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Population in Laos compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 8.21 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.89% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Laos vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos South Africa
2100 9,342,607 94,767,727
2099 9,389,481 94,556,931
2098 9,435,427 94,349,546
2097 9,480,219 94,158,472
2096 9,524,052 93,960,605
2095 9,567,045 93,752,736
2094 9,609,471 93,527,902
2093 9,651,065 93,300,398
2092 9,691,590 93,074,837
2091 9,731,446 92,826,204
2090 9,770,116 92,594,033
2089 9,807,690 92,355,184
2088 9,844,143 92,112,914
2087 9,879,110 91,866,024
2086 9,912,903 91,614,165
2085 9,945,223 91,385,350
2084 9,975,614 91,139,318
2083 10,005,023 90,877,425
2082 10,032,558 90,615,359
2081 10,058,731 90,345,492
2080 10,083,222 90,071,835
2079 10,106,703 89,801,998
2078 10,128,372 89,526,224
2077 10,148,533 89,249,206
2076 10,165,829 88,986,114
2075 10,182,062 88,713,215
2074 10,196,505 88,428,616
2073 10,208,837 88,149,885
2072 10,218,581 87,866,246
2071 10,225,726 87,540,177
2070 10,231,909 87,209,425
2069 10,235,317 86,901,512
2068 10,235,668 86,588,742
2067 10,233,930 86,268,392
2066 10,228,744 85,935,310
2065 10,222,027 85,604,376
2064 10,212,674 85,244,950
2063 10,200,753 84,875,503
2062 10,186,526 84,503,237
2061 10,169,161 84,132,885
2060 10,149,107 83,748,999
2059 10,126,671 83,354,923
2058 10,100,989 82,947,675
2057 10,072,578 82,538,045
2056 10,041,736 82,127,477
2055 10,008,916 81,698,196
2054 9,972,602 81,255,867
2053 9,933,363 80,818,632
2052 9,891,383 80,367,409
2051 9,846,656 79,886,672
2050 9,799,766 79,411,977
2049 9,750,669 78,925,493
2048 9,697,931 78,437,677
2047 9,643,484 77,922,211
2046 9,586,249 77,397,298
2045 9,527,029 76,879,838
2044 9,465,046 76,357,155
2043 9,401,665 75,827,709
2042 9,334,890 75,291,615
2041 9,266,149 74,748,408
2040 9,195,755 74,205,530
2039 9,122,969 73,663,047
2038 9,046,689 73,105,930
2037 8,968,700 72,532,742
2036 8,888,903 71,956,247
2035 8,807,373 71,362,555
2034 8,723,937 70,762,815
2033 8,638,238 70,153,205
2032 8,550,017 69,527,410
2031 8,459,669 68,890,002
2030 8,367,305 68,245,372
2029 8,273,173 67,573,179
2028 8,176,811 66,884,377
2027 8,078,122 66,190,258
2026 7,977,666 65,496,277
2025 7,874,813 64,770,314
2024 7,769,819 64,007,187
2023 7,664,993 63,212,384
2022 7,559,007 62,378,410
2021 7,453,194 61,502,603
2020 7,346,533 60,562,381
2019 7,237,636 59,587,885
2018 7,128,045 58,613,001
2017 7,018,147 57,635,162
2016 6,908,802 57,259,551
2015 6,801,645 56,723,537
2014 6,703,172 55,594,838
2013 6,611,385 54,678,791
2012 6,518,978 53,782,567
2011 6,426,590 52,995,205
2010 6,334,194 52,344,051
2009 6,241,642 51,728,516
2008 6,148,969 51,114,599
2007 6,056,236 50,528,584
2006 5,963,200 49,998,277
2005 5,869,523 49,490,033
2004 5,781,626 48,991,421
2003 5,697,945 48,500,348
2002 5,610,889 48,019,415
2001 5,521,482 47,566,800
2000 5,431,212 47,159,719
1999 5,340,784 46,730,335
1998 5,248,266 46,223,880
1997 5,152,011 45,666,838
1996 5,045,678 45,123,018
1995 4,929,409 44,541,554
1994 4,809,220 44,004,139
1993 4,685,060 43,297,156
1992 4,559,646 42,443,509
1991 4,435,118 41,687,898
1990 4,311,955 40,746,268
1989 4,190,974 39,628,575
1988 4,072,601 38,480,649
1987 3,957,612 37,326,190
1986 3,846,715 36,180,515
1985 3,739,985 35,042,093
1984 3,637,843 33,892,788
1983 3,541,001 32,739,304
1982 3,450,026 31,615,339
1981 3,366,631 30,541,044
1980 3,292,573 29,518,857
1979 3,228,202 28,634,162
1978 3,171,740 27,869,507
1977 3,118,923 27,118,952
1976 3,064,876 26,395,450
1975 3,005,521 25,690,940
1974 2,939,761 24,989,108
1973 2,870,573 24,294,263
1972 2,801,660 23,609,456
1971 2,734,628 22,942,143
1970 2,669,702 22,279,984
1969 2,606,959 21,614,676
1968 2,546,377 20,957,287
1967 2,487,715 20,314,066
1966 2,431,084 19,690,087
1965 2,376,200 19,089,380
1964 2,322,826 18,511,361
1963 2,271,061 17,954,564
1962 2,219,910 17,418,522
1961 2,169,796 16,908,035
1960 2,121,514 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos South Africa
2100 -0.5% 0.22%
2099 -0.49% 0.22%
2098 -0.47% 0.2%
2097 -0.46% 0.21%
2096 -0.45% 0.22%
2095 -0.44% 0.24%
2094 -0.43% 0.24%
2093 -0.42% 0.24%
2092 -0.41% 0.27%
2091 -0.4% 0.25%
2090 -0.38% 0.26%
2089 -0.37% 0.26%
2088 -0.35% 0.27%
2087 -0.34% 0.27%
2086 -0.32% 0.25%
2085 -0.3% 0.27%
2084 -0.29% 0.29%
2083 -0.27% 0.29%
2082 -0.26% 0.3%
2081 -0.24% 0.3%
2080 -0.23% 0.3%
2079 -0.21% 0.31%
2078 -0.2% 0.31%
2077 -0.17% 0.3%
2076 -0.16% 0.31%
2075 -0.14% 0.32%
2074 -0.12% 0.32%
2073 -0.1% 0.32%
2072 -0.07% 0.37%
2071 -0.06% 0.38%
2070 -0.03% 0.35%
2069 -0.003% 0.36%
2068 0.02% 0.37%
2067 0.05% 0.39%
2066 0.07% 0.39%
2065 0.09% 0.42%
2064 0.12% 0.44%
2063 0.14% 0.44%
2062 0.17% 0.44%
2061 0.2% 0.46%
2060 0.22% 0.47%
2059 0.25% 0.49%
2058 0.28% 0.5%
2057 0.31% 0.5%
2056 0.33% 0.53%
2055 0.36% 0.54%
2054 0.4% 0.54%
2053 0.42% 0.56%
2052 0.45% 0.6%
2051 0.48% 0.6%
2050 0.5% 0.62%
2049 0.54% 0.62%
2048 0.56% 0.66%
2047 0.6% 0.68%
2046 0.62% 0.67%
2045 0.65% 0.68%
2044 0.67% 0.7%
2043 0.72% 0.71%
2042 0.74% 0.73%
2041 0.77% 0.73%
2040 0.8% 0.74%
2039 0.84% 0.76%
2038 0.87% 0.79%
2037 0.9% 0.8%
2036 0.93% 0.83%
2035 0.96% 0.85%
2034 0.99% 0.87%
2033 1.03% 0.9%
2032 1.07% 0.93%
2031 1.1% 0.94%
2030 1.14% 0.99%
2029 1.18% 1.03%
2028 1.22% 1.05%
2027 1.26% 1.06%
2026 1.31% 1.12%
2025 1.35% 1.19%
2024 1.37% 1.26%
2023 1.4% 1.34%
2022 1.42% 1.42%
2021 1.45% 1.55%
2020 1.5% 1.64%
2019 1.54% 1.66%
2018 1.57% 1.7%
2017 1.58% 0.66%
2016 1.58% 0.94%
2015 1.47% 2.03%
2014 1.39% 1.68%
2013 1.42% 1.67%
2012 1.44% 1.49%
2011 1.46% 1.24%
2010 1.48% 1.19%
2009 1.51% 1.2%
2008 1.53% 1.16%
2007 1.56% 1.06%
2006 1.6% 1.03%
2005 1.52% 1.02%
2004 1.47% 1.01%
2003 1.55% 1%
2002 1.62% 0.95%
2001 1.66% 0.86%
2000 1.69% 0.92%
1999 1.76% 1.1%
1998 1.87% 1.22%
1997 2.11% 1.21%
1996 2.36% 1.31%
1995 2.5% 1.22%
1994 2.65% 1.63%
1993 2.75% 2.01%
1992 2.81% 1.81%
1991 2.86% 2.31%
1990 2.89% 2.82%
1989 2.91% 2.98%
1988 2.91% 3.09%
1987 2.88% 3.17%
1986 2.85% 3.25%
1985 2.81% 3.39%
1984 2.73% 3.52%
1983 2.64% 3.56%
1982 2.48% 3.52%
1981 2.25% 3.46%
1980 1.99% 3.09%
1979 1.78% 2.74%
1978 1.69% 2.77%
1977 1.76% 2.74%
1976 1.97% 2.74%
1975 2.24% 2.81%
1974 2.41% 2.86%
1973 2.46% 2.9%
1972 2.45% 2.91%
1971 2.43% 2.97%
1970 2.41% 3.08%
1969 2.38% 3.14%
1968 2.36% 3.17%
1967 2.33% 3.17%
1966 2.31% 3.15%
1965 2.3% 3.12%
1964 2.28% 3.1%
1963 2.3% 3.08%
1962 2.31% 3.02%
1961 2.28% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Laos South Africa
Current population
8004838
65683993
Population rank 103/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.79%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
3.22 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +287 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 85/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +146,370
Net migration rank 134/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 146,370
2024 - -10,284 - 166,972
2023 115,359 -10,003 602,793 228,222
2022 116,620 -10,003 603,636 233,284
2021 115,323 -10,305 456,411 458,246
2020 118,609 -10,305 595,873 369,901
2019 119,797 -10,305 652,130 331,124
2018 119,986 -10,305 648,319 318,260
2017 120,515 -10,400 645,975 343,146
2016 119,978 -11,401 641,365 -879,235
2015 118,723 -12,991 668,771 641,150
2014 118,103 -26,881 674,754 272,697
2013 119,845 -27,492 652,427 232,230
2012 121,324 -28,871 643,723 264,091
2011 122,863 -30,538 601,708 65,166
2010 122,516 -30,046 566,834 68,563
2009 122,174 -29,545 554,115 41,528
2008 121,042 -28,318 595,332 36,869
2007 119,980 -27,233 503,567 36,339
2006 118,602 -25,286 487,584 33,159
2005 118,165 -24,138 464,464 31,286
2004 121,888 -40,120 442,540 58,924
2003 122,158 -36,572 415,018 65,604
2002 122,110 -33,595 430,926 50,313
2001 123,847 -33,552 484,801 -60,793
2000 124,201 -33,965 526,963 -136,794
1999 127,255 -36,632 594,643 -126,011
1998 128,409 -33,997 627,027 -82,722
1997 130,388 -32,288 667,969 -98,181
1996 131,142 -16,574 710,868 -193,007
1995 132,241 -14,279 743,488 -98,403
1994 134,201 -11,782 698,609 -268,849
1993 135,295 -9,390 789,220 194,977
1992 132,417 -7,502 794,415 -71,342
1991 129,523 -5,390 827,296 -39,131
1990 125,297 -3,100 835,421 259,718
1989 121,044 -1,272 884,629 255,605
1988 117,050 -80 909,221 246,382
1987 113,005 0 922,330 231,009
1986 109,266 -475 903,644 234,378
1985 106,047 -1,376 893,889 244,940
1984 102,318 -2,698 869,011 290,789
1983 98,178 -4,108 837,013 310,172
1982 94,058 -6,184 807,550 293,195
1981 89,963 -11,061 767,833 279,985
1980 86,548 -17,339 738,415 258,127
1979 82,852 -23,317 716,541 56,323
1978 80,604 -27,208 694,341 62,121
1977 79,149 -26,908 680,929 63,739
1976 77,575 -21,738 675,011 27,333
1975 76,725 -13,858 667,862 38,809
1974 74,652 -6,000 658,438 38,518
1973 70,513 -774 651,596 41,125
1972 68,095 0 638,754 38,163
1971 65,959 0 624,761 32,961
1970 63,896 0 605,102 61,514
1969 61,595 0 590,794 73,225
1968 59,567 0 571,841 78,932
1967 57,763 0 553,741 81,932
1966 55,494 0 534,862 77,417
1965 54,268 0 506,632 82,514
1964 52,482 0 490,606 76,298
1963 51,056 0 473,821 72,844
1962 51,244 0 455,634 69,771
1961 48,992 0 437,851 57,728
1960 47,575 0 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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