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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,873,046 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,027,464 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 2.85 times bigger than Laos'.
  • Laos is ranked the 103rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.1% for Laos vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Laos has had an average growth rate of +1.47% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8.03M (34.6% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Laos vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Zambia
2100 9,340,510 65,204,593
2099 9,387,374 64,858,778
2098 9,433,309 64,503,193
2097 9,478,091 64,136,110
2096 9,521,914 63,764,760
2095 9,564,898 63,380,692
2094 9,607,314 62,980,254
2093 9,648,899 62,578,008
2092 9,689,414 62,163,693
2091 9,729,262 61,738,437
2090 9,767,923 61,309,330
2089 9,805,489 60,868,166
2088 9,841,933 60,422,781
2087 9,876,893 59,958,303
2086 9,910,678 59,487,524
2085 9,942,991 59,011,423
2084 9,973,375 58,524,337
2083 10,002,778 58,029,088
2082 10,030,306 57,527,347
2081 10,056,473 57,016,267
2080 10,080,959 56,495,299
2079 10,104,434 55,972,223
2078 10,126,099 55,438,864
2077 10,146,255 54,895,964
2076 10,163,547 54,350,375
2075 10,179,776 53,796,265
2074 10,194,216 53,236,297
2073 10,206,546 52,666,980
2072 10,216,287 52,090,884
2071 10,223,430 51,509,551
2070 10,229,612 50,921,590
2069 10,233,020 50,324,793
2068 10,233,371 49,727,689
2067 10,231,633 49,125,817
2066 10,226,448 48,520,891
2065 10,219,732 47,909,160
2064 10,210,382 47,290,430
2063 10,198,463 46,668,252
2062 10,184,239 46,039,755
2061 10,166,878 45,407,718
2060 10,146,829 44,768,534
2059 10,124,398 44,128,619
2058 10,098,721 43,485,891
2057 10,070,317 42,843,489
2056 10,039,482 42,198,591
2055 10,006,669 41,550,105
2054 9,970,363 40,898,440
2053 9,931,133 40,247,706
2052 9,889,162 39,596,094
2051 9,844,445 38,942,292
2050 9,797,566 38,287,070
2049 9,748,481 37,626,787
2048 9,695,755 36,964,032
2047 9,641,319 36,302,603
2046 9,584,097 35,638,852
2045 9,524,890 34,974,927
2044 9,462,921 34,310,227
2043 9,399,555 33,645,797
2042 9,332,795 32,984,164
2041 9,264,069 32,323,084
2040 9,193,691 31,658,029
2039 9,120,921 30,995,204
2038 9,044,658 30,329,691
2037 8,966,687 29,662,721
2036 8,886,908 28,994,556
2035 8,805,396 28,327,922
2034 8,721,979 27,665,749
2033 8,636,299 27,006,658
2032 8,548,097 26,351,393
2031 8,457,770 25,697,754
2030 8,365,427 25,050,285
2029 8,271,316 24,409,600
2028 8,174,975 23,776,128
2027 8,076,308 23,146,922
2026 7,975,876 22,525,308
2025 7,873,046 21,913,874
2024 7,769,819 21,314,956
2023 7,664,993 20,723,965
2022 7,559,007 20,152,938
2021 7,453,194 19,603,607
2020 7,346,533 19,059,395
2019 7,237,636 18,513,839
2018 7,128,045 17,973,569
2017 7,018,147 17,441,320
2016 6,908,802 16,914,423
2015 6,801,645 16,399,089
2014 6,703,172 15,895,315
2013 6,611,385 15,398,997
2012 6,518,978 14,913,629
2011 6,426,590 14,437,796
2010 6,334,194 13,965,594
2009 6,241,642 13,490,389
2008 6,148,969 13,021,324
2007 6,056,236 12,565,085
2006 5,963,200 12,129,553
2005 5,869,523 11,718,819
2004 5,781,626 11,338,198
2003 5,697,945 10,983,595
2002 5,610,889 10,647,949
2001 5,521,482 10,325,185
2000 5,431,212 10,017,631
1999 5,340,784 9,740,005
1998 5,248,266 9,482,408
1997 5,152,011 9,237,063
1996 5,045,678 9,004,053
1995 4,929,409 8,785,763
1994 4,809,220 8,576,269
1993 4,685,060 8,373,921
1992 4,559,646 8,176,680
1991 4,435,118 7,981,650
1990 4,311,955 7,786,169
1989 4,190,974 7,589,216
1988 4,072,601 7,391,440
1987 3,957,612 7,191,282
1986 3,846,715 6,986,471
1985 3,739,985 6,780,953
1984 3,637,843 6,580,490
1983 3,541,001 6,381,038
1982 3,450,026 6,178,637
1981 3,366,631 5,983,289
1980 3,292,573 5,802,833
1979 3,228,202 5,631,728
1978 3,171,740 5,465,374
1977 3,118,923 5,302,480
1976 3,064,876 5,143,842
1975 3,005,521 4,990,086
1974 2,939,761 4,842,746
1973 2,870,573 4,702,693
1972 2,801,660 4,569,309
1971 2,734,628 4,442,525
1970 2,669,702 4,321,718
1969 2,606,959 4,197,116
1968 2,546,377 4,065,593
1967 2,487,715 3,936,343
1966 2,431,084 3,812,003
1965 2,376,200 3,692,086
1964 2,322,826 3,577,017
1963 2,271,061 3,465,907
1962 2,219,910 3,358,099
1961 2,169,796 3,254,086
1960 2,121,514 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Laos increased by 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Laos gained 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Laos was ranked 104th most populous country in 2006 and is 103rd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Laos
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Laos Zambia
2100 -0.5% 0.53%
2099 -0.49% 0.55%
2098 -0.47% 0.57%
2097 -0.46% 0.58%
2096 -0.45% 0.61%
2095 -0.44% 0.64%
2094 -0.43% 0.64%
2093 -0.42% 0.67%
2092 -0.41% 0.69%
2091 -0.4% 0.7%
2090 -0.38% 0.72%
2089 -0.37% 0.74%
2088 -0.35% 0.77%
2087 -0.34% 0.79%
2086 -0.32% 0.81%
2085 -0.3% 0.83%
2084 -0.29% 0.85%
2083 -0.27% 0.87%
2082 -0.26% 0.9%
2081 -0.24% 0.92%
2080 -0.23% 0.93%
2079 -0.21% 0.96%
2078 -0.2% 0.99%
2077 -0.17% 1%
2076 -0.16% 1.03%
2075 -0.14% 1.05%
2074 -0.12% 1.08%
2073 -0.1% 1.11%
2072 -0.07% 1.13%
2071 -0.06% 1.15%
2070 -0.03% 1.19%
2069 -0.003% 1.2%
2068 0.02% 1.23%
2067 0.05% 1.25%
2066 0.07% 1.28%
2065 0.09% 1.31%
2064 0.12% 1.33%
2063 0.14% 1.37%
2062 0.17% 1.39%
2061 0.2% 1.43%
2060 0.22% 1.45%
2059 0.25% 1.48%
2058 0.28% 1.5%
2057 0.31% 1.53%
2056 0.33% 1.56%
2055 0.36% 1.59%
2054 0.4% 1.62%
2053 0.42% 1.65%
2052 0.45% 1.68%
2051 0.48% 1.71%
2050 0.5% 1.75%
2049 0.54% 1.79%
2048 0.56% 1.82%
2047 0.6% 1.86%
2046 0.62% 1.9%
2045 0.65% 1.94%
2044 0.67% 1.97%
2043 0.72% 2.01%
2042 0.74% 2.05%
2041 0.77% 2.1%
2040 0.8% 2.14%
2039 0.84% 2.19%
2038 0.87% 2.25%
2037 0.9% 2.3%
2036 0.93% 2.35%
2035 0.96% 2.39%
2034 0.99% 2.44%
2033 1.03% 2.49%
2032 1.07% 2.54%
2031 1.1% 2.58%
2030 1.14% 2.62%
2029 1.18% 2.66%
2028 1.22% 2.72%
2027 1.26% 2.76%
2026 1.31% 2.79%
2025 1.33% 2.81%
2024 1.37% 2.85%
2023 1.4% 2.83%
2022 1.42% 2.8%
2021 1.45% 2.86%
2020 1.5% 2.95%
2019 1.54% 3.01%
2018 1.57% 3.05%
2017 1.58% 3.12%
2016 1.58% 3.14%
2015 1.47% 3.17%
2014 1.39% 3.22%
2013 1.42% 3.25%
2012 1.44% 3.3%
2011 1.46% 3.38%
2010 1.48% 3.52%
2009 1.51% 3.6%
2008 1.53% 3.63%
2007 1.56% 3.59%
2006 1.6% 3.5%
2005 1.52% 3.36%
2004 1.47% 3.23%
2003 1.55% 3.15%
2002 1.62% 3.13%
2001 1.66% 3.07%
2000 1.69% 2.85%
1999 1.76% 2.72%
1998 1.87% 2.66%
1997 2.11% 2.59%
1996 2.36% 2.48%
1995 2.5% 2.44%
1994 2.65% 2.42%
1993 2.75% 2.41%
1992 2.81% 2.44%
1991 2.86% 2.51%
1990 2.89% 2.6%
1989 2.91% 2.68%
1988 2.91% 2.78%
1987 2.88% 2.93%
1986 2.85% 3.03%
1985 2.81% 3.05%
1984 2.73% 3.13%
1983 2.64% 3.28%
1982 2.48% 3.26%
1981 2.25% 3.11%
1980 1.99% 3.04%
1979 1.78% 3.04%
1978 1.69% 3.07%
1977 1.76% 3.08%
1976 1.97% 3.08%
1975 2.24% 3.04%
1974 2.41% 2.98%
1973 2.46% 2.92%
1972 2.45% 2.85%
1971 2.43% 2.8%
1970 2.41% 2.97%
1969 2.38% 3.24%
1968 2.36% 3.28%
1967 2.33% 3.26%
1966 2.31% 3.25%
1965 2.3% 3.22%
1964 2.28% 3.21%
1963 2.3% 3.21%
1962 2.31% 3.2%
1961 2.28% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Laos grew by 1.33%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Laos Zambia
Current population
8027464
22844606
Population rank 103/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.27%
One net population change
5.11 minutes
52.8 seconds
One birth every
3.23 minutes
45.2 seconds
One death every
10.9 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +283 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +103,227 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +1.33% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 76/197 19/197
One migration net change every
49.5 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -10,645 +6,562
Net migration rank 134/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 51,446 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 149/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.7% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 166/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Laos
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Laos Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -10,645 - 6,562
2024 114,574 -10,284 587,419 7,381
2023 115,359 -10,003 577,660 9,521
2022 116,620 -10,003 563,456 -8,566
2021 115,323 -10,305 535,629 8,143
2020 118,609 -10,305 536,484 8,156
2019 119,797 -10,305 528,089 18,385
2018 119,986 -10,305 515,644 18,431
2017 120,515 -10,400 504,630 25,789
2016 119,978 -11,401 497,521 25,860
2015 118,723 -12,991 491,021 16,261
2014 118,103 -26,881 483,663 16,574
2013 119,845 -27,492 476,846 15,542
2012 121,324 -28,871 469,406 8,958
2011 122,863 -30,538 459,743 13,569
2010 122,516 -30,046 448,337 22,761
2009 122,174 -29,545 434,458 44,867
2008 121,042 -28,318 419,560 39,249
2007 119,980 -27,233 403,729 49,945
2006 118,602 -25,286 387,891 29,517
2005 118,165 -24,138 368,756 35,316
2004 121,888 -40,120 349,352 7,819
2003 122,158 -36,572 331,189 20,845
2002 122,110 -33,595 316,041 3,206
2001 123,847 -33,552 302,682 23,582
2000 124,201 -33,965 293,186 -4,338
1999 127,255 -36,632 283,297 -16,888
1998 128,409 -33,997 275,568 -26,796
1997 130,388 -32,288 268,198 -26,276
1996 131,142 -16,574 262,468 -38,358
1995 132,241 -14,279 257,897 -45,423
1994 134,201 -11,782 252,023 -45,504
1993 135,295 -9,390 245,917 -47,739
1992 132,417 -7,502 239,953 -43,656
1991 129,523 -5,390 237,957 -44,203
1990 125,297 -3,100 235,835 -38,619
1989 121,044 -1,272 233,429 -36,736
1988 117,050 -80 230,118 -31,270
1987 113,005 0 227,813 -26,338
1986 109,266 -475 224,768 -16,610
1985 106,047 -1,376 221,351 -18,474
1984 102,318 -2,698 216,695 -18,652
1983 98,178 -4,108 212,712 -11,849
1982 94,058 -6,184 207,621 -3,676
1981 89,963 -11,061 202,822 -16,072
1980 86,548 -17,339 198,817 -24,664
1979 82,852 -23,317 197,578 -29,515
1978 80,604 -27,208 194,933 -30,284
1977 79,149 -26,908 191,557 -30,423
1976 77,575 -21,738 186,762 -30,612
1975 76,725 -13,858 182,258 -30,886
1974 74,652 -6,000 174,484 -31,178
1973 70,513 -774 168,258 -31,472
1972 68,095 0 161,648 -31,672
1971 65,959 0 155,249 -31,651
1970 63,896 0 149,380 -31,370
1969 61,595 0 142,660 -11,469
1968 59,567 0 137,315 -5,447
1967 57,763 0 131,938 -5,298
1966 55,494 0 127,164 -5,129
1965 54,268 0 122,814 -5,023
1964 52,482 0 117,197 -4,851
1963 51,056 0 114,555 -4,676
1962 51,244 0 110,173 -4,428
1961 48,992 0 106,318 -4,043
1960 47,575 0 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/laos/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 51,446 residents or 0.7% of the population were not native-born in Laos, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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