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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 71,619,863 people in Thailand in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 71,565,981 in Thailand.

Population statistics:

  • Thailand's population is 8.92 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Thailand is the 21st.
  • The countries together account for 0.96% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.86% for Thailand.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +0.18% in Thailand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Thailand has grown from 66.6M to 71.6M (7.51% growth).

Laos vs Thailand: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Thailand
2100 9,340,510 45,708,431
2099 9,387,374 46,053,146
2098 9,433,309 46,403,189
2097 9,478,091 46,757,918
2096 9,521,914 47,118,652
2095 9,564,898 47,484,043
2094 9,607,314 47,853,561
2093 9,648,899 48,226,682
2092 9,689,414 48,605,235
2091 9,729,262 48,984,504
2090 9,767,923 49,368,049
2089 9,805,489 49,756,629
2088 9,841,933 50,142,276
2087 9,876,893 50,532,164
2086 9,910,678 50,925,294
2085 9,942,991 51,321,960
2084 9,973,375 51,724,454
2083 10,002,778 52,127,592
2082 10,030,306 52,533,368
2081 10,056,473 52,938,345
2080 10,080,959 53,347,733
2079 10,104,434 53,762,492
2078 10,126,099 54,177,529
2077 10,146,255 54,595,112
2076 10,163,547 55,015,291
2075 10,179,776 55,438,108
2074 10,194,216 55,867,914
2073 10,206,546 56,300,358
2072 10,216,287 56,735,274
2071 10,223,430 57,172,515
2070 10,229,612 57,616,731
2069 10,233,020 58,061,962
2068 10,233,371 58,512,248
2067 10,231,633 58,962,990
2066 10,226,448 59,413,893
2065 10,219,732 59,873,261
2064 10,210,382 60,331,851
2063 10,198,463 60,792,306
2062 10,184,239 61,257,068
2061 10,166,878 61,720,030
2060 10,146,829 62,187,380
2059 10,124,398 62,651,158
2058 10,098,721 63,113,332
2057 10,070,317 63,572,746
2056 10,039,482 64,027,520
2055 10,006,669 64,473,146
2054 9,970,363 64,912,210
2053 9,931,133 65,338,122
2052 9,889,162 65,758,061
2051 9,844,445 66,162,612
2050 9,797,566 66,552,915
2049 9,748,481 66,931,487
2048 9,695,755 67,291,479
2047 9,641,319 67,636,461
2046 9,584,097 67,967,131
2045 9,524,890 68,281,902
2044 9,462,921 68,579,656
2043 9,399,555 68,864,788
2042 9,332,795 69,133,982
2041 9,264,069 69,390,832
2040 9,193,691 69,626,857
2039 9,120,921 69,848,522
2038 9,044,658 70,056,903
2037 8,966,687 70,250,371
2036 8,886,908 70,429,677
2035 8,805,396 70,599,021
2034 8,721,979 70,751,094
2033 8,636,299 70,891,510
2032 8,548,097 71,019,665
2031 8,457,770 71,134,882
2030 8,365,427 71,241,584
2029 8,271,316 71,337,147
2028 8,174,975 71,423,119
2027 8,076,308 71,499,411
2026 7,975,876 71,565,981
2025 7,873,046 71,619,863
2024 7,769,819 71,668,011
2023 7,664,993 71,702,435
2022 7,559,007 71,735,329
2021 7,453,194 71,727,332
2020 7,346,533 71,641,484
2019 7,237,636 71,522,271
2018 7,128,045 71,376,079
2017 7,018,147 71,160,187
2016 6,908,802 70,859,841
2015 6,801,645 70,540,795
2014 6,703,172 70,216,367
2013 6,611,385 69,845,114
2012 6,518,978 69,436,098
2011 6,426,590 69,007,208
2010 6,334,194 68,579,447
2009 6,241,642 68,121,080
2008 6,148,969 67,619,830
2007 6,056,236 67,102,394
2006 5,963,200 66,567,687
2005 5,869,523 66,017,420
2004 5,781,626 65,452,047
2003 5,697,945 64,868,166
2002 5,610,889 64,266,437
2001 5,521,482 63,651,141
2000 5,431,212 63,007,815
1999 5,340,784 62,299,043
1998 5,248,266 61,522,630
1997 5,152,011 60,724,584
1996 5,045,678 59,920,064
1995 4,929,409 59,098,232
1994 4,809,220 58,260,854
1993 4,685,060 57,408,198
1992 4,559,646 56,528,834
1991 4,435,118 55,637,434
1990 4,311,955 54,738,329
1989 4,190,974 53,848,956
1988 4,072,601 52,969,595
1987 3,957,612 52,074,105
1986 3,846,715 51,177,834
1985 3,739,985 50,270,753
1984 3,637,843 49,351,708
1983 3,541,001 48,423,309
1982 3,450,026 47,494,577
1981 3,366,631 46,575,855
1980 3,292,573 45,650,022
1979 3,228,202 44,718,434
1978 3,171,740 43,788,976
1977 3,118,923 42,843,974
1976 3,064,876 41,896,504
1975 3,005,521 40,940,005
1974 2,939,761 39,952,891
1973 2,870,573 38,947,787
1972 2,801,660 37,933,929
1971 2,734,628 36,937,387
1970 2,669,702 35,954,408
1969 2,606,959 34,973,782
1968 2,546,377 34,002,560
1967 2,487,715 33,037,801
1966 2,431,084 32,086,071
1965 2,376,200 31,149,337
1964 2,322,826 30,232,141
1963 2,271,061 29,342,322
1962 2,219,910 28,481,040
1961 2,169,796 27,650,334
1960 2,121,514 26,851,747

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/thailand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Thailand gained 4,292,154 people (a 6.45% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Thailand's population increased by 706,140 people (a 1% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Thailand was ranked 19th in 2006 and ranked 21st 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 Thailand will decrease by 7% to 66,552,915 people and rank change from 21st to 31st.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people, while Thailand's population already peaked in 2022 at 71.7M people and is projected to decrease to 45.7M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Thailand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Thailand
2100 -0.5% -0.75%
2099 -0.49% -0.75%
2098 -0.47% -0.76%
2097 -0.46% -0.77%
2096 -0.45% -0.77%
2095 -0.44% -0.77%
2094 -0.43% -0.77%
2093 -0.42% -0.78%
2092 -0.41% -0.77%
2091 -0.4% -0.78%
2090 -0.38% -0.78%
2089 -0.37% -0.77%
2088 -0.35% -0.77%
2087 -0.34% -0.77%
2086 -0.32% -0.77%
2085 -0.3% -0.78%
2084 -0.29% -0.77%
2083 -0.27% -0.77%
2082 -0.26% -0.76%
2081 -0.24% -0.77%
2080 -0.23% -0.77%
2079 -0.21% -0.77%
2078 -0.2% -0.76%
2077 -0.17% -0.76%
2076 -0.16% -0.76%
2075 -0.14% -0.77%
2074 -0.12% -0.77%
2073 -0.1% -0.77%
2072 -0.07% -0.76%
2071 -0.06% -0.77%
2070 -0.03% -0.77%
2069 -0.003% -0.77%
2068 0.02% -0.76%
2067 0.05% -0.76%
2066 0.07% -0.77%
2065 0.09% -0.76%
2064 0.12% -0.76%
2063 0.14% -0.76%
2062 0.17% -0.75%
2061 0.2% -0.75%
2060 0.22% -0.74%
2059 0.25% -0.73%
2058 0.28% -0.72%
2057 0.31% -0.71%
2056 0.33% -0.69%
2055 0.36% -0.68%
2054 0.4% -0.65%
2053 0.42% -0.64%
2052 0.45% -0.61%
2051 0.48% -0.59%
2050 0.5% -0.57%
2049 0.54% -0.53%
2048 0.56% -0.51%
2047 0.6% -0.49%
2046 0.62% -0.46%
2045 0.65% -0.43%
2044 0.67% -0.41%
2043 0.72% -0.39%
2042 0.74% -0.37%
2041 0.77% -0.34%
2040 0.8% -0.32%
2039 0.84% -0.3%
2038 0.87% -0.28%
2037 0.9% -0.25%
2036 0.93% -0.24%
2035 0.96% -0.21%
2034 0.99% -0.2%
2033 1.03% -0.18%
2032 1.07% -0.16%
2031 1.1% -0.15%
2030 1.14% -0.13%
2029 1.18% -0.12%
2028 1.22% -0.11%
2027 1.26% -0.09%
2026 1.31% -0.08%
2025 1.33% -0.07%
2024 1.37% -0.05%
2023 1.4% -0.05%
2022 1.42% 0.01%
2021 1.45% 0.12%
2020 1.5% 0.17%
2019 1.54% 0.2%
2018 1.57% 0.3%
2017 1.58% 0.42%
2016 1.58% 0.45%
2015 1.47% 0.46%
2014 1.39% 0.53%
2013 1.42% 0.59%
2012 1.44% 0.62%
2011 1.46% 0.62%
2010 1.48% 0.67%
2009 1.51% 0.74%
2008 1.53% 0.77%
2007 1.56% 0.8%
2006 1.6% 0.83%
2005 1.52% 0.86%
2004 1.47% 0.9%
2003 1.55% 0.94%
2002 1.62% 0.97%
2001 1.66% 1.02%
2000 1.69% 1.14%
1999 1.76% 1.26%
1998 1.87% 1.31%
1997 2.11% 1.34%
1996 2.36% 1.39%
1995 2.5% 1.44%
1994 2.65% 1.49%
1993 2.75% 1.56%
1992 2.81% 1.6%
1991 2.86% 1.64%
1990 2.89% 1.65%
1989 2.91% 1.66%
1988 2.91% 1.72%
1987 2.88% 1.75%
1986 2.85% 1.8%
1985 2.81% 1.86%
1984 2.73% 1.92%
1983 2.64% 1.96%
1982 2.48% 1.97%
1981 2.25% 2.03%
1980 1.99% 2.08%
1979 1.78% 2.12%
1978 1.69% 2.21%
1977 1.76% 2.26%
1976 1.97% 2.34%
1975 2.24% 2.47%
1974 2.41% 2.58%
1973 2.46% 2.67%
1972 2.45% 2.7%
1971 2.43% 2.73%
1970 2.41% 2.8%
1969 2.38% 2.86%
1968 2.36% 2.92%
1967 2.33% 2.97%
1966 2.31% 3.01%
1965 2.3% 3.03%
1964 2.28% 3.03%
1963 2.3% 3.02%
1962 2.31% 3%
1961 2.28% 2.97%

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/thailand | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Thailand's population declined by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Laos Thailand
Current population
8027464
71565981
Population rank 103/197 21/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.86%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
10.9 minutes
One birth every
3.23 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
10.9 minutes
48.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline +283 -132
Annual growth/decline +103,227 -48,148
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% -0.07%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 164/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
19.2 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 +27,509
Net migration rank 134/196 30/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 3,179,399
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 21/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 100/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Thailand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Thailand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 27,509
2024 114,574 -10,284 -65,720 23,321
2023 115,359 -10,003 -46,105 19,648
2022 116,620 -10,003 -61,046 21,683
2021 115,323 -10,305 57,382 -2,093
2020 118,609 -10,305 84,107 32,277
2019 119,797 -10,305 116,867 5,221
2018 119,986 -10,305 159,383 10,984
2017 120,515 -10,400 194,695 66,805
2016 119,978 -11,401 226,255 112,978
2015 118,723 -12,991 266,362 32,500
2014 118,103 -26,881 294,628 55,358
2013 119,845 -27,492 325,059 67,452
2012 121,324 -28,871 351,485 74,033
2011 122,863 -30,538 365,670 66,607
2010 122,516 -30,046 370,466 52,791
2009 122,174 -29,545 382,636 110,883
2008 121,042 -28,318 401,730 107,333
2007 119,980 -27,233 425,362 100,486
2006 118,602 -25,286 441,211 102,362
2005 118,165 -24,138 456,378 100,542
2004 121,888 -40,120 466,542 107,199
2003 122,158 -36,572 488,003 105,917
2002 122,110 -33,595 504,299 105,215
2001 123,847 -33,552 524,230 96,817
2000 124,201 -33,965 543,884 121,640
1999 127,255 -36,632 578,073 173,924
1998 128,409 -33,997 617,318 183,471
1997 130,388 -32,288 644,834 150,411
1996 131,142 -16,574 661,397 152,397
1995 132,241 -14,279 682,703 147,226
1994 134,201 -11,782 712,589 132,271
1993 135,295 -9,390 737,696 122,746
1992 132,417 -7,502 754,999 143,318
1991 129,523 -5,390 760,508 124,034
1990 125,297 -3,100 760,808 152,916
1989 121,044 -1,272 774,563 90,497
1988 117,050 -80 765,252 128,469
1987 113,005 0 774,498 122,791
1986 109,266 -475 783,430 111,820
1985 106,047 -1,376 776,935 141,963
1984 102,318 -2,698 779,856 139,345
1983 98,178 -4,108 794,239 143,393
1982 94,058 -6,184 817,951 101,885
1981 89,963 -11,061 839,297 78,337
1980 86,548 -17,339 845,575 88,478
1979 82,852 -23,317 843,434 85,693
1978 80,604 -27,208 847,799 82,011
1977 79,149 -26,908 871,232 88,937
1976 77,575 -21,738 894,072 40,656
1975 76,725 -13,858 911,980 66,306
1974 74,652 -6,000 923,151 72,801
1973 70,513 -774 933,540 80,704
1972 68,095 0 940,420 73,082
1971 65,959 0 936,215 43,400
1970 63,896 0 937,116 49,221
1969 61,595 0 948,314 26,551
1968 59,567 0 953,806 13,718
1967 57,763 0 944,980 17,005
1966 55,494 0 929,469 12,016
1965 54,268 0 909,000 22,995
1964 52,482 0 885,137 17,249
1963 51,056 0 860,728 16,494
1962 51,244 0 828,741 16,605
1961 48,992 0 801,140 14,968
1960 47,575 0 774,190 6,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/thailand | 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 Thailand 74.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 932,180 people) and 25.8% is from migration (a gain of 323,324 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 3,179,399 people or 4.4% in Thailand.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Thailand
City Population
Bangkok 5.68M
Chiang Mai 1.2M
Nonthaburi 256K
Pak Kret 190K
Hat Yai 159K
Nakhon Ratchasima 134K
Chaophraya Surasak 133K
Surat Thani 131K
Udon Thani 130K
Klaeng 130K

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/thailand | 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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