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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 9,092,436 people in Switzerland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 9,155,878 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 1.14 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 99th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +0.96% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.16M (22.3% growth).

Laos vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Switzerland
2100 9,340,510 9,273,514
2099 9,387,374 9,265,656
2098 9,433,309 9,259,266
2097 9,478,091 9,251,854
2096 9,521,914 9,248,107
2095 9,564,898 9,242,564
2094 9,607,314 9,238,163
2093 9,648,899 9,235,730
2092 9,689,414 9,233,129
2091 9,729,262 9,230,180
2090 9,767,923 9,228,148
2089 9,805,489 9,227,779
2088 9,841,933 9,229,133
2087 9,876,893 9,228,792
2086 9,910,678 9,230,530
2085 9,942,991 9,234,782
2084 9,973,375 9,239,056
2083 10,002,778 9,244,001
2082 10,030,306 9,249,813
2081 10,056,473 9,256,210
2080 10,080,959 9,262,647
2079 10,104,434 9,270,123
2078 10,126,099 9,276,881
2077 10,146,255 9,284,565
2076 10,163,547 9,289,534
2075 10,179,776 9,295,062
2074 10,194,216 9,305,809
2073 10,206,546 9,314,832
2072 10,216,287 9,322,610
2071 10,223,430 9,332,380
2070 10,229,612 9,343,357
2069 10,233,020 9,351,483
2068 10,233,371 9,359,919
2067 10,231,633 9,367,355
2066 10,226,448 9,379,120
2065 10,219,732 9,391,197
2064 10,210,382 9,402,175
2063 10,198,463 9,412,246
2062 10,184,239 9,423,109
2061 10,166,878 9,434,937
2060 10,146,829 9,443,858
2059 10,124,398 9,454,223
2058 10,098,721 9,462,577
2057 10,070,317 9,468,254
2056 10,039,482 9,475,514
2055 10,006,669 9,483,998
2054 9,970,363 9,491,408
2053 9,931,133 9,496,551
2052 9,889,162 9,496,579
2051 9,844,445 9,496,556
2050 9,797,566 9,494,698
2049 9,748,481 9,491,222
2048 9,695,755 9,484,200
2047 9,641,319 9,477,140
2046 9,584,097 9,471,007
2045 9,524,890 9,465,183
2044 9,462,921 9,458,151
2043 9,399,555 9,450,730
2042 9,332,795 9,440,733
2041 9,264,069 9,433,753
2040 9,193,691 9,422,510
2039 9,120,921 9,413,795
2038 9,044,658 9,404,803
2037 8,966,687 9,393,982
2036 8,886,908 9,382,127
2035 8,805,396 9,368,526
2034 8,721,979 9,351,603
2033 8,636,299 9,334,357
2032 8,548,097 9,315,617
2031 8,457,770 9,292,331
2030 8,365,427 9,267,380
2029 8,271,316 9,240,823
2028 8,174,975 9,209,567
2027 8,076,308 9,174,540
2026 7,975,876 9,136,169
2025 7,873,046 9,092,436
2024 7,769,819 9,005,582
2023 7,664,993 8,888,822
2022 7,559,007 8,777,088
2021 7,453,194 8,704,546
2020 7,346,533 8,638,167
2019 7,237,636 8,575,280
2018 7,128,045 8,514,329
2017 7,018,147 8,451,840
2016 6,908,802 8,373,338
2015 6,801,645 8,282,396
2014 6,703,172 8,188,649
2013 6,611,385 8,089,346
2012 6,518,978 7,996,861
2011 6,426,590 7,912,398
2010 6,334,194 7,824,909
2009 6,241,642 7,743,831
2008 6,148,969 7,647,675
2007 6,056,236 7,551,117
2006 5,963,200 7,483,934
2005 5,869,523 7,437,115
2004 5,781,626 7,389,625
2003 5,697,945 7,339,001
2002 5,610,889 7,284,753
2001 5,521,482 7,229,854
2000 5,431,212 7,184,250
1999 5,340,784 7,143,991
1998 5,248,266 7,110,001
1997 5,152,011 7,088,906
1996 5,045,678 7,071,850
1995 4,929,409 7,040,687
1994 4,809,220 6,993,795
1993 4,685,060 6,938,265
1992 4,559,646 6,875,364
1991 4,435,118 6,799,978
1990 4,311,955 6,715,519
1989 4,190,974 6,646,912
1988 4,072,601 6,593,386
1987 3,957,612 6,545,106
1986 3,846,715 6,504,124
1985 3,739,985 6,470,365
1984 3,637,843 6,441,865
1983 3,541,001 6,418,773
1982 3,450,026 6,391,309
1981 3,366,631 6,354,074
1980 3,292,573 6,319,408
1979 3,228,202 6,294,365
1978 3,171,740 6,281,738
1977 3,118,923 6,281,174
1976 3,064,876 6,302,504
1975 3,005,521 6,338,632
1974 2,939,761 6,341,405
1973 2,870,573 6,307,347
1972 2,801,660 6,260,956
1971 2,734,628 6,213,399
1970 2,669,702 6,180,877
1969 2,606,959 6,136,387
1968 2,546,377 6,067,714
1967 2,487,715 5,991,785
1966 2,431,084 5,918,002
1965 2,376,200 5,856,472
1964 2,322,826 5,789,228
1963 2,271,061 5,694,247
1962 2,219,910 5,573,815
1961 2,169,796 5,434,294
1960 2,121,514 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 782,540 people (a 9.35% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 99th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.7% to 9,494,698 people and rank change from 99th to 102nd.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 9.5M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Switzerland
2100 -0.5% 0.08%
2099 -0.49% 0.07%
2098 -0.47% 0.08%
2097 -0.46% 0.04%
2096 -0.45% 0.06%
2095 -0.44% 0.05%
2094 -0.43% 0.03%
2093 -0.42% 0.03%
2092 -0.41% 0.03%
2091 -0.4% 0.02%
2090 -0.38% 0.004%
2089 -0.37% -0.01%
2088 -0.35% 0.004%
2087 -0.34% -0.02%
2086 -0.32% -0.05%
2085 -0.3% -0.05%
2084 -0.29% -0.05%
2083 -0.27% -0.06%
2082 -0.26% -0.07%
2081 -0.24% -0.07%
2080 -0.23% -0.08%
2079 -0.21% -0.07%
2078 -0.2% -0.08%
2077 -0.17% -0.05%
2076 -0.16% -0.06%
2075 -0.14% -0.12%
2074 -0.12% -0.1%
2073 -0.1% -0.08%
2072 -0.07% -0.1%
2071 -0.06% -0.12%
2070 -0.03% -0.09%
2069 -0.003% -0.09%
2068 0.02% -0.08%
2067 0.05% -0.13%
2066 0.07% -0.13%
2065 0.09% -0.12%
2064 0.12% -0.11%
2063 0.14% -0.12%
2062 0.17% -0.13%
2061 0.2% -0.09%
2060 0.22% -0.11%
2059 0.25% -0.09%
2058 0.28% -0.06%
2057 0.31% -0.08%
2056 0.33% -0.09%
2055 0.36% -0.08%
2054 0.4% -0.05%
2053 0.42% -0%
2052 0.45% 0%
2051 0.48% 0.02%
2050 0.5% 0.04%
2049 0.54% 0.07%
2048 0.56% 0.07%
2047 0.6% 0.06%
2046 0.62% 0.06%
2045 0.65% 0.07%
2044 0.67% 0.08%
2043 0.72% 0.11%
2042 0.74% 0.07%
2041 0.77% 0.12%
2040 0.8% 0.09%
2039 0.84% 0.1%
2038 0.87% 0.12%
2037 0.9% 0.13%
2036 0.93% 0.15%
2035 0.96% 0.18%
2034 0.99% 0.18%
2033 1.03% 0.2%
2032 1.07% 0.25%
2031 1.1% 0.27%
2030 1.14% 0.29%
2029 1.18% 0.34%
2028 1.22% 0.38%
2027 1.26% 0.42%
2026 1.31% 0.48%
2025 1.33% 0.96%
2024 1.37% 1.31%
2023 1.4% 1.27%
2022 1.42% 0.83%
2021 1.45% 0.77%
2020 1.5% 0.73%
2019 1.54% 0.72%
2018 1.57% 0.74%
2017 1.58% 0.94%
2016 1.58% 1.1%
2015 1.47% 1.14%
2014 1.39% 1.23%
2013 1.42% 1.16%
2012 1.44% 1.07%
2011 1.46% 1.12%
2010 1.48% 1.05%
2009 1.51% 1.26%
2008 1.53% 1.28%
2007 1.56% 0.9%
2006 1.6% 0.63%
2005 1.52% 0.64%
2004 1.47% 0.69%
2003 1.55% 0.74%
2002 1.62% 0.76%
2001 1.66% 0.63%
2000 1.69% 0.56%
1999 1.76% 0.48%
1998 1.87% 0.3%
1997 2.11% 0.24%
1996 2.36% 0.44%
1995 2.5% 0.67%
1994 2.65% 0.8%
1993 2.75% 0.91%
1992 2.81% 1.11%
1991 2.86% 1.26%
1990 2.89% 1.03%
1989 2.91% 0.81%
1988 2.91% 0.74%
1987 2.88% 0.63%
1986 2.85% 0.52%
1985 2.81% 0.44%
1984 2.73% 0.36%
1983 2.64% 0.43%
1982 2.48% 0.59%
1981 2.25% 0.55%
1980 1.99% 0.4%
1979 1.78% 0.2%
1978 1.69% 0.009%
1977 1.76% -0.34%
1976 1.97% -0.57%
1975 2.24% -0.04%
1974 2.41% 0.54%
1973 2.46% 0.74%
1972 2.45% 0.77%
1971 2.43% 0.53%
1970 2.41% 0.73%
1969 2.38% 1.13%
1968 2.36% 1.27%
1967 2.33% 1.25%
1966 2.31% 1.05%
1965 2.3% 1.16%
1964 2.28% 1.67%
1963 2.3% 2.16%
1962 2.31% 2.57%
1961 2.28% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Switzerland's population grew by 0.96%.

Live population counters

Laos Switzerland
Current population
8027464
9155878
Population rank 103/197 99/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.11%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
6.07 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
6.71 minutes
One death every
10.9 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +238
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +86,854
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +0.96%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 101/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +37,253
Net migration rank 134/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 37,253
2024 114,574 -10,284 6,304 40,099
2023 115,359 -10,003 8,000 45,098
2022 116,620 -10,003 7,899 96,424
2021 115,323 -10,305 18,279 50,665
2020 118,609 -10,305 9,502 55,523
2019 119,797 -10,305 18,008 44,517
2018 119,986 -10,305 20,434 41,253
2017 120,515 -10,400 20,284 45,658
2016 119,978 -11,401 22,608 71,009
2015 118,723 -12,991 19,050 71,876
2014 118,103 -26,881 21,290 78,122
2013 119,845 -27,492 17,797 83,823
2012 121,324 -28,871 18,393 67,840
2011 122,863 -30,538 18,990 67,194
2010 122,516 -30,046 17,997 76,388
2009 122,174 -29,545 15,487 69,324
2008 121,042 -28,318 15,295 94,430
2007 119,980 -27,233 13,592 72,475
2006 118,602 -25,286 12,723 37,308
2005 118,165 -24,138 11,899 33,203
2004 121,888 -40,120 13,302 39,484
2003 122,158 -36,572 8,807 42,567
2002 122,110 -33,595 10,199 49,650
2001 123,847 -33,552 10,845 35,420
2000 124,201 -33,965 15,806 24,463
1999 127,255 -36,632 16,431 25,599
1998 128,409 -33,997 16,353 11,325
1997 130,388 -32,288 17,722 -1,939
1996 131,142 -16,574 19,801 -131
1995 132,241 -14,279 19,010 25,343
1994 134,201 -11,782 20,982 30,274
1993 135,295 -9,390 21,509 40,267
1992 132,417 -7,502 24,064 42,014
1991 129,523 -5,390 23,800 69,738
1990 125,297 -3,100 20,146 58,428
1989 121,044 -1,272 19,941 34,432
1988 117,050 -80 21,099 34,602
1987 113,005 0 15,708 27,081
1986 109,266 -475 16,261 23,242
1985 106,047 -1,376 14,882 14,402
1984 102,318 -2,698 16,105 12,532
1983 98,178 -4,108 12,837 5,663
1982 94,058 -6,184 15,339 21,929
1981 89,963 -11,061 13,979 24,229
1980 86,548 -17,339 14,535 17,841
1979 82,852 -23,317 14,477 4,262
1978 80,604 -27,208 13,820 -6,552
1977 79,149 -26,908 16,959 -22,516
1976 77,575 -21,738 17,017 -54,255
1975 76,725 -13,858 22,820 -58,187
1974 74,652 -6,000 27,902 2,008
1973 70,513 -774 30,906 8,158
1972 68,095 0 35,061 19,991
1971 65,959 0 38,523 2,636
1970 63,896 0 42,648 -18,326
1969 61,595 0 44,182 20,754
1968 59,567 0 47,328 25,828
1967 57,763 0 52,128 27,697
1966 55,494 0 53,854 14,979
1965 54,268 0 56,222 -1,351
1964 52,482 0 59,050 21,455
1963 51,056 0 52,956 58,415
1962 51,244 0 49,050 82,798
1961 48,992 0 48,365 101,278
1960 47,575 0 42,090 22,313

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 150,368 people) and 78.9% is from migration (a gain of 562,122 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 452K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 120K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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