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Population in Laos compared to the United States: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 43 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.25% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Laos vs United States: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos United States
2100 9,342,607 415,429,771
2099 9,389,481 414,829,167
2098 9,435,427 414,231,720
2097 9,480,219 413,576,381
2096 9,524,052 412,927,393
2095 9,567,045 412,225,379
2094 9,609,471 411,498,749
2093 9,651,065 410,785,729
2092 9,691,590 410,051,921
2091 9,731,446 409,320,183
2090 9,770,116 408,613,732
2089 9,807,690 407,885,645
2088 9,844,143 407,129,733
2087 9,879,110 406,421,298
2086 9,912,903 405,715,343
2085 9,945,223 405,059,379
2084 9,975,614 404,343,130
2083 10,005,023 403,612,785
2082 10,032,558 402,871,293
2081 10,058,731 402,054,554
2080 10,083,222 401,319,194
2079 10,106,703 400,554,914
2078 10,128,372 399,737,968
2077 10,148,533 398,906,565
2076 10,165,829 398,035,750
2075 10,182,062 397,109,170
2074 10,196,505 396,226,412
2073 10,208,837 395,307,725
2072 10,218,581 394,393,561
2071 10,225,726 393,415,363
2070 10,231,909 392,469,727
2069 10,235,317 391,479,981
2068 10,235,668 390,517,695
2067 10,233,930 389,543,856
2066 10,228,744 388,597,719
2065 10,222,027 387,685,327
2064 10,212,674 386,805,026
2063 10,200,753 385,911,917
2062 10,186,526 385,032,627
2061 10,169,161 384,170,837
2060 10,149,107 383,361,269
2059 10,126,671 382,542,030
2058 10,100,989 381,704,804
2057 10,072,578 380,907,023
2056 10,041,736 380,159,777
2055 10,008,916 379,430,756
2054 9,972,602 378,682,851
2053 9,933,363 377,878,421
2052 9,891,383 377,073,303
2051 9,846,656 376,229,840
2050 9,799,766 375,373,155
2049 9,750,669 374,493,150
2048 9,697,931 373,590,762
2047 9,643,484 372,626,259
2046 9,586,249 371,644,809
2045 9,527,029 370,602,914
2044 9,465,046 369,518,897
2043 9,401,665 368,375,680
2042 9,334,890 367,158,772
2041 9,266,149 365,937,822
2040 9,195,755 364,671,837
2039 9,122,969 363,367,337
2038 9,046,689 361,997,023
2037 8,968,700 360,606,236
2036 8,888,903 359,193,245
2035 8,807,373 357,750,686
2034 8,723,937 356,266,726
2033 8,638,238 354,775,032
2032 8,550,017 353,259,037
2031 8,459,669 351,721,511
2030 8,367,305 350,155,042
2029 8,273,173 348,564,667
2028 8,176,811 346,906,294
2027 8,078,122 345,257,605
2026 7,977,666 343,565,426
2025 7,874,813 341,784,857
2024 7,769,819 340,110,988
2023 7,664,993 334,914,895
2022 7,559,007 333,271,411
2021 7,453,194 331,893,745
2020 7,346,533 331,526,933
2019 7,237,636 328,329,953
2018 7,128,045 326,838,199
2017 7,018,147 325,122,128
2016 6,908,802 323,071,755
2015 6,801,645 320,738,994
2014 6,703,172 318,386,329
2013 6,611,385 316,059,947
2012 6,518,978 313,877,662
2011 6,426,590 311,583,481
2010 6,334,194 309,327,143
2009 6,241,642 306,771,529
2008 6,148,969 304,093,966
2007 6,056,236 301,231,207
2006 5,963,200 298,379,912
2005 5,869,523 295,516,599
2004 5,781,626 292,805,298
2003 5,697,945 290,107,933
2002 5,610,889 287,625,193
2001 5,521,482 284,968,955
2000 5,431,212 282,162,411
1999 5,340,784 279,294,713
1998 5,248,266 276,115,288
1997 5,152,011 272,911,760
1996 5,045,678 269,667,391
1995 4,929,409 266,557,091
1994 4,809,220 263,435,673
1993 4,685,060 260,255,352
1992 4,559,646 256,894,189
1991 4,435,118 253,492,503
1990 4,311,955 250,131,894
1989 4,190,974 246,819,222
1988 4,072,601 244,499,004
1987 3,957,612 242,288,936
1986 3,846,715 240,132,831
1985 3,739,985 237,923,734
1984 3,637,843 235,824,908
1983 3,541,001 233,792,014
1982 3,450,026 231,664,432
1981 3,366,631 229,465,744
1980 3,292,573 226,542,250
1979 3,228,202 225,055,487
1978 3,171,740 222,584,545
1977 3,118,923 220,239,425
1976 3,064,876 218,035,164
1975 3,005,521 215,973,199
1974 2,939,761 213,853,928
1973 2,870,573 211,908,788
1972 2,801,660 209,896,021
1971 2,734,628 207,660,677
1970 2,669,702 205,052,174
1969 2,606,959 202,676,946
1968 2,546,377 200,706,052
1967 2,487,715 198,712,056
1966 2,431,084 196,560,338
1965 2,376,200 194,302,963
1964 2,322,826 191,888,791
1963 2,271,061 189,241,798
1962 2,219,910 186,537,737
1961 2,169,796 183,691,481
1960 2,121,514 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/united-states | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 the United States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 415M people in 2100 for the United States.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos United States
2100 -0.5% 0.14%
2099 -0.49% 0.14%
2098 -0.47% 0.16%
2097 -0.46% 0.16%
2096 -0.45% 0.17%
2095 -0.44% 0.18%
2094 -0.43% 0.17%
2093 -0.42% 0.18%
2092 -0.41% 0.18%
2091 -0.4% 0.17%
2090 -0.38% 0.18%
2089 -0.37% 0.19%
2088 -0.35% 0.17%
2087 -0.34% 0.17%
2086 -0.32% 0.16%
2085 -0.3% 0.18%
2084 -0.29% 0.18%
2083 -0.27% 0.18%
2082 -0.26% 0.2%
2081 -0.24% 0.18%
2080 -0.23% 0.19%
2079 -0.21% 0.2%
2078 -0.2% 0.21%
2077 -0.17% 0.22%
2076 -0.16% 0.23%
2075 -0.14% 0.22%
2074 -0.12% 0.23%
2073 -0.1% 0.23%
2072 -0.07% 0.25%
2071 -0.06% 0.24%
2070 -0.03% 0.25%
2069 -0.003% 0.25%
2068 0.02% 0.25%
2067 0.05% 0.24%
2066 0.07% 0.24%
2065 0.09% 0.23%
2064 0.12% 0.23%
2063 0.14% 0.23%
2062 0.17% 0.22%
2061 0.2% 0.21%
2060 0.22% 0.21%
2059 0.25% 0.22%
2058 0.28% 0.21%
2057 0.31% 0.2%
2056 0.33% 0.19%
2055 0.36% 0.2%
2054 0.4% 0.21%
2053 0.42% 0.21%
2052 0.45% 0.22%
2051 0.48% 0.23%
2050 0.5% 0.23%
2049 0.54% 0.24%
2048 0.56% 0.26%
2047 0.6% 0.26%
2046 0.62% 0.28%
2045 0.65% 0.29%
2044 0.67% 0.31%
2043 0.72% 0.33%
2042 0.74% 0.33%
2041 0.77% 0.35%
2040 0.8% 0.36%
2039 0.84% 0.38%
2038 0.87% 0.39%
2037 0.9% 0.39%
2036 0.93% 0.4%
2035 0.96% 0.42%
2034 0.99% 0.42%
2033 1.03% 0.43%
2032 1.07% 0.44%
2031 1.1% 0.45%
2030 1.14% 0.46%
2029 1.18% 0.48%
2028 1.22% 0.48%
2027 1.26% 0.49%
2026 1.31% 0.52%
2025 1.35% 0.49%
2024 1.37% 1.55%
2023 1.4% 0.49%
2022 1.42% 0.42%
2021 1.45% 0.11%
2020 1.5% 0.97%
2019 1.54% 0.46%
2018 1.57% 0.53%
2017 1.58% 0.63%
2016 1.58% 0.73%
2015 1.47% 0.74%
2014 1.39% 0.74%
2013 1.42% 0.7%
2012 1.44% 0.74%
2011 1.46% 0.73%
2010 1.48% 0.83%
2009 1.51% 0.88%
2008 1.53% 0.95%
2007 1.56% 0.96%
2006 1.6% 0.97%
2005 1.52% 0.93%
2004 1.47% 0.93%
2003 1.55% 0.86%
2002 1.62% 0.93%
2001 1.66% 0.99%
2000 1.69% 1.03%
1999 1.76% 1.15%
1998 1.87% 1.17%
1997 2.11% 1.2%
1996 2.36% 1.17%
1995 2.5% 1.18%
1994 2.65% 1.22%
1993 2.75% 1.31%
1992 2.81% 1.34%
1991 2.86% 1.34%
1990 2.89% 1.34%
1989 2.91% 0.95%
1988 2.91% 0.91%
1987 2.88% 0.9%
1986 2.85% 0.93%
1985 2.81% 0.89%
1984 2.73% 0.87%
1983 2.64% 0.92%
1982 2.48% 0.96%
1981 2.25% 1.29%
1980 1.99% 0.66%
1979 1.78% 1.11%
1978 1.69% 1.06%
1977 1.76% 1.01%
1976 1.97% 0.95%
1975 2.24% 0.99%
1974 2.41% 0.92%
1973 2.46% 0.96%
1972 2.45% 1.08%
1971 2.43% 1.27%
1970 2.41% 1.17%
1969 2.38% 0.98%
1968 2.36% 1%
1967 2.33% 1.09%
1966 2.31% 1.16%
1965 2.3% 1.26%
1964 2.28% 1.4%
1963 2.3% 1.45%
1962 2.31% 1.55%
1961 2.28% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/united-states | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Laos United States
Current population
8004838
344023146
Population rank 103/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 4.15%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
18.9 seconds
One birth every
3.22 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline +287 +4,586
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 134/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -10,645 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 134/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 1,230,663
2024 - -10,284 - 1,286,132
2023 115,359 -10,003 502,372 1,322,668
2022 116,620 -10,003 399,926 1,319,009
2021 115,323 -10,305 199,137 674,787
2020 118,609 -10,305 208,862 329,769
2019 119,797 -10,305 887,476 1,774,500
2018 119,986 -10,305 955,022 1,764,961
2017 120,515 -10,400 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 119,978 -11,401 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 118,723 -12,991 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 118,103 -26,881 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 119,845 -27,492 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 121,324 -28,871 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 122,863 -30,538 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 122,516 -30,046 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 122,174 -29,545 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 121,042 -28,318 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 119,980 -27,233 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 118,602 -25,286 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 118,165 -24,138 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 121,888 -40,120 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 122,158 -36,572 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 122,110 -33,595 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 123,847 -33,552 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 124,201 -33,965 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 127,255 -36,632 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 128,409 -33,997 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 130,388 -32,288 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 131,142 -16,574 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 132,241 -14,279 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 134,201 -11,782 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 135,295 -9,390 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 132,417 -7,502 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 129,523 -5,390 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 125,297 -3,100 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 121,044 -1,272 1,875,826 400,998
1988 117,050 -80 1,735,943 460,778
1987 113,005 0 1,720,252 480,815
1986 109,266 -475 1,656,917 493,082
1985 106,047 -1,376 1,689,258 598,777
1984 102,318 -2,698 1,627,192 622,793
1983 98,178 -4,108 1,636,544 662,840
1982 94,058 -6,184 1,714,317 600,149
1981 89,963 -11,061 1,652,153 583,070
1980 86,548 -17,339 1,608,450 595,916
1979 82,852 -23,317 1,597,894 503,559
1978 80,604 -27,208 1,402,283 556,521
1977 79,149 -26,908 1,431,556 577,060
1976 77,575 -21,738 1,264,604 635,590
1975 76,725 -13,858 1,252,644 655,078
1974 74,652 -6,000 1,218,968 706,978
1973 70,513 -774 1,165,499 783,163
1972 68,095 0 1,301,355 833,543
1971 65,959 0 1,640,519 833,549
1970 63,896 0 1,824,965 744,902
1969 61,595 0 1,702,487 523,740
1968 59,567 0 1,565,507 594,514
1967 57,763 0 1,669,181 585,410
1966 55,494 0 1,749,387 637,692
1965 54,268 0 1,943,030 644,902
1964 52,482 0 2,245,099 618,635
1963 51,056 0 2,289,826 639,495
1962 51,244 0 2,406,337 625,617
1961 48,992 0 2,571,681 580,333
1960 47,575 0 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/united-states | 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 the United States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
United States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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/united-states | 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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