590 25,097,874
2010 6,334,194 24,987,258
2009 6,241,642 24,878,332
2008 6,148,969 24,764,618
2007 6,056,236 24,646,383
2006 5,963,200 24,524,507
2005 5,869,523 24,396,433
2004 5,781,626 24,254,943
2003 5,697,945 24,090,380
2002 5,610,889 23,943,973
2001 5,521,482 23,815,358
2000 5,431,212 23,665,910
1999 5,340,784 23,497,599
1998 5,248,266 23,311,564
1997 5,152,011 23,110,830
1996 5,045,678 22,895,746
1995 4,929,409 22,669,304
1994 4,809,220 22,393,975
1993 4,685,060 22,073,352
1992 4,559,646 21,750,911
1991 4,435,118 21,428,638
1990 4,311,955 21,112,137
1989 4,190,974 20,804,367
1988 4,072,601 20,503,161
1987 3,957,612 20,205,483
1986 3,846,715 19,910,855
1985 3,739,985 19,620,388
1984 3,637,843 19,335,043
1983 3,541,001 19,054,034
1982 3,450,026 18,776,357
1981 3,366,631 18,501,295
1980 3,292,573 18,236,786
1979 3,228,202 17,983,470
1978 3,171,740 17,735,995
1977 3,118,923 17,492,798
1976 3,064,876 17,243,450
1975 3,005,521 16,971,055
1974 2,939,761 16,673,121
1973 2,870,573 16,350,367
1972 2,801,660 15,975,069
1971 2,734,628 15,572,457
1970 2,669,702 15,172,775
1969 2,606,959 14,767,615
1968 2,546,377 14,365,596
1967 2,487,715 13,958,350
1966 2,431,084 13,569,094
1965 2,376,200 13,219,369
1964 2,322,826 12,889,770
1963 2,271,061 12,567,057
1962 2,219,910 12,262,882
1961 2,169,796 11,990,713
1960 2,121,514 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos North Korea
2100 -0.5% -0.65%
2099 -0.49% -0.65%
2098 -0.47% -0.65%
2097 -0.46% -0.65%
2096 -0.45% -0.65%
2095 -0.44% -0.65%
2094 -0.43% -0.64%
2093 -0.42% -0.64%
2092 -0.41% -0.64%
2091 -0.4% -0.63%
2090 -0.38% -0.63%
2089 -0.37% -0.62%
2088 -0.35% -0.62%
2087 -0.34% -0.61%
2086 -0.32% -0.6%
2085 -0.3% -0.6%
2084 -0.29% -0.59%
2083 -0.27% -0.59%
2082 -0.26% -0.58%
2081 -0.24% -0.58%
2080 -0.23% -0.57%
2079 -0.21% -0.57%
2078 -0.2% -0.56%
2077 -0.17% -0.56%
2076 -0.16% -0.56%
2075 -0.14% -0.55%
2074 -0.12% -0.55%
2073 -0.1% -0.55%
2072 -0.07% -0.55%
2071 -0.06% -0.55%
2070 -0.03% -0.55%
2069 -0.003% -0.55%
2068 0.02% -0.54%
2067 0.05% -0.54%
2066 0.07% -0.54%
2065 0.09% -0.53%
2064 0.12% -0.53%
2063 0.14% -0.52%
2062 0.17% -0.51%
2061 0.2% -0.5%
2060 0.22% -0.49%
2059 0.25% -0.48%
2058 0.28% -0.47%
2057 0.31% -0.45%
2056 0.33% -0.44%
2055 0.36% -0.42%
2054 0.4% -0.41%
2053 0.42% -0.39%
2052 0.45% -0.38%
2051 0.48% -0.36%
2050 0.5% -0.35%
2049 0.54% -0.33%
2048 0.56% -0.32%
2047 0.6% -0.3%
2046 0.62% -0.29%
2045 0.65% -0.27%
2044 0.67% -0.26%
2043 0.72% -0.24%
2042 0.74% -0.23%
2041 0.77% -0.21%
2040 0.8% -0.2%
2039 0.84% -0.17%
2038 0.87% -0.15%
2037 0.9% -0.13%
2036 0.93% -0.1%
2035 0.96% -0.07%
2034 0.99% -0.04%
2033 1.03% -0.006%
2032 1.07% 0.03%
2031 1.1% 0.07%
2030 1.14% 0.1%
2029 1.18% 0.14%
2028 1.22% 0.18%
2027 1.26% 0.22%
2026 1.31% 0.25%
2025 1.35% 0.29%
2024 1.37% 0.31%
2023 1.4% 0.34%
2022 1.42% 0.37%
2021 1.45% 0.37%
2020 1.5% 0.38%
2019 1.54% 0.41%
2018 1.57% 0.44%
2017 1.58% 0.46%
2016 1.58% 0.48%
2015 1.47% 0.49%
2014 1.39% 0.48%
2013 1.42% 0.47%
2012 1.44% 0.45%
2011 1.46% 0.44%
2010 1.48% 0.44%
2009 1.51% 0.46%
2008 1.53% 0.48%
2007 1.56% 0.5%
2006 1.6% 0.52%
2005 1.52% 0.58%
2004 1.47% 0.68%
2003 1.55% 0.61%
2002 1.62% 0.54%
2001 1.66% 0.63%
2000 1.69% 0.72%
1999 1.76% 0.8%
1998 1.87% 0.87%
1997 2.11% 0.94%
1996 2.36% 1%
1995 2.5% 1.23%
1994 2.65% 1.45%
1993 2.75% 1.48%
1992 2.81% 1.5%
1991 2.86% 1.5%
1990 2.89% 1.48%
1989 2.91% 1.47%
1988 2.91% 1.47%
1987 2.88% 1.48%
1986 2.85% 1.48%
1985 2.81% 1.48%
1984 2.73% 1.47%
1983 2.64% 1.48%
1982 2.48% 1.49%
1981 2.25% 1.45%
1980 1.99% 1.41%
1979 1.78% 1.4%
1978 1.69% 1.39%
1977 1.76% 1.45%
1976 1.97% 1.61%
1975 2.24% 1.79%
1974 2.41% 1.97%
1973 2.46% 2.35%
1972 2.45% 2.59%
1971 2.43% 2.63%
1970 2.41% 2.74%
1969 2.38% 2.8%
1968 2.36% 2.92%
1967 2.33% 2.87%
1966 2.31% 2.65%
1965 2.3% 2.56%
1964 2.28% 2.57%
1963 2.3% 2.48%
1962 2.31% 2.27%
1961 2.28% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Laos North Korea
Current population
8004838
26659144
Population rank 103/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.32%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +221
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 150/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -10,645 -2,787
Net migration rank 134/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -2,787
2024 - -10,284 - -2,473
2023 115,359 -10,003 86,203 -1,997
2022 116,620 -10,003 96,495 -1,997
2021 115,323 -10,305 99,710 -1,585
2020 118,609 -10,305 95,920 -1,585
2019 119,797 -10,305 106,208 -3,142
2018 119,986 -10,305 113,164 -3,225
2017 120,515 -10,400 120,181 -3,224
2016 119,978 -11,401 125,048 -3,222
2015 118,723 -12,991 127,365 -3,208
2014 118,103 -26,881 127,078 -3,042
2013 119,845 -27,492 122,519 -2,933
2012 121,324 -28,871 118,773 -2,919
2011 122,863 -30,538 114,798 -2,957
2010 122,516 -30,046 112,443 -3,053
2009 122,174 -29,545 111,530 -3,058
2008 121,042 -28,318 122,015 -3,051
2007 119,980 -27,233 120,521 -3,021
2006 118,602 -25,286 129,171 -2,948
2005 118,165 -24,138 132,765 -2,861
2004 121,888 -40,120 155,838 -2,758
2003 122,158 -36,572 178,775 -2,717
2002 122,110 -33,595 119,504 -2,763
2001 123,847 -33,552 143,321 -2,884
2000 124,201 -33,965 161,591 -3,142
1999 127,255 -36,632 181,613 -3,443
1998 128,409 -33,997 197,589 -3,706
1997 130,388 -32,288 211,325 -3,745
1996 131,142 -16,574 226,095 -3,512
1995 132,241 -14,279 233,381 -3,094
1994 134,201 -11,782 320,861 -517
1993 135,295 -9,390 320,880 0
1992 132,417 -7,502 324,002 0
1991 129,523 -5,390 320,551 0
1990 125,297 -3,100 312,460 0
1989 121,044 -1,272 303,078 0
1988 117,050 -80 299,305 0
1987 113,005 0 296,030 0
1986 109,266 -475 293,227 0
1985 106,047 -1,376 287,714 0
1984 102,318 -2,698 282,987 0
1983 98,178 -4,108 279,046 0
1982 94,058 -6,184 276,332 0
1981 89,963 -11,061 273,800 0
1980 86,548 -17,339 255,206 0
1979 82,852 -23,317 251,409 0
1978 80,604 -27,208 243,533 0
1977 79,149 -26,908 242,870 0
1976 77,575 -21,738 255,841 0
1975 76,725 -13,858 288,966 0
1974 74,652 -6,000 306,902 0
1973 70,513 -774 338,600 0
1972 68,095 0 411,997 0
1971 65,959 0 393,220 0
1970 63,896 0 406,129 0
1969 61,595 0 404,189 0
1968 59,567 0 399,837 0
1967 57,763 0 414,632 0
1966 55,494 0 363,882 0
1965 54,268 0 335,587 0
1964 52,482 0 323,623 0
1963 51,056 0 321,805 0
1962 51,244 0 286,534 0
1961 48,992 0 257,788 0
1960 47,575 0 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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