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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 100,987,686 people in Vietnam in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 102,365,351 in Vietnam.

Population statistics:

  • Vietnam's population is 12.8 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Vietnam is the 16th.
  • The countries together account for 1.33% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 1.24% for Vietnam.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.48% per year vs +0.99% in Vietnam.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Vietnam has grown from 82.2M to 102M (24.6% growth).

Laos vs Vietnam: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Vietnam
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Vietnam
2100 9,342,607 92,239,801
2099 9,389,481 92,735,968
2098 9,435,427 93,227,318
2097 9,480,219 93,703,343
2096 9,524,052 94,178,675
2095 9,567,045 94,640,859
2094 9,609,471 95,098,747
2093 9,651,065 95,558,233
2092 9,691,590 96,015,030
2091 9,731,446 96,474,248
2090 9,770,116 96,938,026
2089 9,807,690 97,399,661
2088 9,844,143 97,858,300
2087 9,879,110 98,324,127
2086 9,912,903 98,788,452
2085 9,945,223 99,249,444
2084 9,975,614 99,710,990
2083 10,005,023 100,178,339
2082 10,032,558 100,650,389
2081 10,058,731 101,120,279
2080 10,083,222 101,584,408
2079 10,106,703 102,046,677
2078 10,128,372 102,496,244
2077 10,148,533 102,944,347
2076 10,165,829 103,374,514
2075 10,182,062 103,799,405
2074 10,196,505 104,214,107
2073 10,208,837 104,623,307
2072 10,218,581 105,022,092
2071 10,225,726 105,401,255
2070 10,231,909 105,773,681
2069 10,235,317 106,126,787
2068 10,235,668 106,471,025
2067 10,233,930 106,811,324
2066 10,228,744 107,143,716
2065 10,222,027 107,459,475
2064 10,212,674 107,761,108
2063 10,200,753 108,055,355
2062 10,186,526 108,339,650
2061 10,169,161 108,607,597
2060 10,149,107 108,859,065
2059 10,126,671 109,104,391
2058 10,100,989 109,337,395
2057 10,072,578 109,546,926
2056 10,041,736 109,732,352
2055 10,008,916 109,903,830
2054 9,972,602 110,052,946
2053 9,933,363 110,173,868
2052 9,891,383 110,270,266
2051 9,846,656 110,338,539
2050 9,799,766 110,361,987
2049 9,750,669 110,356,819
2048 9,697,931 110,313,849
2047 9,643,484 110,228,852
2046 9,586,249 110,108,051
2045 9,527,029 109,943,449
2044 9,465,046 109,748,671
2043 9,401,665 109,514,717
2042 9,334,890 109,242,604
2041 9,266,149 108,936,706
2040 9,195,755 108,611,523
2039 9,122,969 108,254,640
2038 9,046,689 107,877,983
2037 8,968,700 107,480,286
2036 8,888,903 107,075,099
2035 8,807,373 106,647,378
2034 8,723,937 106,206,100
2033 8,638,238 105,762,219
2032 8,550,017 105,299,476
2031 8,459,669 104,826,346
2030 8,367,305 104,330,461
2029 8,273,173 103,835,790
2028 8,176,811 103,316,499
2027 8,078,122 102,775,814
2026 7,977,666 102,213,157
2025 7,874,813 101,614,413
2024 7,769,819 100,987,686
2023 7,664,993 100,352,192
2022 7,559,007 99,680,655
2021 7,453,194 98,935,098
2020 7,346,533 98,079,191
2019 7,237,636 97,173,776
2018 7,128,045 96,237,319
2017 7,018,147 95,176,977
2016 6,908,802 94,000,117
2015 6,801,645 92,823,254
2014 6,703,172 91,679,578
2013 6,611,385 90,573,104
2012 6,518,978 89,510,356
2011 6,426,590 88,468,314
2010 6,334,194 87,455,152
2009 6,241,642 86,460,018
2008 6,148,969 85,175,788
2007 6,056,236 83,633,375
2006 5,963,200 82,167,897
2005 5,869,523 81,088,313
2004 5,781,626 80,338,971
2003 5,697,945 79,563,777
2002 5,610,889 78,772,224
2001 5,521,482 77,969,361
2000 5,431,212 77,154,011
1999 5,340,784 76,287,452
1998 5,248,266 75,299,660
1997 5,152,011 74,226,889
1996 5,045,678 73,156,447
1995 4,929,409 72,049,940
1994 4,809,220 70,854,391
1993 4,685,060 69,586,384
1992 4,559,646 68,260,337
1991 4,435,118 66,891,775
1990 4,311,955 65,504,552
1989 4,190,974 64,147,348
1988 4,072,601 62,843,228
1987 3,957,612 61,584,651
1986 3,846,715 60,347,048
1985 3,739,985 59,060,622
1984 3,637,843 57,706,067
1983 3,541,001 56,337,921
1982 3,450,026 55,011,289
1981 3,366,631 53,738,141
1980 3,292,573 52,490,101
1979 3,228,202 51,378,211
1978 3,171,740 50,249,552
1977 3,118,923 48,954,872
1976 3,064,876 47,684,931
1975 3,005,521 46,482,903
1974 2,939,761 45,413,537
1973 2,870,573 44,409,861
1972 2,801,660 43,429,168
1971 2,734,628 42,449,276
1970 2,669,702 41,475,230
1969 2,606,959 40,582,096
1968 2,546,377 39,734,609
1967 2,487,715 38,895,080
1966 2,431,084 38,024,836
1965 2,376,200 37,129,656
1964 2,322,826 36,201,563
1963 2,271,061 35,249,101
1962 2,219,910 34,288,560
1961 2,169,796 33,409,059
1960 2,121,514 32,531,933

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/vietnam | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Vietnam gained 11,832,220 people (a 14.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Vietnam's population increased by 8,365,234 people (a 8.9% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Vietnam was ranked 15th in 2006 and ranked 16th 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 Vietnam will increase by 7.81% to 110,361,987 people and will still be ranked 16th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 110M people in 2050 for Vietnam.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Vietnam
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Vietnam
2100 -0.5% -0.54%
2099 -0.49% -0.53%
2098 -0.47% -0.51%
2097 -0.46% -0.5%
2096 -0.45% -0.49%
2095 -0.44% -0.48%
2094 -0.43% -0.48%
2093 -0.42% -0.48%
2092 -0.41% -0.48%
2091 -0.4% -0.48%
2090 -0.38% -0.47%
2089 -0.37% -0.47%
2088 -0.35% -0.47%
2087 -0.34% -0.47%
2086 -0.32% -0.46%
2085 -0.3% -0.46%
2084 -0.29% -0.47%
2083 -0.27% -0.47%
2082 -0.26% -0.46%
2081 -0.24% -0.46%
2080 -0.23% -0.45%
2079 -0.21% -0.44%
2078 -0.2% -0.44%
2077 -0.17% -0.42%
2076 -0.16% -0.41%
2075 -0.14% -0.4%
2074 -0.12% -0.39%
2073 -0.1% -0.38%
2072 -0.07% -0.36%
2071 -0.06% -0.35%
2070 -0.03% -0.33%
2069 -0.003% -0.32%
2068 0.02% -0.32%
2067 0.05% -0.31%
2066 0.07% -0.29%
2065 0.09% -0.28%
2064 0.12% -0.27%
2063 0.14% -0.26%
2062 0.17% -0.25%
2061 0.2% -0.23%
2060 0.22% -0.22%
2059 0.25% -0.21%
2058 0.28% -0.19%
2057 0.31% -0.17%
2056 0.33% -0.16%
2055 0.36% -0.14%
2054 0.4% -0.11%
2053 0.42% -0.09%
2052 0.45% -0.06%
2051 0.48% -0.02%
2050 0.5% 0.005%
2049 0.54% 0.04%
2048 0.56% 0.08%
2047 0.6% 0.11%
2046 0.62% 0.15%
2045 0.65% 0.18%
2044 0.67% 0.21%
2043 0.72% 0.25%
2042 0.74% 0.28%
2041 0.77% 0.3%
2040 0.8% 0.33%
2039 0.84% 0.35%
2038 0.87% 0.37%
2037 0.9% 0.38%
2036 0.93% 0.4%
2035 0.96% 0.42%
2034 0.99% 0.42%
2033 1.03% 0.44%
2032 1.07% 0.45%
2031 1.1% 0.48%
2030 1.14% 0.48%
2029 1.18% 0.5%
2028 1.22% 0.53%
2027 1.26% 0.55%
2026 1.31% 0.59%
2025 1.35% 0.62%
2024 1.37% 0.63%
2023 1.4% 0.67%
2022 1.42% 0.75%
2021 1.45% 0.87%
2020 1.5% 0.93%
2019 1.54% 0.97%
2018 1.57% 1.11%
2017 1.58% 1.25%
2016 1.58% 1.27%
2015 1.47% 1.25%
2014 1.39% 1.22%
2013 1.42% 1.19%
2012 1.44% 1.18%
2011 1.46% 1.16%
2010 1.48% 1.15%
2009 1.51% 1.51%
2008 1.53% 1.84%
2007 1.56% 1.78%
2006 1.6% 1.33%
2005 1.52% 0.93%
2004 1.47% 0.97%
2003 1.55% 1%
2002 1.62% 1.03%
2001 1.66% 1.06%
2000 1.69% 1.14%
1999 1.76% 1.31%
1998 1.87% 1.45%
1997 2.11% 1.46%
1996 2.36% 1.54%
1995 2.5% 1.69%
1994 2.65% 1.82%
1993 2.75% 1.94%
1992 2.81% 2.05%
1991 2.86% 2.12%
1990 2.89% 2.12%
1989 2.91% 2.08%
1988 2.91% 2.04%
1987 2.88% 2.05%
1986 2.85% 2.18%
1985 2.81% 2.35%
1984 2.73% 2.43%
1983 2.64% 2.41%
1982 2.48% 2.37%
1981 2.25% 2.38%
1980 1.99% 2.16%
1979 1.78% 2.25%
1978 1.69% 2.64%
1977 1.76% 2.66%
1976 1.97% 2.59%
1975 2.24% 2.35%
1974 2.41% 2.26%
1973 2.46% 2.26%
1972 2.45% 2.31%
1971 2.43% 2.35%
1970 2.41% 2.2%
1969 2.38% 2.13%
1968 2.36% 2.16%
1967 2.33% 2.29%
1966 2.31% 2.41%
1965 2.3% 2.56%
1964 2.28% 2.7%
1963 2.3% 2.8%
1962 2.31% 2.63%
1961 2.28% 2.7%

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/vietnam | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Vietnam's population grew by 0.63%.

Live population counters

Laos Vietnam
Current population
8004838
102365351
Population rank 103/197 16/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 1.24%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
49.6 seconds
One birth every
3.22 minutes
22.7 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
47.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline +287 +1,741
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +635,494
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +0.63%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 123/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
10.9 minutes
Annual migration change -10,645 -48,171
Net migration rank 134/196 174/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 326,418
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 95/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 185/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Vietnam
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Vietnam
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - -48,171
2024 - -10,284 - -59,645
2023 115,359 -10,003 727,955 -81,789
2022 116,620 -10,003 775,914 -78,977
2021 115,323 -10,305 799,593 -5,418
2020 118,609 -10,305 924,004 -6,457
2019 119,797 -10,305 895,262 -2,051
2018 119,986 -10,305 882,977 96,650
2017 120,515 -10,400 1,001,833 139,245
2016 119,978 -11,401 1,045,094 167,652
2015 118,723 -12,991 1,145,903 -4,888
2014 118,103 -26,881 1,151,221 -4,894
2013 119,845 -27,492 1,071,570 -4,979
2012 121,324 -28,871 1,063,741 -4,851
2011 122,863 -30,538 1,029,859 -4,602
2010 122,516 -30,046 1,005,559 -4,443
2009 122,174 -29,545 1,007,778 -18,560
2008 121,042 -28,318 1,008,141 571,113
2007 119,980 -27,233 981,689 523,784
2006 118,602 -25,286 943,041 482,399
2005 118,165 -24,138 942,084 -208,337
2004 121,888 -40,120 985,438 -220,458
2003 122,158 -36,572 1,001,470 -216,062
2002 122,110 -33,595 991,427 -193,766
2001 123,847 -33,552 985,610 -177,586
2000 124,201 -33,965 966,894 -144,298
1999 127,255 -36,632 925,519 -15,010
1998 128,409 -33,997 959,016 106,091
1997 130,388 -32,288 1,028,116 52,382
1996 131,142 -16,574 1,108,686 -48,235
1995 132,241 -14,279 1,203,666 -51,147
1994 134,201 -11,782 1,291,534 -53,012
1993 135,295 -9,390 1,370,365 -72,931
1992 132,417 -7,502 1,419,952 -65,285
1991 129,523 -5,390 1,459,311 -76,829
1990 125,297 -3,100 1,449,157 -57,221
1989 121,044 -1,272 1,423,622 -101,113
1988 117,050 -80 1,370,108 -84,361
1987 113,005 0 1,359,481 -128,095
1986 109,266 -475 1,407,957 -164,183
1985 106,047 -1,376 1,453,954 -124,910
1984 102,318 -2,698 1,477,448 -97,339
1983 98,178 -4,108 1,453,913 -97,706
1982 94,058 -6,184 1,407,959 -110,901
1981 89,963 -11,061 1,358,500 -109,259
1980 86,548 -17,339 1,321,595 -74,791
1979 82,852 -23,317 1,314,563 -337,597
1978 80,604 -27,208 1,286,991 -6,592
1977 79,149 -26,908 1,259,315 49,655
1976 77,575 -21,738 1,232,608 -1,733
1975 76,725 -13,858 1,175,181 -2,010
1974 74,652 -6,000 1,000,505 -34,940
1973 70,513 -774 1,061,707 -19,937
1972 68,095 0 921,524 -1,920
1971 65,959 0 963,259 76,961
1970 63,896 0 905,902 1,997
1969 61,595 0 878,359 0
1968 59,567 0 815,116 1,489
1967 57,763 0 862,071 394
1966 55,494 0 876,283 1,769
1965 54,268 0 913,761 -1,438
1964 52,482 0 950,219 -6,328
1963 51,056 0 961,067 0
1962 51,244 0 960,046 0
1961 48,992 0 798,978 0
1960 47,575 0 955,268 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/vietnam | 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 Vietnam 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,349,756 people) and 2.29% is from migration (a gain of 219,073 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 326,418 people or 0.3% in Vietnam.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Vietnam
City Population
Ho Chi Minh 14M
Hanoi 8.72M
Can Tho 3.21M
Da Nang 2.82M
Haiphong 2.12M
Bien Hoa 1.1M
Hue 653K
Bac Ninh 520K
Hai Duong 507K
Vinh 490K

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/vietnam | 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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