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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 19,654,739 people in Somalia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 20,653,532 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 2.57 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 0.35% 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 +1.47% per year vs +3.59% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.7M (88.2% growth).

Laos vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Somalia
2100 9,340,510 68,341,587
2099 9,387,374 67,997,987
2098 9,433,309 67,660,056
2097 9,478,091 67,320,374
2096 9,521,914 66,931,214
2095 9,564,898 66,544,181
2094 9,607,314 66,138,594
2093 9,648,899 65,719,626
2092 9,689,414 65,283,569
2091 9,729,262 64,812,444
2090 9,767,923 64,322,633
2089 9,805,489 63,882,977
2088 9,841,933 63,424,502
2087 9,876,893 62,947,792
2086 9,910,678 62,408,129
2085 9,942,991 61,835,054
2084 9,973,375 61,280,718
2083 10,002,778 60,723,949
2082 10,030,306 60,150,487
2081 10,056,473 59,639,547
2080 10,080,959 59,064,099
2079 10,104,434 58,441,001
2078 10,126,099 57,816,490
2077 10,146,255 57,176,183
2076 10,163,547 56,567,204
2075 10,179,776 55,970,712
2074 10,194,216 55,295,699
2073 10,206,546 54,617,874
2072 10,216,287 53,944,923
2071 10,223,430 53,250,824
2070 10,229,612 52,540,460
2069 10,233,020 51,845,897
2068 10,233,371 51,165,760
2067 10,231,633 50,461,574
2066 10,226,448 49,748,163
2065 10,219,732 48,994,126
2064 10,210,382 48,235,809
2063 10,198,463 47,492,758
2062 10,184,239 46,756,776
2061 10,166,878 46,008,848
2060 10,146,829 45,192,338
2059 10,124,398 44,370,279
2058 10,098,721 43,631,825
2057 10,070,317 42,870,700
2056 10,039,482 42,095,303
2055 10,006,669 41,292,441
2054 9,970,363 40,487,904
2053 9,931,133 39,720,236
2052 9,889,162 38,967,888
2051 9,844,445 38,205,058
2050 9,797,566 37,448,393
2049 9,748,481 36,717,019
2048 9,695,755 35,962,583
2047 9,641,319 35,196,924
2046 9,584,097 34,440,935
2045 9,524,890 33,696,593
2044 9,462,921 32,957,131
2043 9,399,555 32,227,622
2042 9,332,795 31,517,627
2041 9,264,069 30,775,671
2040 9,193,691 30,013,616
2039 9,120,921 29,294,623
2038 9,044,658 28,565,580
2037 8,966,687 27,821,304
2036 8,886,908 27,097,563
2035 8,805,396 26,368,985
2034 8,721,979 25,671,628
2033 8,636,299 25,002,924
2032 8,548,097 24,323,435
2031 8,457,770 23,642,617
2030 8,365,427 22,951,436
2029 8,271,316 22,285,719
2028 8,174,975 21,638,095
2027 8,076,308 20,978,784
2026 7,975,876 20,310,008
2025 7,873,046 19,654,739
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Somalia's population increased by 6,304,792 people (a 43.9% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th 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 22.1% to 9,797,566 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Somalia will increase by 81.3% to 37,448,393 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 68.3M 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 1.33% 3.4%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/somalia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.4%.

Live population counters

Laos Somalia
Current population
8027464
20653532
Population rank 103/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.25%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
49 seconds
One birth every
3.23 minutes
39.2 seconds
One death every
10.9 minutes
2.84 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +1,769
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +645,588
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +3.4%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 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 114,574 -10,284 619,793 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,425,417 people) and 5.77% is from migration (a gain of 332,281 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 (1960–2025, 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/somalia | 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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