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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Laos was 7,769,819 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Laos' population is 8,004,838 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 2.84 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 +1.48% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Laos has increased from 5.96M people to 8M (34.2% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Laos vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Laos
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Laos Zambia
2100 9,342,607 65,217,429
2099 9,389,481 64,871,545
2098 9,435,427 64,515,891
2097 9,480,219 64,148,736
2096 9,524,052 63,777,313
2095 9,567,045 63,393,169
2094 9,609,471 62,992,652
2093 9,651,065 62,590,327
2092 9,691,590 62,175,930
2091 9,731,446 61,750,591
2090 9,770,116 61,321,399
2089 9,807,690 60,880,148
2088 9,844,143 60,434,676
2087 9,879,110 59,970,107
2086 9,912,903 59,499,234
2085 9,945,223 59,023,040
2084 9,975,614 58,535,857
2083 10,005,023 58,040,512
2082 10,032,558 57,538,672
2081 10,058,731 57,027,491
2080 10,083,222 56,506,421
2079 10,106,703 55,983,242
2078 10,128,372 55,449,777
2077 10,148,533 54,906,771
2076 10,165,829 54,361,075
2075 10,182,062 53,806,856
2074 10,196,505 53,246,777
2073 10,208,837 52,677,348
2072 10,218,581 52,101,139
2071 10,225,726 51,519,691
2070 10,231,909 50,931,614
2069 10,235,317 50,334,700
2068 10,235,668 49,737,479
2067 10,233,930 49,135,488
2066 10,228,744 48,530,443
2065 10,222,027 47,918,592
2064 10,212,674 47,299,740
2063 10,200,753 46,677,439
2062 10,186,526 46,048,819
2061 10,169,161 45,416,657
2060 10,149,107 44,777,347
2059 10,126,671 44,137,306
2058 10,100,989 43,494,451
2057 10,072,578 42,851,923
2056 10,041,736 42,206,898
2055 10,008,916 41,558,284
2054 9,972,602 40,906,492
2053 9,933,363 40,255,629
2052 9,891,383 39,603,888
2051 9,846,656 38,949,958
2050 9,799,766 38,294,607
2049 9,750,669 37,634,194
2048 9,697,931 36,971,309
2047 9,643,484 36,309,749
2046 9,586,249 35,645,868
2045 9,527,029 34,981,812
2044 9,465,046 34,316,981
2043 9,401,665 33,652,420
2042 9,334,890 32,990,657
2041 9,266,149 32,329,447
2040 9,195,755 31,664,262
2039 9,122,969 31,001,305
2038 9,046,689 30,335,662
2037 8,968,700 29,668,561
2036 8,888,903 29,000,264
2035 8,807,373 28,333,498
2034 8,723,937 27,671,195
2033 8,638,238 27,011,974
2032 8,550,017 26,356,580
2031 8,459,669 25,702,812
2030 8,367,305 25,055,216
2029 8,273,173 24,414,405
2028 8,176,811 23,780,809
2027 8,078,122 23,151,479
2026 7,977,666 22,529,742
2025 7,874,813 21,918,187
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Laos was ranked 105th 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 22.4% to 9,799,766 people with a rank change from 103rd to 99th. The population of Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 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 1.35% 2.83%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Laos grew by 1.37%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Laos Zambia
Current population
8004838
22697916
Population rank 103/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.1% 0.27%
One net population change
5.01 minutes
53.4 seconds
One birth every
3.22 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
11 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +287 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +104,826 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +1.37% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 77/197 21/197
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 - -10,284 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/laos/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 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 (1960–2024, 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/zambia | 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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