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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 2.56 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Laos vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Somalia
2100 9,342,607 68,384,185
2099 9,389,481 68,040,371
2098 9,435,427 67,702,230
2097 9,480,219 67,362,336
2096 9,524,052 66,972,933
2095 9,567,045 66,585,659
2094 9,609,471 66,179,819
2093 9,651,065 65,760,590
2092 9,691,590 65,324,261
2091 9,731,446 64,852,843
2090 9,770,116 64,362,727
2089 9,807,690 63,922,797
2088 9,844,143 63,464,036
2087 9,879,110 62,987,028
2086 9,912,903 62,447,029
2085 9,945,223 61,873,597
2084 9,975,614 61,318,916
2083 10,005,023 60,761,800
2082 10,032,558 60,187,980
2081 10,058,731 59,676,722
2080 10,083,222 59,100,915
2079 10,106,703 58,477,428
2078 10,128,372 57,852,528
2077 10,148,533 57,211,821
2076 10,165,829 56,602,463
2075 10,182,062 56,005,600
2074 10,196,505 55,330,165
2073 10,208,837 54,651,918
2072 10,218,581 53,978,548
2071 10,225,726 53,284,016
2070 10,231,909 52,573,210
2069 10,235,317 51,878,214
2068 10,235,668 51,197,653
2067 10,233,930 50,493,028
2066 10,228,744 49,779,172
2065 10,222,027 49,024,665
2064 10,212,674 48,265,876
2063 10,200,753 47,522,361
2062 10,186,526 46,785,920
2061 10,169,161 46,037,526
2060 10,149,107 45,220,507
2059 10,126,671 44,397,936
2058 10,100,989 43,659,021
2057 10,072,578 42,897,422
2056 10,041,736 42,121,542
2055 10,008,916 41,318,179
2054 9,972,602 40,513,141
2053 9,933,363 39,744,995
2052 9,891,383 38,992,177
2051 9,846,656 38,228,872
2050 9,799,766 37,471,735
2049 9,750,669 36,739,905
2048 9,697,931 35,984,999
2047 9,643,484 35,218,863
2046 9,586,249 34,462,403
2045 9,527,029 33,717,596
2044 9,465,046 32,977,674
2043 9,401,665 32,247,710
2042 9,334,890 31,537,272
2041 9,266,149 30,794,853
2040 9,195,755 30,032,324
2039 9,122,969 29,312,883
2038 9,046,689 28,583,386
2037 8,968,700 27,838,646
2036 8,888,903 27,114,453
2035 8,807,373 26,385,421
2034 8,723,937 25,687,629
2033 8,638,238 25,018,509
2032 8,550,017 24,338,597
2031 8,459,669 23,657,353
2030 8,367,305 22,965,742
2029 8,273,173 22,299,610
2028 8,176,811 21,651,582
2027 8,078,122 20,991,860
2026 7,977,666 20,322,668
2025 7,874,813 19,666,990
2024 7,769,819 19,009,151
2023 7,664,993 18,358,615
2022 7,559,007 17,801,897
2021 7,453,194 17,271,431
2020 7,346,533 16,651,191
2019 7,237,636 16,030,971
2018 7,128,045 15,452,487
2017 7,018,147 14,916,629
2016 6,908,802 14,348,740
2015 6,801,645 13,806,963
2014 6,703,172 13,339,491
2013 6,611,385 12,869,594
2012 6,518,978 12,461,160
2011 6,426,590 12,348,830
2010 6,334,194 12,261,756
2009 6,241,642 11,961,201
2008 6,148,969 11,663,084
2007 6,056,236 11,322,582
2006 5,963,200 10,975,502
2005 5,869,523 10,644,228
2004 5,781,626 10,280,998
2003 5,697,945 9,909,157
2002 5,610,889 9,550,063
2001 5,521,482 9,198,493
2000 5,431,212 8,838,713
1999 5,340,784 8,492,059
1998 5,248,266 8,155,417
1997 5,152,011 7,824,525
1996 5,045,678 7,554,474
1995 4,929,409 7,285,007
1994 4,809,220 7,026,797
1993 4,685,060 6,681,399
1992 4,559,646 6,495,107
1991 4,435,118 6,813,760
1990 4,311,955 7,082,811
1989 4,190,974 7,114,817
1988 4,072,601 7,235,360
1987 3,957,612 7,228,302
1986 3,846,715 6,974,788
1985 3,739,985 6,693,289
1984 3,637,843 6,428,389
1983 3,541,001 6,198,430
1982 3,450,026 6,003,840
1981 3,366,631 5,982,849
1980 3,292,573 5,936,154
1979 3,228,202 5,449,117
1978 3,171,740 4,814,892
1977 3,118,923 4,484,050
1976 3,064,876 4,365,812
1975 3,005,521 4,257,535
1974 2,939,761 4,151,842
1973 2,870,573 4,045,592
1972 2,801,660 3,939,436
1971 2,734,628 3,837,691
1970 2,669,702 3,738,448
1969 2,606,959 3,641,015
1968 2,546,377 3,546,590
1967 2,487,715 3,454,537
1966 2,431,084 3,365,106
1965 2,376,200 3,277,874
1964 2,322,826 3,192,796
1963 2,271,061 3,110,361
1962 2,219,910 3,030,091
1961 2,169,796 2,952,054
1960 2,121,514 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 68.4M people in 2100 for Somalia.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Somalia
2100 -0.5% 0.51%
2099 -0.49% 0.5%
2098 -0.47% 0.5%
2097 -0.46% 0.58%
2096 -0.45% 0.58%
2095 -0.44% 0.61%
2094 -0.43% 0.64%
2093 -0.42% 0.67%
2092 -0.41% 0.73%
2091 -0.4% 0.76%
2090 -0.38% 0.69%
2089 -0.37% 0.72%
2088 -0.35% 0.76%
2087 -0.34% 0.86%
2086 -0.32% 0.93%
2085 -0.3% 0.9%
2084 -0.29% 0.92%
2083 -0.27% 0.95%
2082 -0.26% 0.86%
2081 -0.24% 0.97%
2080 -0.23% 1.07%
2079 -0.21% 1.08%
2078 -0.2% 1.12%
2077 -0.17% 1.08%
2076 -0.16% 1.07%
2075 -0.14% 1.22%
2074 -0.12% 1.24%
2073 -0.1% 1.25%
2072 -0.07% 1.3%
2071 -0.06% 1.35%
2070 -0.03% 1.34%
2069 -0.003% 1.33%
2068 0.02% 1.4%
2067 0.05% 1.43%
2066 0.07% 1.54%
2065 0.09% 1.57%
2064 0.12% 1.56%
2063 0.14% 1.57%
2062 0.17% 1.63%
2061 0.2% 1.81%
2060 0.22% 1.85%
2059 0.25% 1.69%
2058 0.28% 1.78%
2057 0.31% 1.84%
2056 0.33% 1.94%
2055 0.36% 1.99%
2054 0.4% 1.93%
2053 0.42% 1.93%
2052 0.45% 2%
2051 0.48% 2.02%
2050 0.5% 1.99%
2049 0.54% 2.1%
2048 0.56% 2.18%
2047 0.6% 2.2%
2046 0.62% 2.21%
2045 0.65% 2.24%
2044 0.67% 2.26%
2043 0.72% 2.25%
2042 0.74% 2.41%
2041 0.77% 2.54%
2040 0.8% 2.45%
2039 0.84% 2.55%
2038 0.87% 2.68%
2037 0.9% 2.67%
2036 0.93% 2.76%
2035 0.96% 2.72%
2034 0.99% 2.67%
2033 1.03% 2.79%
2032 1.07% 2.88%
2031 1.1% 3.01%
2030 1.14% 2.99%
2029 1.18% 2.99%
2028 1.22% 3.14%
2027 1.26% 3.29%
2026 1.31% 3.33%
2025 1.35% 3.46%
2024 1.37% 3.54%
2023 1.4% 3.13%
2022 1.42% 3.07%
2021 1.45% 3.72%
2020 1.5% 3.87%
2019 1.54% 3.74%
2018 1.57% 3.59%
2017 1.58% 3.96%
2016 1.58% 3.92%
2015 1.47% 3.5%
2014 1.39% 3.65%
2013 1.42% 3.28%
2012 1.44% 0.91%
2011 1.46% 0.71%
2010 1.48% 2.51%
2009 1.51% 2.56%
2008 1.53% 3.01%
2007 1.56% 3.16%
2006 1.6% 3.11%
2005 1.52% 3.53%
2004 1.47% 3.75%
2003 1.55% 3.76%
2002 1.62% 3.82%
2001 1.66% 4.07%
2000 1.69% 4.08%
1999 1.76% 4.13%
1998 1.87% 4.23%
1997 2.11% 3.57%
1996 2.36% 3.7%
1995 2.5% 3.67%
1994 2.65% 5.17%
1993 2.75% 2.87%
1992 2.81% -4.68%
1991 2.86% -3.8%
1990 2.89% -0.45%
1989 2.91% -1.67%
1988 2.91% 0.1%
1987 2.88% 3.63%
1986 2.85% 4.21%
1985 2.81% 4.12%
1984 2.73% 3.71%
1983 2.64% 3.24%
1982 2.48% 0.35%
1981 2.25% 0.79%
1980 1.99% 8.94%
1979 1.78% 13.2%
1978 1.69% 7.38%
1977 1.76% 2.71%
1976 1.97% 2.54%
1975 2.24% 2.55%
1974 2.41% 2.63%
1973 2.46% 2.69%
1972 2.45% 2.65%
1971 2.43% 2.65%
1970 2.41% 2.68%
1969 2.38% 2.66%
1968 2.36% 2.66%
1967 2.33% 2.66%
1966 2.31% 2.66%
1965 2.3% 2.66%
1964 2.28% 2.65%
1963 2.3% 2.65%
1962 2.31% 2.64%
1961 2.28% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Laos Somalia
Current population
8004838
20503678
Population rank 103/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.25%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
48.5 seconds
One birth every
3.22 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +1,782
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 8/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +12,077
Net migration rank 134/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 12,077
2024 - -10,284 - 26,859
2023 115,359 -10,003 608,203 46,217
2022 116,620 -10,003 551,450 -92,434
2021 115,323 -10,305 566,399 35,506
2020 118,609 -10,305 561,311 77,259
2019 119,797 -10,305 548,756 53,124
2018 119,986 -10,305 514,244 40,844
2017 120,515 -10,400 478,556 38,067
2016 119,978 -11,401 495,132 124,017
2015 118,723 -12,991 481,573 -17,178
2014 118,103 -26,881 464,481 6,065
2013 119,845 -27,492 448,518 20,723
2012 121,324 -28,871 399,468 -51,833
2011 122,863 -30,538 203,213 -326,192
2010 122,516 -30,046 385,571 -88,448
2009 122,174 -29,545 405,784 -101,795
2008 121,042 -28,318 394,258 -102,035
2007 119,980 -27,233 380,303 8,476
2006 118,602 -25,286 372,597 -67,200
2005 118,165 -24,138 363,117 -5,955
2004 121,888 -40,120 351,959 17,353
2003 122,158 -36,572 341,192 33,174
2002 122,110 -33,595 331,215 12,603
2001 123,847 -33,552 319,059 40,274
2000 124,201 -33,965 306,651 53,580
1999 127,255 -36,632 295,523 37,548
1998 128,409 -33,997 284,779 55,426
1997 130,388 -32,288 271,894 49,692
1996 131,142 -16,574 264,807 -46,291
1995 132,241 -14,279 254,509 65,888
1994 134,201 -11,782 246,950 -50,921
1993 135,295 -9,390 232,960 261,815
1992 132,417 -7,502 57,495 -179,675
1991 129,523 -5,390 53,052 -568,166
1990 125,297 -3,100 225,162 -248,155
1989 121,044 -1,272 225,255 -266,281
1988 117,050 -80 215,599 -415,660
1987 113,005 0 231,580 -17,391
1986 109,266 -475 218,416 74,424
1985 106,047 -1,376 207,960 62,183
1984 102,318 -2,698 199,017 60,630
1983 98,178 -4,108 190,775 9,505
1982 94,058 -6,184 182,793 6,115
1981 89,963 -11,061 185,211 -332,129
1980 86,548 -17,339 174,790 65,519
1979 82,852 -23,317 151,016 582,746
1978 80,604 -27,208 132,689 402,005
1977 79,149 -26,908 124,818 2,170
1976 77,575 -21,738 113,319 -3,831
1975 76,725 -13,858 108,998 -1,934
1974 74,652 -6,000 104,813 -495
1973 70,513 -774 108,038 143
1972 68,095 0 104,493 -351
1971 65,959 0 101,196 -1,850
1970 63,896 0 98,025 1,104
1969 61,595 0 95,045 690
1968 59,567 0 92,208 906
1967 57,763 0 89,497 1,498
1966 55,494 0 86,930 941
1965 54,268 0 84,448 2,142
1964 52,482 0 82,042 1,518
1963 51,056 0 79,859 1,449
1962 51,244 0 77,737 1,496
1961 48,992 0 75,513 1,336
1960 47,575 0 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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