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Population in Laos compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 4.59 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.54% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Laos vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Saudi Arabia
2100 9,342,607 74,230,118
2099 9,389,481 73,760,045
2098 9,435,427 73,287,526
2097 9,480,219 72,813,125
2096 9,524,052 72,336,039
2095 9,567,045 71,858,206
2094 9,609,471 71,379,928
2093 9,651,065 70,900,460
2092 9,691,590 70,420,464
2091 9,731,446 69,940,749
2090 9,770,116 69,462,214
2089 9,807,690 68,985,976
2088 9,844,143 68,510,277
2087 9,879,110 68,035,545
2086 9,912,903 67,562,521
2085 9,945,223 67,091,615
2084 9,975,614 66,621,667
2083 10,005,023 66,152,653
2082 10,032,558 65,684,321
2081 10,058,731 65,216,102
2080 10,083,222 64,749,128
2079 10,106,703 64,282,393
2078 10,128,372 63,815,918
2077 10,148,533 63,348,712
2076 10,165,829 62,880,120
2075 10,182,062 62,409,793
2074 10,196,505 61,937,628
2073 10,208,837 61,462,662
2072 10,218,581 60,984,202
2071 10,225,726 60,502,791
2070 10,231,909 60,018,216
2069 10,235,317 59,529,456
2068 10,235,668 59,036,086
2067 10,233,930 58,539,487
2066 10,228,744 58,039,687
2065 10,222,027 57,537,106
2064 10,212,674 57,032,172
2063 10,200,753 56,524,331
2062 10,186,526 56,014,549
2061 10,169,161 55,501,467
2060 10,149,107 54,986,901
2059 10,126,671 54,469,809
2058 10,100,989 53,950,469
2057 10,072,578 53,430,639
2056 10,041,736 52,909,061
2055 10,008,916 52,386,571
2054 9,972,602 51,862,312
2053 9,933,363 51,336,335
2052 9,891,383 50,809,100
2051 9,846,656 50,280,719
2050 9,799,766 49,751,739
2049 9,750,669 49,221,828
2048 9,697,931 48,690,143
2047 9,643,484 48,157,605
2046 9,586,249 47,623,246
2045 9,527,029 47,087,215
2044 9,465,046 46,550,306
2043 9,401,665 46,013,232
2042 9,334,890 45,475,200
2041 9,266,149 44,936,131
2040 9,195,755 44,396,093
2039 9,122,969 43,856,006
2038 9,046,689 43,314,707
2037 8,968,700 42,773,375
2036 8,888,903 42,231,639
2035 8,807,373 41,690,245
2034 8,723,937 41,150,029
2033 8,638,238 40,611,021
2032 8,550,017 40,073,144
2031 8,459,669 39,535,357
2030 8,367,305 38,998,581
2029 8,273,173 38,417,447
2028 8,176,811 37,810,902
2027 8,078,122 37,189,969
2026 7,977,666 36,566,201
2025 7,874,813 35,932,673
2024 7,769,819 35,300,280
2023 7,664,993 33,702,731
2022 7,559,007 32,175,224
2021 7,453,194 30,784,383
2020 7,346,533 31,552,510
2019 7,237,636 30,063,799
2018 7,128,045 30,196,281
2017 7,018,147 30,977,355
2016 6,908,802 30,954,198
2015 6,801,645 29,816,382
2014 6,703,172 28,309,273
2013 6,611,385 27,624,004
2012 6,518,978 26,168,861
2011 6,426,590 25,091,867
2010 6,334,194 23,978,487
2009 6,241,642 24,217,654
2008 6,148,969 23,287,877
2007 6,056,236 22,368,313
2006 5,963,200 21,459,144
2005 5,869,523 20,559,890
2004 5,781,626 19,669,480
2003 5,697,945 18,786,767
2002 5,610,889 17,910,910
2001 5,521,482 17,041,397
2000 5,431,212 16,177,722
1999 5,340,784 15,472,075
1998 5,248,266 14,922,185
1997 5,152,011 14,374,943
1996 5,045,678 13,831,009
1995 4,929,409 13,289,245
1994 4,809,220 12,750,040
1993 4,685,060 12,215,862
1992 4,559,646 11,686,676
1991 4,435,118 11,160,744
1990 4,311,955 10,640,691
1989 4,190,974 10,128,394
1988 4,072,601 9,629,165
1987 3,957,612 9,130,194
1986 3,846,715 8,628,639
1985 3,739,985 8,151,779
1984 3,637,843 7,697,307
1983 3,541,001 7,252,941
1982 3,450,026 6,824,486
1981 3,366,631 6,420,551
1980 3,292,573 6,047,997
1979 3,228,202 5,703,698
1978 3,171,740 5,381,902
1977 3,118,923 5,083,048
1976 3,064,876 4,807,933
1975 3,005,521 4,556,287
1974 2,939,761 4,323,632
1973 2,870,573 4,106,344
1972 2,801,660 3,905,722
1971 2,734,628 3,724,031
1970 2,669,702 3,562,470
1969 2,606,959 3,417,114
1968 2,546,377 3,282,711
1967 2,487,715 3,157,242
1966 2,431,084 3,039,887
1965 2,376,200 2,928,771
1964 2,322,826 2,821,968
1963 2,271,061 2,719,341
1962 2,219,910 2,620,910
1961 2,169,796 2,526,347
1960 2,121,514 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 74.2M people in 2100 for Saudi Arabia.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.5% 0.64%
2099 -0.49% 0.64%
2098 -0.47% 0.65%
2097 -0.46% 0.66%
2096 -0.45% 0.66%
2095 -0.44% 0.67%
2094 -0.43% 0.68%
2093 -0.42% 0.68%
2092 -0.41% 0.69%
2091 -0.4% 0.69%
2090 -0.38% 0.69%
2089 -0.37% 0.69%
2088 -0.35% 0.7%
2087 -0.34% 0.7%
2086 -0.32% 0.7%
2085 -0.3% 0.71%
2084 -0.29% 0.71%
2083 -0.27% 0.71%
2082 -0.26% 0.72%
2081 -0.24% 0.72%
2080 -0.23% 0.73%
2079 -0.21% 0.73%
2078 -0.2% 0.74%
2077 -0.17% 0.75%
2076 -0.16% 0.75%
2075 -0.14% 0.76%
2074 -0.12% 0.77%
2073 -0.1% 0.78%
2072 -0.07% 0.8%
2071 -0.06% 0.81%
2070 -0.03% 0.82%
2069 -0.003% 0.84%
2068 0.02% 0.85%
2067 0.05% 0.86%
2066 0.07% 0.87%
2065 0.09% 0.89%
2064 0.12% 0.9%
2063 0.14% 0.91%
2062 0.17% 0.92%
2061 0.2% 0.94%
2060 0.22% 0.95%
2059 0.25% 0.96%
2058 0.28% 0.97%
2057 0.31% 0.99%
2056 0.33% 1%
2055 0.36% 1.01%
2054 0.4% 1.02%
2053 0.42% 1.04%
2052 0.45% 1.05%
2051 0.48% 1.06%
2050 0.5% 1.08%
2049 0.54% 1.09%
2048 0.56% 1.11%
2047 0.6% 1.12%
2046 0.62% 1.14%
2045 0.65% 1.15%
2044 0.67% 1.17%
2043 0.72% 1.18%
2042 0.74% 1.2%
2041 0.77% 1.22%
2040 0.8% 1.23%
2039 0.84% 1.25%
2038 0.87% 1.27%
2037 0.9% 1.28%
2036 0.93% 1.3%
2035 0.96% 1.31%
2034 0.99% 1.33%
2033 1.03% 1.34%
2032 1.07% 1.36%
2031 1.1% 1.38%
2030 1.14% 1.51%
2029 1.18% 1.6%
2028 1.22% 1.67%
2027 1.26% 1.71%
2026 1.31% 1.76%
2025 1.35% 1.79%
2024 1.37% 4.74%
2023 1.4% 4.75%
2022 1.42% 4.52%
2021 1.45% -2.43%
2020 1.5% 4.95%
2019 1.54% -0.44%
2018 1.57% -2.52%
2017 1.58% 0.07%
2016 1.58% 3.82%
2015 1.47% 5.32%
2014 1.39% 2.48%
2013 1.42% 5.56%
2012 1.44% 4.29%
2011 1.46% 4.64%
2010 1.48% -0.99%
2009 1.51% 3.99%
2008 1.53% 4.11%
2007 1.56% 4.24%
2006 1.6% 4.37%
2005 1.52% 4.53%
2004 1.47% 4.7%
2003 1.55% 4.89%
2002 1.62% 5.1%
2001 1.66% 5.34%
2000 1.69% 4.56%
1999 1.76% 3.69%
1998 1.87% 3.81%
1997 2.11% 3.93%
1996 2.36% 4.08%
1995 2.5% 4.23%
1994 2.65% 4.37%
1993 2.75% 4.53%
1992 2.81% 4.71%
1991 2.86% 4.89%
1990 2.89% 5.06%
1989 2.91% 5.18%
1988 2.91% 5.47%
1987 2.88% 5.81%
1986 2.85% 5.85%
1985 2.81% 5.9%
1984 2.73% 6.13%
1983 2.64% 6.28%
1982 2.48% 6.29%
1981 2.25% 6.16%
1980 1.99% 6.04%
1979 1.78% 5.98%
1978 1.69% 5.88%
1977 1.76% 5.72%
1976 1.97% 5.52%
1975 2.24% 5.38%
1974 2.41% 5.29%
1973 2.46% 5.14%
1972 2.45% 4.88%
1971 2.43% 4.54%
1970 2.41% 4.25%
1969 2.38% 4.09%
1968 2.36% 3.97%
1967 2.33% 3.86%
1966 2.31% 3.79%
1965 2.3% 3.78%
1964 2.28% 3.77%
1963 2.3% 3.76%
1962 2.31% 3.74%
1961 2.28% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Laos Saudi Arabia
Current population
8004838
36734925
Population rank 103/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.44%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
19.7 seconds
One birth every
3.22 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +4,377
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 4/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +119,738
Net migration rank 134/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 119,738
2024 - -10,284 - 122,170
2023 115,359 -10,003 474,366 325,691
2022 116,620 -10,003 406,920 977,072
2021 115,323 -10,305 409,032 -106,287
2020 118,609 -10,305 447,036 -74,725
2019 119,797 -10,305 474,407 191,582
2018 119,986 -10,305 528,767 -988,751
2017 120,515 -10,400 546,751 -920,812
2016 119,978 -11,401 537,829 -26,997
2015 118,723 -12,991 511,023 465,292
2014 118,103 -26,881 493,431 469,144
2013 119,845 -27,492 475,299 485,794
2012 121,324 -28,871 465,649 479,206
2011 122,863 -30,538 443,675 491,253
2010 122,516 -30,046 418,641 504,955
2009 122,174 -29,545 438,557 496,229
2008 121,042 -28,318 433,457 491,337
2007 119,980 -27,233 425,199 489,136
2006 118,602 -25,286 399,333 504,661
2005 118,165 -24,138 375,938 518,565
2004 121,888 -40,120 362,843 523,472
2003 122,158 -36,572 364,520 514,606
2002 122,110 -33,595 372,099 500,508
2001 123,847 -33,552 382,153 484,252
2000 124,201 -33,965 392,407 468,515
1999 127,255 -36,632 390,112 160,263
1998 128,409 -33,997 389,499 159,898
1997 130,388 -32,288 385,033 160,066
1996 131,142 -16,574 382,248 160,532
1995 132,241 -14,279 380,231 160,512
1994 134,201 -11,782 377,351 160,306
1993 135,295 -9,390 372,621 158,074
1992 132,417 -7,502 366,763 160,908
1991 129,523 -5,390 361,329 162,857
1990 125,297 -3,100 355,495 160,416
1989 121,044 -1,272 349,399 159,273
1988 117,050 -80 342,865 146,918
1987 113,005 0 333,088 175,075
1986 109,266 -475 322,340 172,606
1985 106,047 -1,376 310,558 148,208
1984 102,318 -2,698 296,615 153,562
1983 98,178 -4,108 280,616 157,930
1982 94,058 -6,184 264,831 153,528
1981 89,963 -11,061 249,156 140,355
1980 86,548 -17,339 234,372 121,220
1979 82,852 -23,317 220,186 112,826
1978 80,604 -27,208 205,331 105,263
1977 79,149 -26,908 191,103 96,015
1976 77,575 -21,738 178,024 85,083
1975 76,725 -13,858 166,223 73,960
1974 74,652 -6,000 155,478 69,653
1973 70,513 -774 145,450 63,995
1972 68,095 0 136,360 55,439
1971 65,959 0 127,600 43,989
1970 63,896 0 120,440 31,097
1969 61,595 0 113,859 25,312
1968 59,567 0 108,281 21,366
1967 57,763 0 103,343 17,947
1966 55,494 0 98,361 15,054
1965 54,268 0 93,820 15,000
1964 52,482 0 89,776 15,000
1963 51,056 0 85,480 15,000
1962 51,244 0 81,393 15,000
1961 48,992 0 77,743 15,000
1960 47,575 0 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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