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Population in Laos compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 11,045,681 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.38 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% growth).

Laos vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Papua New Guinea
2100 9,340,510 18,798,240
2099 9,387,374 18,786,145
2098 9,433,309 18,772,372
2097 9,478,091 18,755,008
2096 9,521,914 18,733,822
2095 9,564,898 18,710,340
2094 9,607,314 18,683,383
2093 9,648,899 18,654,365
2092 9,689,414 18,621,911
2091 9,729,262 18,586,147
2090 9,767,923 18,545,656
2089 9,805,489 18,506,626
2088 9,841,933 18,464,999
2087 9,876,893 18,420,558
2086 9,910,678 18,372,233
2085 9,942,991 18,321,842
2084 9,973,375 18,270,605
2083 10,002,778 18,214,932
2082 10,030,306 18,159,412
2081 10,056,473 18,100,531
2080 10,080,959 18,035,268
2079 10,104,434 17,972,052
2078 10,126,099 17,904,957
2077 10,146,255 17,837,082
2076 10,163,547 17,768,107
2075 10,179,776 17,695,759
2074 10,194,216 17,621,390
2073 10,206,546 17,544,490
2072 10,216,287 17,463,028
2071 10,223,430 17,377,995
2070 10,229,612 17,291,519
2069 10,233,020 17,201,936
2068 10,233,371 17,108,606
2067 10,231,633 17,011,562
2066 10,226,448 16,911,929
2065 10,219,732 16,809,460
2064 10,210,382 16,705,205
2063 10,198,463 16,600,853
2062 10,184,239 16,493,872
2061 10,166,878 16,383,508
2060 10,146,829 16,267,162
2059 10,124,398 16,149,265
2058 10,098,721 16,029,360
2057 10,070,317 15,906,350
2056 10,039,482 15,781,247
2055 10,006,669 15,653,296
2054 9,970,363 15,519,925
2053 9,931,133 15,386,054
2052 9,889,162 15,247,553
2051 9,844,445 15,107,257
2050 9,797,566 14,965,427
2049 9,748,481 14,818,793
2048 9,695,755 14,670,417
2047 9,641,319 14,519,915
2046 9,584,097 14,367,141
2045 9,524,890 14,210,639
2044 9,462,921 14,053,122
2043 9,399,555 13,894,884
2042 9,332,795 13,735,841
2041 9,264,069 13,574,567
2040 9,193,691 13,410,615
2039 9,120,921 13,244,740
2038 9,044,658 13,076,640
2037 8,966,687 12,907,059
2036 8,886,908 12,735,582
2035 8,805,396 12,563,938
2034 8,721,979 12,389,907
2033 8,636,299 12,215,713
2032 8,548,097 12,039,848
2031 8,457,770 11,862,856
2030 8,365,427 11,683,177
2029 8,271,316 11,502,504
2028 8,174,975 11,320,226
2027 8,076,308 11,136,100
2026 7,975,876 10,950,183
2025 7,873,046 10,762,817
2024 7,769,819 10,576,502
2023 7,664,993 10,389,635
2022 7,559,007 10,203,169
2021 7,453,194 10,012,896
2020 7,346,533 9,815,746
2019 7,237,636 9,609,010
2018 7,128,045 9,394,513
2017 7,018,147 9,178,714
2016 6,908,802 8,961,718
2015 6,801,645 8,743,246
2014 6,703,172 8,523,441
2013 6,611,385 8,302,698
2012 6,518,978 8,081,390
2011 6,426,590 7,859,346
2010 6,334,194 7,633,523
2009 6,241,642 7,406,438
2008 6,148,969 7,183,002
2007 6,056,236 6,963,345
2006 5,963,200 6,747,720
2005 5,869,523 6,535,905
2004 5,781,626 6,328,041
2003 5,697,945 6,123,997
2002 5,610,889 5,924,003
2001 5,521,482 5,728,435
2000 5,431,212 5,537,064
1999 5,340,784 5,349,333
1998 5,248,266 5,166,390
1997 5,152,011 4,987,883
1996 5,045,678 4,813,361
1995 4,929,409 4,644,278
1994 4,809,220 4,480,208
1993 4,685,060 4,320,872
1992 4,559,646 4,166,699
1991 4,435,118 4,021,837
1990 4,311,955 3,896,481
1989 4,190,974 3,796,078
1988 4,072,601 3,711,880
1987 3,957,612 3,632,543
1986 3,846,715 3,554,793
1985 3,739,985 3,478,936
1984 3,637,843 3,405,198
1983 3,541,001 3,333,633
1982 3,450,026 3,264,291
1981 3,366,631 3,197,019
1980 3,292,573 3,131,512
1979 3,228,202 3,067,341
1978 3,171,740 3,003,714
1977 3,118,923 2,940,327
1976 3,064,876 2,877,327
1975 3,005,521 2,814,820
1974 2,939,761 2,752,671
1973 2,870,573 2,690,629
1972 2,801,660 2,628,432
1971 2,734,628 2,566,421
1970 2,669,702 2,505,628
1969 2,606,959 2,446,927
1968 2,546,377 2,390,803
1967 2,487,715 2,337,532
1966 2,431,084 2,285,774
1965 2,376,200 2,235,820
1964 2,322,826 2,188,325
1963 2,271,061 2,141,376
1962 2,219,910 2,093,919
1961 2,169,796 2,046,127
1960 2,121,514 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 18.8M people in 2100 for Papua New Guinea.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.5% 0.06%
2099 -0.49% 0.07%
2098 -0.47% 0.09%
2097 -0.46% 0.11%
2096 -0.45% 0.13%
2095 -0.44% 0.14%
2094 -0.43% 0.16%
2093 -0.42% 0.17%
2092 -0.41% 0.19%
2091 -0.4% 0.22%
2090 -0.38% 0.21%
2089 -0.37% 0.23%
2088 -0.35% 0.24%
2087 -0.34% 0.26%
2086 -0.32% 0.28%
2085 -0.3% 0.28%
2084 -0.29% 0.31%
2083 -0.27% 0.31%
2082 -0.26% 0.33%
2081 -0.24% 0.36%
2080 -0.23% 0.35%
2079 -0.21% 0.37%
2078 -0.2% 0.38%
2077 -0.17% 0.39%
2076 -0.16% 0.41%
2075 -0.14% 0.42%
2074 -0.12% 0.44%
2073 -0.1% 0.47%
2072 -0.07% 0.49%
2071 -0.06% 0.5%
2070 -0.03% 0.52%
2069 -0.003% 0.55%
2068 0.02% 0.57%
2067 0.05% 0.59%
2066 0.07% 0.61%
2065 0.09% 0.62%
2064 0.12% 0.63%
2063 0.14% 0.65%
2062 0.17% 0.67%
2061 0.2% 0.72%
2060 0.22% 0.73%
2059 0.25% 0.75%
2058 0.28% 0.77%
2057 0.31% 0.79%
2056 0.33% 0.82%
2055 0.36% 0.86%
2054 0.4% 0.87%
2053 0.42% 0.91%
2052 0.45% 0.93%
2051 0.48% 0.95%
2050 0.5% 0.99%
2049 0.54% 1.01%
2048 0.56% 1.04%
2047 0.6% 1.06%
2046 0.62% 1.1%
2045 0.65% 1.12%
2044 0.67% 1.14%
2043 0.72% 1.16%
2042 0.74% 1.19%
2041 0.77% 1.22%
2040 0.8% 1.25%
2039 0.84% 1.29%
2038 0.87% 1.31%
2037 0.9% 1.35%
2036 0.93% 1.37%
2035 0.96% 1.4%
2034 0.99% 1.43%
2033 1.03% 1.46%
2032 1.07% 1.49%
2031 1.1% 1.54%
2030 1.14% 1.57%
2029 1.18% 1.61%
2028 1.22% 1.65%
2027 1.26% 1.7%
2026 1.31% 1.74%
2025 1.33% 1.76%
2024 1.37% 1.8%
2023 1.4% 1.83%
2022 1.42% 1.9%
2021 1.45% 2.01%
2020 1.5% 2.15%
2019 1.54% 2.28%
2018 1.57% 2.35%
2017 1.58% 2.42%
2016 1.58% 2.5%
2015 1.47% 2.58%
2014 1.39% 2.66%
2013 1.42% 2.74%
2012 1.44% 2.83%
2011 1.46% 2.96%
2010 1.48% 3.07%
2009 1.51% 3.11%
2008 1.53% 3.15%
2007 1.56% 3.2%
2006 1.6% 3.24%
2005 1.52% 3.28%
2004 1.47% 3.33%
2003 1.55% 3.38%
2002 1.62% 3.41%
2001 1.66% 3.46%
2000 1.69% 3.51%
1999 1.76% 3.54%
1998 1.87% 3.58%
1997 2.11% 3.63%
1996 2.36% 3.64%
1995 2.5% 3.66%
1994 2.65% 3.69%
1993 2.75% 3.7%
1992 2.81% 3.6%
1991 2.86% 3.22%
1990 2.89% 2.64%
1989 2.91% 2.27%
1988 2.91% 2.18%
1987 2.88% 2.19%
1986 2.85% 2.18%
1985 2.81% 2.17%
1984 2.73% 2.15%
1983 2.64% 2.12%
1982 2.48% 2.1%
1981 2.25% 2.09%
1980 1.99% 2.09%
1979 1.78% 2.12%
1978 1.69% 2.16%
1977 1.76% 2.19%
1976 1.97% 2.22%
1975 2.24% 2.26%
1974 2.41% 2.31%
1973 2.46% 2.37%
1972 2.45% 2.42%
1971 2.43% 2.43%
1970 2.41% 2.4%
1969 2.38% 2.35%
1968 2.36% 2.28%
1967 2.33% 2.26%
1966 2.31% 2.23%
1965 2.3% 2.17%
1964 2.28% 2.19%
1963 2.3% 2.27%
1962 2.31% 2.34%
1961 2.28% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Laos Papua New Guinea
Current population
8027464
11045681
Population rank 103/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.13%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
2.83 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +510
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 59/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
1.29 days
Annual migration change -10,645 -284
Net migration rank 134/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -284
2024 114,574 -10,284 187,595 -707
2023 115,359 -10,003 187,637 -787
2022 116,620 -10,003 186,861 -787
2021 115,323 -10,305 183,766 10,703
2020 118,609 -10,305 189,130 10,703
2019 119,797 -10,305 190,662 22,978
2018 119,986 -10,305 190,662 24,684
2017 120,515 -10,400 189,715 26,513
2016 119,978 -11,401 189,281 28,473
2015 118,723 -12,991 188,600 30,580
2014 118,103 -26,881 187,592 32,840
2013 119,845 -27,492 185,790 35,280
2012 121,324 -28,871 183,658 37,893
2011 122,863 -30,538 181,842 40,690
2010 122,516 -30,046 178,998 50,106
2009 122,174 -29,545 175,421 49,647
2008 121,042 -28,318 172,823 48,985
2007 119,980 -27,233 169,306 48,203
2006 118,602 -25,286 166,540 47,191
2005 118,165 -24,138 163,888 46,014
2004 121,888 -40,120 161,023 44,811
2003 122,158 -36,572 158,611 43,639
2002 122,110 -33,595 155,091 42,657
2001 123,847 -33,552 151,431 41,962
2000 124,201 -33,965 147,496 41,855
1999 127,255 -36,632 143,592 42,519
1998 128,409 -33,997 136,677 43,091
1997 130,388 -32,288 134,458 42,787
1996 131,142 -16,574 129,802 41,994
1995 132,241 -14,279 125,410 40,962
1994 134,201 -11,782 122,113 39,669
1993 135,295 -9,390 118,668 38,220
1992 132,417 -7,502 114,818 36,622
1991 129,523 -5,390 111,453 26,830
1990 125,297 -3,100 110,033 2,398
1989 121,044 -1,272 108,199 -19,824
1988 117,050 -80 106,256 -26,232
1987 113,005 0 104,367 -25,720
1986 109,266 -475 102,346 -25,495
1985 106,047 -1,376 100,333 -25,470
1984 102,318 -2,698 98,103 -25,487
1983 98,178 -4,108 95,982 -25,465
1982 94,058 -6,184 93,522 -25,355
1981 89,963 -11,061 91,767 -25,383
1980 86,548 -17,339 90,266 -25,638
1979 82,852 -23,317 89,330 -25,618
1978 80,604 -27,208 88,747 -25,208
1977 79,149 -26,908 87,954 -24,722
1976 77,575 -21,738 86,965 -24,198
1975 76,725 -13,858 85,809 -23,562
1974 74,652 -6,000 84,829 -22,771
1973 70,513 -774 83,821 -21,803
1972 68,095 0 82,672 -20,303
1971 65,959 0 80,599 -18,945
1970 63,896 0 78,712 -18,773
1969 61,595 0 76,454 -18,994
1968 59,567 0 73,983 -19,188
1967 57,763 0 71,519 -19,767
1966 55,494 0 69,206 -17,454
1965 54,268 0 66,693 -18,532
1964 52,482 0 64,558 -17,730
1963 51,056 0 62,260 -15,189
1962 51,244 0 59,974 -12,141
1961 48,992 0 58,151 -10,409
1960 47,575 0 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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