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Population in Laos compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 2.77 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Laos vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Sri Lanka
2100 9,342,607 20,270,496
2099 9,389,481 20,383,669
2098 9,435,427 20,498,567
2097 9,480,219 20,611,123
2096 9,524,052 20,723,560
2095 9,567,045 20,834,629
2094 9,609,471 20,943,809
2093 9,651,065 21,052,131
2092 9,691,590 21,158,833
2091 9,731,446 21,263,961
2090 9,770,116 21,371,263
2089 9,807,690 21,475,426
2088 9,844,143 21,577,177
2087 9,879,110 21,677,510
2086 9,912,903 21,777,420
2085 9,945,223 21,876,464
2084 9,975,614 21,970,336
2083 10,005,023 22,062,801
2082 10,032,558 22,151,745
2081 10,058,731 22,240,834
2080 10,083,222 22,326,555
2079 10,106,703 22,411,438
2078 10,128,372 22,489,772
2077 10,148,533 22,565,028
2076 10,165,829 22,637,463
2075 10,182,062 22,707,112
2074 10,196,505 22,778,489
2073 10,208,837 22,844,703
2072 10,218,581 22,905,707
2071 10,225,726 22,964,866
2070 10,231,909 23,022,515
2069 10,235,317 23,076,310
2068 10,235,668 23,129,541
2067 10,233,930 23,184,596
2066 10,228,744 23,234,419
2065 10,222,027 23,285,901
2064 10,212,674 23,331,390
2063 10,200,753 23,372,184
2062 10,186,526 23,409,522
2061 10,169,161 23,441,893
2060 10,149,107 23,474,032
2059 10,126,671 23,502,132
2058 10,100,989 23,528,076
2057 10,072,578 23,550,580
2056 10,041,736 23,570,923
2055 10,008,916 23,582,432
2054 9,972,602 23,591,414
2053 9,933,363 23,601,371
2052 9,891,383 23,605,361
2051 9,846,656 23,606,194
2050 9,799,766 23,603,330
2049 9,750,669 23,597,604
2048 9,697,931 23,587,307
2047 9,643,484 23,570,881
2046 9,586,249 23,547,409
2045 9,527,029 23,515,133
2044 9,465,046 23,483,546
2043 9,401,665 23,446,242
2042 9,334,890 23,404,983
2041 9,266,149 23,357,358
2040 9,195,755 23,306,148
2039 9,122,969 23,248,341
2038 9,046,689 23,187,512
2037 8,968,700 23,120,775
2036 8,888,903 23,053,427
2035 8,807,373 22,981,808
2034 8,723,937 22,906,587
2033 8,638,238 22,826,414
2032 8,550,017 22,742,267
2031 8,459,669 22,655,907
2030 8,367,305 22,564,038
2029 8,273,173 22,470,759
2028 8,176,811 22,370,999
2027 8,078,122 22,266,017
2026 7,977,666 22,155,543
2025 7,874,813 22,039,908
2024 7,769,819 21,916,000
2023 7,664,993 22,037,000
2022 7,559,007 22,181,000
2021 7,453,194 22,156,000
2020 7,346,533 21,919,000
2019 7,237,636 21,803,000
2018 7,128,045 21,670,000
2017 7,018,147 21,453,000
2016 6,908,802 21,209,000
2015 6,801,645 20,970,000
2014 6,703,172 20,778,000
2013 6,611,385 20,585,000
2012 6,518,978 21,169,458
2011 6,426,590 21,009,048
2010 6,334,194 20,879,089
2009 6,241,642 20,756,435
2008 6,148,969 20,629,378
2007 6,056,236 20,492,545
2006 5,963,200 20,352,411
2005 5,869,523 20,216,524
2004 5,781,626 20,087,605
2003 5,697,945 19,951,521
2002 5,610,889 19,805,752
2001 5,521,482 19,600,362
2000 5,431,212 19,293,054
1999 5,340,784 18,944,731
1998 5,248,266 18,596,003
1997 5,152,011 18,248,200
1996 5,045,678 17,905,018
1995 4,929,409 17,564,068
1994 4,809,220 17,275,773
1993 4,685,060 17,025,918
1992 4,559,646 16,739,284
1991 4,435,118 16,475,354
1990 4,311,955 16,352,458
1989 4,190,974 16,248,557
1988 4,072,601 16,078,621
1987 3,957,612 15,916,576
1986 3,846,715 15,731,256
1985 3,739,985 15,544,154
1984 3,637,843 15,441,860
1983 3,541,001 15,388,794
1982 3,450,026 15,286,567
1981 3,366,631 15,099,414
1980 3,292,573 14,847,974
1979 3,228,202 14,579,614
1978 3,171,740 14,310,128
1977 3,118,923 14,049,371
1976 3,064,876 13,796,770
1975 3,005,521 13,548,984
1974 2,939,761 13,305,693
1973 2,870,573 13,060,916
1972 2,801,660 12,809,205
1971 2,734,628 12,551,910
1970 2,669,702 12,287,110
1969 2,606,959 12,013,858
1968 2,546,377 11,736,088
1967 2,487,715 11,457,328
1966 2,431,084 11,183,928
1965 2,376,200 10,916,965
1964 2,322,826 10,653,397
1963 2,271,061 10,395,040
1962 2,219,910 10,143,754
1961 2,169,796 9,899,372
1960 2,121,514 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Sri Lanka
2100 -0.5% -0.56%
2099 -0.49% -0.56%
2098 -0.47% -0.55%
2097 -0.46% -0.54%
2096 -0.45% -0.53%
2095 -0.44% -0.52%
2094 -0.43% -0.51%
2093 -0.42% -0.5%
2092 -0.41% -0.49%
2091 -0.4% -0.5%
2090 -0.38% -0.49%
2089 -0.37% -0.47%
2088 -0.35% -0.46%
2087 -0.34% -0.46%
2086 -0.32% -0.45%
2085 -0.3% -0.43%
2084 -0.29% -0.42%
2083 -0.27% -0.4%
2082 -0.26% -0.4%
2081 -0.24% -0.38%
2080 -0.23% -0.38%
2079 -0.21% -0.35%
2078 -0.2% -0.33%
2077 -0.17% -0.32%
2076 -0.16% -0.31%
2075 -0.14% -0.31%
2074 -0.12% -0.29%
2073 -0.1% -0.27%
2072 -0.07% -0.26%
2071 -0.06% -0.25%
2070 -0.03% -0.23%
2069 -0.003% -0.23%
2068 0.02% -0.24%
2067 0.05% -0.21%
2066 0.07% -0.22%
2065 0.09% -0.19%
2064 0.12% -0.17%
2063 0.14% -0.16%
2062 0.17% -0.14%
2061 0.2% -0.14%
2060 0.22% -0.12%
2059 0.25% -0.11%
2058 0.28% -0.1%
2057 0.31% -0.09%
2056 0.33% -0.05%
2055 0.36% -0.04%
2054 0.4% -0.04%
2053 0.42% -0.02%
2052 0.45% -0.004%
2051 0.48% 0.01%
2050 0.5% 0.02%
2049 0.54% 0.04%
2048 0.56% 0.07%
2047 0.6% 0.1%
2046 0.62% 0.14%
2045 0.65% 0.13%
2044 0.67% 0.16%
2043 0.72% 0.18%
2042 0.74% 0.2%
2041 0.77% 0.22%
2040 0.8% 0.25%
2039 0.84% 0.26%
2038 0.87% 0.29%
2037 0.9% 0.29%
2036 0.93% 0.31%
2035 0.96% 0.33%
2034 0.99% 0.35%
2033 1.03% 0.37%
2032 1.07% 0.38%
2031 1.1% 0.41%
2030 1.14% 0.42%
2029 1.18% 0.45%
2028 1.22% 0.47%
2027 1.26% 0.5%
2026 1.31% 0.52%
2025 1.35% 0.57%
2024 1.37% -0.55%
2023 1.4% -0.65%
2022 1.42% 0.11%
2021 1.45% 1.08%
2020 1.5% 0.53%
2019 1.54% 0.61%
2018 1.57% 1.01%
2017 1.58% 1.15%
2016 1.58% 1.14%
2015 1.47% 0.92%
2014 1.39% 0.94%
2013 1.42% -2.76%
2012 1.44% 0.76%
2011 1.46% 0.62%
2010 1.48% 0.59%
2009 1.51% 0.62%
2008 1.53% 0.67%
2007 1.56% 0.69%
2006 1.6% 0.67%
2005 1.52% 0.64%
2004 1.47% 0.68%
2003 1.55% 0.74%
2002 1.62% 1.05%
2001 1.66% 1.59%
2000 1.69% 1.84%
1999 1.76% 1.88%
1998 1.87% 1.91%
1997 2.11% 1.92%
1996 2.36% 1.94%
1995 2.5% 1.67%
1994 2.65% 1.47%
1993 2.75% 1.71%
1992 2.81% 1.6%
1991 2.86% 0.75%
1990 2.89% 0.64%
1989 2.91% 1.06%
1988 2.91% 1.02%
1987 2.88% 1.18%
1986 2.85% 1.2%
1985 2.81% 0.66%
1984 2.73% 0.34%
1983 2.64% 0.67%
1982 2.48% 1.24%
1981 2.25% 1.69%
1980 1.99% 1.84%
1979 1.78% 1.88%
1978 1.69% 1.86%
1977 1.76% 1.83%
1976 1.97% 1.83%
1975 2.24% 1.83%
1974 2.41% 1.87%
1973 2.46% 1.97%
1972 2.45% 2.05%
1971 2.43% 2.16%
1970 2.41% 2.27%
1969 2.38% 2.37%
1968 2.36% 2.43%
1967 2.33% 2.44%
1966 2.31% 2.45%
1965 2.3% 2.47%
1964 2.28% 2.49%
1963 2.3% 2.48%
1962 2.31% 2.47%
1961 2.28% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Laos Sri Lanka
Current population
8004838
22185425
Population rank 103/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.27%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
3.22 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
11 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 -332
Annual growth/decline +104,826 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 188/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 -30,724
Net migration rank 134/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -30,724
2024 - -10,284 - -27,245
2023 115,359 -10,003 66,111 -28,011
2022 116,620 -10,003 95,378 -27,435
2021 115,323 -10,305 121,858 -29,586
2020 118,609 -10,305 170,968 -29,875
2019 119,797 -10,305 172,243 -28,426
2018 119,986 -10,305 183,610 -28,607
2017 120,515 -10,400 187,993 -22,324
2016 119,978 -11,401 194,232 -18,388
2015 118,723 -12,991 201,815 -29,797
2014 118,103 -26,881 211,541 -33,672
2013 119,845 -27,492 221,021 -37,754
2012 121,324 -28,871 229,138 -41,955
2011 122,863 -30,538 224,461 -90,839
2010 122,516 -30,046 224,325 -98,060
2009 122,174 -29,545 200,175 -81,130
2008 121,042 -28,318 232,225 -97,144
2007 119,980 -27,233 248,287 -109,695
2006 118,602 -25,286 248,706 -107,045
2005 118,165 -24,138 248,683 -118,594
2004 121,888 -40,120 212,527 -84,795
2003 122,158 -36,572 252,008 -107,573
2002 122,110 -33,595 252,840 -105,718
2001 123,847 -33,552 244,377 19,273
2000 124,201 -33,965 227,060 123,894
1999 127,255 -36,632 206,876 138,799
1998 128,409 -33,997 201,059 150,724
1997 130,388 -32,288 208,193 135,636
1996 131,142 -16,574 215,290 127,236
1995 132,241 -14,279 221,957 117,416
1994 134,201 -11,782 228,904 8,323
1993 135,295 -9,390 226,257 36,232
1992 132,417 -7,502 222,230 88,542
1991 129,523 -5,390 218,117 -1,047
1990 125,297 -3,100 224,454 -195,736
1989 121,044 -1,272 212,401 -33,305
1988 117,050 -80 219,184 -58,415
1987 113,005 0 226,414 -63,105
1986 109,266 -475 233,782 -26,460
1985 106,047 -1,376 247,836 -80,950
1984 102,318 -2,698 263,175 -225,450
1983 98,178 -4,108 277,768 -209,362
1982 94,058 -6,184 300,030 -163,987
1981 89,963 -11,061 328,096 -89,824
1980 86,548 -17,339 328,155 -63,541
1979 82,852 -23,317 329,791 -57,683
1978 80,604 -27,208 317,055 -50,189
1977 79,149 -26,908 300,038 -45,383
1976 77,575 -21,738 291,816 -41,258
1975 76,725 -13,858 282,496 -37,475
1974 74,652 -6,000 275,521 -33,979
1973 70,513 -774 278,577 -30,582
1972 68,095 0 282,494 -27,071
1971 65,959 0 281,200 -22,021
1970 63,896 0 286,719 -16,299
1969 61,595 0 286,218 -10,152
1968 59,567 0 286,642 -7,163
1967 57,763 0 284,738 -6,696
1966 55,494 0 275,549 -6,794
1965 54,268 0 272,422 -7,249
1964 52,482 0 269,584 -7,614
1963 51,056 0 262,880 -8,118
1962 51,244 0 256,719 -8,909
1961 48,992 0 251,087 -10,144
1960 47,575 0 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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