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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 1.87 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Laos vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Rwanda
2100 9,342,607 33,092,520
2099 9,389,481 32,987,847
2098 9,435,427 32,907,335
2097 9,480,219 32,832,706
2096 9,524,052 32,747,490
2095 9,567,045 32,615,044
2094 9,609,471 32,529,590
2093 9,651,065 32,396,544
2092 9,691,590 32,274,083
2091 9,731,446 32,171,077
2090 9,770,116 32,068,626
2089 9,807,690 31,872,593
2088 9,844,143 31,726,882
2087 9,879,110 31,533,364
2086 9,912,903 31,379,315
2085 9,945,223 31,235,000
2084 9,975,614 31,092,940
2083 10,005,023 30,917,707
2082 10,032,558 30,733,578
2081 10,058,731 30,557,819
2080 10,083,222 30,367,298
2079 10,106,703 30,176,627
2078 10,128,372 29,997,866
2077 10,148,533 29,800,561
2076 10,165,829 29,627,021
2075 10,182,062 29,423,503
2074 10,196,505 29,225,643
2073 10,208,837 29,007,777
2072 10,218,581 28,780,763
2071 10,225,726 28,560,382
2070 10,231,909 28,316,533
2069 10,235,317 28,103,541
2068 10,235,668 27,854,906
2067 10,233,930 27,591,747
2066 10,228,744 27,355,659
2065 10,222,027 27,084,704
2064 10,212,674 26,821,315
2063 10,200,753 26,543,184
2062 10,186,526 26,296,132
2061 10,169,161 25,985,356
2060 10,149,107 25,712,904
2059 10,126,671 25,437,446
2058 10,100,989 25,106,242
2057 10,072,578 24,837,928
2056 10,041,736 24,566,784
2055 10,008,916 24,266,669
2054 9,972,602 23,976,914
2053 9,933,363 23,690,426
2052 9,891,383 23,406,346
2051 9,846,656 23,099,207
2050 9,799,766 22,800,250
2049 9,750,669 22,484,698
2048 9,697,931 22,157,938
2047 9,643,484 21,834,786
2046 9,586,249 21,540,566
2045 9,527,029 21,215,262
2044 9,465,046 20,902,695
2043 9,401,665 20,535,605
2042 9,334,890 20,201,608
2041 9,266,149 19,832,577
2040 9,195,755 19,463,015
2039 9,122,969 19,096,860
2038 9,046,689 18,761,626
2037 8,968,700 18,421,864
2036 8,888,903 18,116,691
2035 8,807,373 17,753,910
2034 8,723,937 17,421,234
2033 8,638,238 17,089,349
2032 8,550,017 16,811,505
2031 8,459,669 16,485,559
2030 8,367,305 16,167,916
2029 8,273,173 15,858,862
2028 8,176,811 15,544,959
2027 8,078,122 15,207,733
2026 7,977,666 14,888,776
2025 7,874,813 14,560,205
2024 7,769,819 14,256,567
2023 7,664,993 13,954,471
2022 7,559,007 13,651,030
2021 7,453,194 13,355,260
2020 7,346,533 13,065,837
2019 7,237,636 12,776,103
2018 7,128,045 12,487,996
2017 7,018,147 12,202,060
2016 6,908,802 11,919,183
2015 6,801,645 11,640,022
2014 6,703,172 11,364,757
2013 6,611,385 11,093,340
2012 6,518,978 10,829,901
2011 6,426,590 10,573,733
2010 6,334,194 10,317,553
2009 6,241,642 10,060,432
2008 6,148,969 9,804,269
2007 6,056,236 9,549,933
2006 5,963,200 9,299,246
2005 5,869,523 9,054,528
2004 5,781,626 8,816,844
2003 5,697,945 8,586,875
2002 5,610,889 8,400,180
2001 5,521,482 8,287,094
2000 5,431,212 8,213,931
1999 5,340,784 8,147,912
1998 5,248,266 8,081,681
1997 5,152,011 7,755,238
1996 5,045,678 6,708,764
1995 4,929,409 5,674,118
1994 4,809,220 6,792,352
1993 4,685,060 7,981,132
1992 4,559,646 7,683,266
1991 4,435,118 7,526,966
1990 4,311,955 7,375,307
1989 4,190,974 7,184,706
1988 4,072,601 6,968,071
1987 3,957,612 6,749,493
1986 3,846,715 6,531,881
1985 3,739,985 6,317,228
1984 3,637,843 6,107,627
1983 3,541,001 5,905,311
1982 3,450,026 5,711,549
1981 3,366,631 5,527,230
1980 3,292,573 5,353,259
1979 3,228,202 5,189,541
1978 3,171,740 5,035,171
1977 3,118,923 4,888,240
1976 3,064,876 4,745,954
1975 3,005,521 4,607,728
1974 2,939,761 4,474,228
1973 2,870,573 4,345,047
1972 2,801,660 4,220,335
1971 2,734,628 4,100,044
1970 2,669,702 3,980,669
1969 2,606,959 3,861,271
1968 2,546,377 3,744,010
1967 2,487,715 3,629,577
1966 2,431,084 3,521,626
1965 2,376,200 3,423,210
1964 2,322,826 3,334,834
1963 2,271,061 3,258,890
1962 2,219,910 3,186,025
1961 2,169,796 3,106,779
1960 2,121,514 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Rwanda
2100 -0.5% 0.32%
2099 -0.49% 0.24%
2098 -0.47% 0.23%
2097 -0.46% 0.26%
2096 -0.45% 0.41%
2095 -0.44% 0.26%
2094 -0.43% 0.41%
2093 -0.42% 0.38%
2092 -0.41% 0.32%
2091 -0.4% 0.32%
2090 -0.38% 0.62%
2089 -0.37% 0.46%
2088 -0.35% 0.61%
2087 -0.34% 0.49%
2086 -0.32% 0.46%
2085 -0.3% 0.46%
2084 -0.29% 0.57%
2083 -0.27% 0.6%
2082 -0.26% 0.58%
2081 -0.24% 0.63%
2080 -0.23% 0.63%
2079 -0.21% 0.6%
2078 -0.2% 0.66%
2077 -0.17% 0.59%
2076 -0.16% 0.69%
2075 -0.14% 0.68%
2074 -0.12% 0.75%
2073 -0.1% 0.79%
2072 -0.07% 0.77%
2071 -0.06% 0.86%
2070 -0.03% 0.76%
2069 -0.003% 0.89%
2068 0.02% 0.95%
2067 0.05% 0.86%
2066 0.07% 1%
2065 0.09% 0.98%
2064 0.12% 1.05%
2063 0.14% 0.94%
2062 0.17% 1.2%
2061 0.2% 1.06%
2060 0.22% 1.08%
2059 0.25% 1.32%
2058 0.28% 1.08%
2057 0.31% 1.1%
2056 0.33% 1.24%
2055 0.36% 1.21%
2054 0.4% 1.21%
2053 0.42% 1.21%
2052 0.45% 1.33%
2051 0.48% 1.31%
2050 0.5% 1.4%
2049 0.54% 1.47%
2048 0.56% 1.48%
2047 0.6% 1.37%
2046 0.62% 1.53%
2045 0.65% 1.5%
2044 0.67% 1.79%
2043 0.72% 1.65%
2042 0.74% 1.86%
2041 0.77% 1.9%
2040 0.8% 1.92%
2039 0.84% 1.79%
2038 0.87% 1.84%
2037 0.9% 1.68%
2036 0.93% 2.04%
2035 0.96% 1.91%
2034 0.99% 1.94%
2033 1.03% 1.65%
2032 1.07% 1.98%
2031 1.1% 1.96%
2030 1.14% 1.95%
2029 1.18% 2.02%
2028 1.22% 2.22%
2027 1.26% 2.14%
2026 1.31% 2.26%
2025 1.35% 2.13%
2024 1.37% 2.16%
2023 1.4% 2.22%
2022 1.42% 2.21%
2021 1.45% 2.22%
2020 1.5% 2.27%
2019 1.54% 2.31%
2018 1.57% 2.34%
2017 1.58% 2.37%
2016 1.58% 2.4%
2015 1.47% 2.42%
2014 1.39% 2.45%
2013 1.42% 2.43%
2012 1.44% 2.42%
2011 1.46% 2.48%
2010 1.48% 2.56%
2009 1.51% 2.61%
2008 1.53% 2.66%
2007 1.56% 2.7%
2006 1.6% 2.7%
2005 1.52% 2.7%
2004 1.47% 2.68%
2003 1.55% 2.22%
2002 1.62% 1.36%
2001 1.66% 0.89%
2000 1.69% 0.81%
1999 1.76% 0.82%
1998 1.87% 4.21%
1997 2.11% 15.6%
1996 2.36% 18.2%
1995 2.5% -16.5%
1994 2.65% -14.9%
1993 2.75% 3.88%
1992 2.81% 2.08%
1991 2.86% 2.06%
1990 2.89% 2.65%
1989 2.91% 3.11%
1988 2.91% 3.24%
1987 2.88% 3.33%
1986 2.85% 3.4%
1985 2.81% 3.43%
1984 2.73% 3.43%
1983 2.64% 3.39%
1982 2.48% 3.33%
1981 2.25% 3.25%
1980 1.99% 3.15%
1979 1.78% 3.07%
1978 1.69% 3.01%
1977 1.76% 3%
1976 1.97% 3%
1975 2.24% 2.98%
1974 2.41% 2.97%
1973 2.46% 2.96%
1972 2.45% 2.93%
1971 2.43% 3%
1970 2.41% 3.09%
1969 2.38% 3.13%
1968 2.36% 3.15%
1967 2.33% 3.07%
1966 2.31% 2.87%
1965 2.3% 2.65%
1964 2.28% 2.33%
1963 2.3% 2.29%
1962 2.31% 2.55%
1961 2.28% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Laos Rwanda
Current population
8004838
14975051
Population rank 103/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.18%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
1.74 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +828
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 45/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -10,645 +6,282
Net migration rank 134/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 6,282
2024 - -10,284 - -15,582
2023 115,359 -10,003 312,762 -9,001
2022 116,620 -10,003 312,145 -9,001
2021 115,323 -10,305 309,895 -21,492
2020 118,609 -10,305 312,692 -22,251
2019 119,797 -10,305 313,525 -24,492
2018 119,986 -10,305 312,512 -25,323
2017 120,515 -10,400 310,323 -25,634
2016 119,978 -11,401 305,549 -24,474
2015 118,723 -12,991 299,114 -21,862
2014 118,103 -26,881 292,779 -19,505
2013 119,845 -27,492 286,331 -16,779
2012 121,324 -28,871 282,584 -25,260
2011 122,863 -30,538 282,922 -27,915
2010 122,516 -30,046 286,848 -29,501
2009 122,174 -29,545 287,034 -30,128
2008 121,042 -28,318 287,334 -31,913
2007 119,980 -27,233 285,791 -32,537
2006 118,602 -25,286 282,149 -34,008
2005 118,165 -24,138 275,121 -33,830
2004 121,888 -40,120 265,273 -31,214
2003 122,158 -36,572 251,243 -25,355
2002 122,110 -33,595 239,036 -91,518
2001 123,847 -33,552 230,845 -152,197
2000 124,201 -33,965 221,276 -153,588
1999 127,255 -36,632 210,518 -146,162
1998 128,409 -33,997 197,185 -129,089
1997 130,388 -32,288 174,687 410,106
1996 131,142 -16,574 140,455 1,367,700
1995 132,241 -14,279 121,137 439,995
1994 134,201 -11,782 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 135,295 -9,390 183,926 236,110
1992 132,417 -7,502 188,025 -12,334
1991 129,523 -5,390 196,431 -59,519
1990 125,297 -3,100 207,895 -41,483
1989 121,044 -1,272 217,632 -2,826
1988 117,050 -80 223,759 -5,285
1987 113,005 0 225,744 -7,062
1986 109,266 -475 225,526 -8,982
1985 106,047 -1,376 223,794 -11,031
1984 102,318 -2,698 219,337 -12,899
1983 98,178 -4,108 212,750 -14,560
1982 94,058 -6,184 205,147 -15,818
1981 89,963 -11,061 195,769 -16,453
1980 86,548 -17,339 184,988 -16,359
1979 82,852 -23,317 174,477 -15,669
1978 80,604 -27,208 163,779 -13,838
1977 79,149 -26,908 155,011 -11,084
1976 77,575 -21,738 147,665 -7,027
1975 76,725 -13,858 140,596 -4,791
1974 74,652 -6,000 135,743 -4,535
1973 70,513 -774 131,021 -3,862
1972 68,095 0 126,403 -4,156
1971 65,959 0 122,567 -4,230
1970 63,896 0 119,273 1,149
1969 61,595 0 115,394 2,983
1968 59,567 0 111,422 4,728
1967 57,763 0 108,053 4,655
1966 55,494 0 105,128 -1,930
1965 54,268 0 103,422 -9,774
1964 52,482 0 102,562 -19,458
1963 51,056 0 94,296 -25,524
1962 51,244 0 102,548 -25,594
1961 48,992 0 102,051 -20,508
1960 47,575 0 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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