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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.37 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 +1.48% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% 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 9,342,607 18,802,138
2099 9,389,481 18,790,040
2098 9,435,427 18,776,265
2097 9,480,219 18,758,897
2096 9,524,052 18,737,707
2095 9,567,045 18,714,219
2094 9,609,471 18,687,257
2093 9,651,065 18,658,233
2092 9,691,590 18,625,772
2091 9,731,446 18,590,001
2090 9,770,116 18,549,501
2089 9,807,690 18,510,463
2088 9,844,143 18,468,827
2087 9,879,110 18,424,378
2086 9,912,903 18,376,043
2085 9,945,223 18,325,641
2084 9,975,614 18,274,394
2083 10,005,023 18,218,709
2082 10,032,558 18,163,177
2081 10,058,731 18,104,285
2080 10,083,222 18,039,008
2079 10,106,703 17,975,778
2078 10,128,372 17,908,670
2077 10,148,533 17,840,781
2076 10,165,829 17,771,791
2075 10,182,062 17,699,428
2074 10,196,505 17,625,044
2073 10,208,837 17,548,128
2072 10,218,581 17,466,649
2071 10,225,726 17,381,598
2070 10,231,909 17,295,105
2069 10,235,317 17,205,503
2068 10,235,668 17,112,154
2067 10,233,930 17,015,090
2066 10,228,744 16,915,436
2065 10,222,027 16,812,946
2064 10,212,674 16,708,669
2063 10,200,753 16,604,296
2062 10,186,526 16,497,292
2061 10,169,161 16,386,905
2060 10,149,107 16,270,535
2059 10,126,671 16,152,614
2058 10,100,989 16,032,684
2057 10,072,578 15,909,649
2056 10,041,736 15,784,519
2055 10,008,916 15,656,542
2054 9,972,602 15,523,143
2053 9,933,363 15,389,244
2052 9,891,383 15,250,715
2051 9,846,656 15,110,389
2050 9,799,766 14,968,530
2049 9,750,669 14,821,865
2048 9,697,931 14,673,459
2047 9,643,484 14,522,926
2046 9,586,249 14,370,120
2045 9,527,029 14,213,585
2044 9,465,046 14,056,036
2043 9,401,665 13,897,765
2042 9,334,890 13,738,690
2041 9,266,149 13,577,382
2040 9,195,755 13,413,396
2039 9,122,969 13,247,486
2038 9,046,689 13,079,352
2037 8,968,700 12,909,735
2036 8,888,903 12,738,223
2035 8,807,373 12,566,543
2034 8,723,937 12,392,476
2033 8,638,238 12,218,246
2032 8,550,017 12,042,345
2031 8,459,669 11,865,316
2030 8,367,305 11,685,599
2029 8,273,173 11,504,890
2028 8,176,811 11,322,573
2027 8,078,122 11,138,409
2026 7,977,666 10,952,454
2025 7,874,813 10,765,048
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th 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 22.4% to 9,799,766 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

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 1.35% 1.78%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Laos Papua New Guinea
Current population
8004838
11002753
Population rank 103/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.13%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
2.81 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +512
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 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 - -10,284 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 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 (1960–2024, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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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