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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 6.45 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.72% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Laos vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos South Korea
2100 9,342,607 22,012,503
2099 9,389,481 22,335,528
2098 9,435,427 22,668,719
2097 9,480,219 23,009,661
2096 9,524,052 23,360,151
2095 9,567,045 23,722,747
2094 9,609,471 24,093,391
2093 9,651,065 24,473,038
2092 9,691,590 24,860,975
2091 9,731,446 25,255,379
2090 9,770,116 25,655,577
2089 9,807,690 26,060,945
2088 9,844,143 26,470,073
2087 9,879,110 26,884,813
2086 9,912,903 27,301,913
2085 9,945,223 27,723,736
2084 9,975,614 28,147,480
2083 10,005,023 28,578,182
2082 10,032,558 29,012,953
2081 10,058,731 29,456,022
2080 10,083,222 29,901,880
2079 10,106,703 30,352,062
2078 10,128,372 30,809,176
2077 10,148,533 31,273,700
2076 10,165,829 31,744,480
2075 10,182,062 32,221,226
2074 10,196,505 32,706,020
2073 10,208,837 33,196,556
2072 10,218,581 33,696,490
2071 10,225,726 34,203,935
2070 10,231,909 34,719,324
2069 10,235,317 35,241,850
2068 10,235,668 35,762,799
2067 10,233,930 36,292,307
2066 10,228,744 36,826,655
2065 10,222,027 37,368,086
2064 10,212,674 37,916,439
2063 10,200,753 38,469,051
2062 10,186,526 39,028,473
2061 10,169,161 39,584,621
2060 10,149,107 40,149,830
2059 10,126,671 40,712,514
2058 10,100,989 41,277,134
2057 10,072,578 41,833,887
2056 10,041,736 42,377,427
2055 10,008,916 42,909,302
2054 9,972,602 43,427,254
2053 9,933,363 43,938,741
2052 9,891,383 44,441,106
2051 9,846,656 44,923,604
2050 9,799,766 45,385,311
2049 9,750,669 45,832,153
2048 9,697,931 46,258,529
2047 9,643,484 46,668,898
2046 9,586,249 47,056,404
2045 9,527,029 47,433,205
2044 9,465,046 47,797,411
2043 9,401,665 48,144,730
2042 9,334,890 48,478,991
2041 9,266,149 48,806,273
2040 9,195,755 49,115,658
2039 9,122,969 49,412,830
2038 9,046,689 49,694,340
2037 8,968,700 49,957,504
2036 8,888,903 50,200,702
2035 8,807,373 50,426,000
2034 8,723,937 50,632,962
2033 8,638,238 50,821,090
2032 8,550,017 50,987,020
2031 8,459,669 51,134,940
2030 8,367,305 51,267,908
2029 8,273,173 51,385,868
2028 8,176,811 51,486,791
2027 8,078,122 51,576,746
2026 7,977,666 51,649,918
2025 7,874,813 51,710,062
2024 7,769,819 51,751,065
2023 7,664,993 51,712,619
2022 7,559,007 51,672,569
2021 7,453,194 51,769,539
2020 7,346,533 51,836,239
2019 7,237,636 51,764,822
2018 7,128,045 51,585,058
2017 7,018,147 51,361,911
2016 6,908,802 51,217,803
2015 6,801,645 51,014,947
2014 6,703,172 50,746,659
2013 6,611,385 50,428,893
2012 6,518,978 50,199,853
2011 6,426,590 49,936,638
2010 6,334,194 49,554,112
2009 6,241,642 49,307,835
2008 6,148,969 49,054,708
2007 6,056,236 48,683,638
2006 5,963,200 48,438,292
2005 5,869,523 48,184,561
2004 5,781,626 48,082,519
2003 5,697,945 47,892,330
2002 5,610,889 47,644,736
2001 5,521,482 47,370,164
2000 5,431,212 47,008,111
1999 5,340,784 46,616,677
1998 5,248,266 46,286,503
1997 5,152,011 45,953,580
1996 5,045,678 45,524,681
1995 4,929,409 45,092,991
1994 4,809,220 44,641,540
1993 4,685,060 44,194,628
1992 4,559,646 43,747,962
1991 4,435,118 43,295,704
1990 4,311,955 42,869,283
1989 4,190,974 42,449,038
1988 4,072,601 42,031,247
1987 3,957,612 41,621,690
1986 3,846,715 41,213,674
1985 3,739,985 40,805,744
1984 3,637,843 40,405,956
1983 3,541,001 39,910,403
1982 3,450,026 39,326,352
1981 3,366,631 38,723,248
1980 3,292,573 38,123,775
1979 3,228,202 37,534,236
1978 3,171,740 36,969,185
1977 3,118,923 36,411,795
1976 3,064,876 35,848,523
1975 3,005,521 35,280,725
1974 2,939,761 34,692,266
1973 2,870,573 34,103,149
1972 2,801,660 33,505,406
1971 2,734,628 32,882,704
1970 2,669,702 32,240,827
1969 2,606,959 31,544,266
1968 2,546,377 30,838,302
1967 2,487,715 30,130,983
1966 2,431,084 29,435,571
1965 2,376,200 28,704,674
1964 2,322,826 27,984,155
1963 2,271,061 27,261,747
1962 2,219,910 26,513,030
1961 2,169,796 25,765,673
1960 2,121,514 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos South Korea
2100 -0.5% -1.45%
2099 -0.49% -1.47%
2098 -0.47% -1.48%
2097 -0.46% -1.5%
2096 -0.45% -1.53%
2095 -0.44% -1.54%
2094 -0.43% -1.55%
2093 -0.42% -1.56%
2092 -0.41% -1.56%
2091 -0.4% -1.56%
2090 -0.38% -1.56%
2089 -0.37% -1.55%
2088 -0.35% -1.54%
2087 -0.34% -1.53%
2086 -0.32% -1.52%
2085 -0.3% -1.51%
2084 -0.29% -1.51%
2083 -0.27% -1.5%
2082 -0.26% -1.5%
2081 -0.24% -1.49%
2080 -0.23% -1.48%
2079 -0.21% -1.48%
2078 -0.2% -1.49%
2077 -0.17% -1.48%
2076 -0.16% -1.48%
2075 -0.14% -1.48%
2074 -0.12% -1.48%
2073 -0.1% -1.48%
2072 -0.07% -1.48%
2071 -0.06% -1.48%
2070 -0.03% -1.48%
2069 -0.003% -1.46%
2068 0.02% -1.46%
2067 0.05% -1.45%
2066 0.07% -1.45%
2065 0.09% -1.45%
2064 0.12% -1.44%
2063 0.14% -1.43%
2062 0.17% -1.4%
2061 0.2% -1.41%
2060 0.22% -1.38%
2059 0.25% -1.37%
2058 0.28% -1.33%
2057 0.31% -1.28%
2056 0.33% -1.24%
2055 0.36% -1.19%
2054 0.4% -1.16%
2053 0.42% -1.13%
2052 0.45% -1.07%
2051 0.48% -1.02%
2050 0.5% -0.97%
2049 0.54% -0.92%
2048 0.56% -0.88%
2047 0.6% -0.82%
2046 0.62% -0.79%
2045 0.65% -0.76%
2044 0.67% -0.72%
2043 0.72% -0.69%
2042 0.74% -0.67%
2041 0.77% -0.63%
2040 0.8% -0.6%
2039 0.84% -0.57%
2038 0.87% -0.53%
2037 0.9% -0.48%
2036 0.93% -0.45%
2035 0.96% -0.41%
2034 0.99% -0.37%
2033 1.03% -0.33%
2032 1.07% -0.29%
2031 1.1% -0.26%
2030 1.14% -0.23%
2029 1.18% -0.2%
2028 1.22% -0.17%
2027 1.26% -0.14%
2026 1.31% -0.12%
2025 1.35% -0.08%
2024 1.37% 0.07%
2023 1.4% 0.08%
2022 1.42% -0.19%
2021 1.45% -0.13%
2020 1.5% 0.14%
2019 1.54% 0.35%
2018 1.57% 0.43%
2017 1.58% 0.28%
2016 1.58% 0.4%
2015 1.47% 0.53%
2014 1.39% 0.63%
2013 1.42% 0.46%
2012 1.44% 0.53%
2011 1.46% 0.77%
2010 1.48% 0.5%
2009 1.51% 0.52%
2008 1.53% 0.76%
2007 1.56% 0.51%
2006 1.6% 0.53%
2005 1.52% 0.21%
2004 1.47% 0.4%
2003 1.55% 0.52%
2002 1.62% 0.58%
2001 1.66% 0.77%
2000 1.69% 0.84%
1999 1.76% 0.71%
1998 1.87% 0.72%
1997 2.11% 0.94%
1996 2.36% 0.96%
1995 2.5% 1.01%
1994 2.65% 1.01%
1993 2.75% 1.02%
1992 2.81% 1.04%
1991 2.86% 0.99%
1990 2.89% 0.99%
1989 2.91% 0.99%
1988 2.91% 0.98%
1987 2.88% 0.99%
1986 2.85% 1%
1985 2.81% 0.99%
1984 2.73% 1.24%
1983 2.64% 1.49%
1982 2.48% 1.56%
1981 2.25% 1.57%
1980 1.99% 1.57%
1979 1.78% 1.53%
1978 1.69% 1.53%
1977 1.76% 1.57%
1976 1.97% 1.61%
1975 2.24% 1.7%
1974 2.41% 1.73%
1973 2.46% 1.78%
1972 2.45% 1.89%
1971 2.43% 1.99%
1970 2.41% 2.21%
1969 2.38% 2.29%
1968 2.36% 2.35%
1967 2.33% 2.36%
1966 2.31% 2.55%
1965 2.3% 2.57%
1964 2.28% 2.65%
1963 2.3% 2.82%
1962 2.31% 2.9%
1961 2.28% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Laos South Korea
Current population
8004838
51649918
Population rank 103/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.62%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +105
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 160/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +65,731
Net migration rank 134/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 65,731
2024 - -10,284 - 75,963
2023 115,359 -10,003 -77,569 87,800
2022 116,620 -10,003 -124,014 87,800
2021 115,323 -10,305 -56,947 -16,778
2020 118,609 -10,305 -31,101 112,631
2019 119,797 -10,305 10,353 128,622
2018 119,986 -10,305 30,951 118,220
2017 120,515 -10,400 71,907 104,029
2016 119,978 -11,401 122,923 91,568
2015 118,723 -12,991 163,248 276,427
2014 118,103 -26,881 167,464 308,037
2013 119,845 -27,492 166,415 301,926
2012 121,324 -28,871 215,859 281,866
2011 122,863 -30,538 214,728 269,958
2010 122,516 -30,046 213,083 52,042
2009 122,174 -29,545 197,231 5,308
2008 121,042 -28,318 215,841 -19,630
2007 119,980 -27,233 248,286 -42,293
2006 118,602 -25,286 203,441 -28,434
2005 118,165 -24,138 187,920 -47,821
2004 121,888 -40,120 225,988 -42,549
2003 122,158 -36,572 244,251 -31,994
2002 122,110 -33,595 247,752 -18,105
2001 123,847 -33,552 312,643 -28,006
2000 124,201 -33,965 390,167 -84,960
1999 127,255 -36,632 368,272 -107,448
1998 128,409 -33,997 393,436 -98,044
1997 130,388 -32,288 422,773 -109,130
1996 131,142 -16,574 446,142 -115,705
1995 132,241 -14,279 468,967 -208,491
1994 134,201 -11,782 473,200 -208,309
1993 135,295 -9,390 477,302 -222,802
1992 132,417 -7,502 494,352 -265,849
1991 129,523 -5,390 467,594 -270,754
1990 125,297 -3,100 411,546 79,294
1989 121,044 -1,272 403,266 186,120
1988 117,050 -80 399,297 192,534
1987 113,005 0 378,758 198,057
1986 109,266 -475 395,651 189,782
1985 106,047 -1,376 416,219 97,949
1984 102,318 -2,698 436,384 101,394
1983 98,178 -4,108 514,844 102,167
1982 94,058 -6,184 605,626 48,638
1981 89,963 -11,061 631,189 18,442
1980 86,548 -17,339 583,294 -148,341
1979 82,852 -23,317 623,068 -139,566
1978 80,604 -27,208 499,084 -85,721
1977 79,149 -26,908 578,947 -90,737
1976 77,575 -21,738 530,558 -92,314
1975 76,725 -13,858 603,300 -52,332
1974 74,652 -6,000 673,030 27,005
1973 70,513 -774 699,115 35,779
1972 68,095 0 740,469 25,382
1971 65,959 0 789,185 -6,326
1970 63,896 0 747,987 -27,999
1969 61,595 0 694,227 -21,175
1968 59,567 0 684,487 -16,868
1967 57,763 0 692,169 -16,484
1966 55,494 0 623,534 -16,688
1965 54,268 0 641,090 -146,386
1964 52,482 0 655,501 -102,284
1963 51,056 0 685,824 -80,226
1962 51,244 0 712,590 -94,606
1961 48,992 0 730,173 -93,179
1960 47,575 0 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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