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Lao PDR

LAOEast Asia & PacificLower middle incomeCapital: Vientiane
Economy
Fiscal
People
Health
Education
Trade
Energy / Env
Tech
Governance
Equality
Infra
Labor
71/80 indicators · percentile vs world (IMF / WB / WHO)underover
GDP
$18.96B
2026▲ 6.4%
Population
7.9M
2025▲ 1.3%
GDP per Capita
$2,403
2026▲ 5.0%
Life Expectancy
69.2 years
2024▲ 0.4%
Lao PDR in world space2000–2024
1k10k100k505560657075808590GDP per capita (USD, log)Life expectancy (years)20002024
192 countries · log scale on X world Lao PDR· trajectory line: 1980 → today
▶About Lao PDR

Lao PDR's GDP is $18.96B (2026), with a population of 7.9M, and GDP per capita of $2,403. Key indicators include real GDP growth of 4.0%, inflation at 9.6%, government debt at 74.6% of GDP, life expectancy of 69.2 years. Data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.

▶Economy25 indicators · 2021–2026 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
GDP (Current USD)$18.96B2026▲ 6.4%IMF
Real GDP Growth (%)4.0%2026▼ 16.7%IMF
GDP per Capita (USD)$2,4032026▲ 5.0%IMF
GDP, PPP (Intl $)$86.49B2026▲ 7.0%IMF
GDP per Capita, PPP (Intl $)$10,9642026▲ 5.6%IMF
Share of World GDP, PPP (%)0.04%2026▲ 2.6%IMF
GNI (Current USD)$17.28B2025▲ 11.8%WB
GNI per Capita, Atlas Method (Current US$)$2,1502025▲ 7.5%WB
GNI per Capita, PPP (Current Intl $)$9,8002025▲ 6.9%WB
Industry Value Added (% of GDP)29.2%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Services Value Added (% of GDP)43.6%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Agriculture Value Added (% of GDP)16.6%2025▼ 0.9%WB
GDP Deflator Inflation (Annual %)7.5%2025▼ 46.3%WB
GDP per Employed Person (Constant 2021 PPP $)$19,3662025▲ 2.5%WB
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)9.1%2025▲ 0.7%WB
Medium/High-Tech Manufacturing (% of total)3.8%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Adjusted Net National Income per Capita (USD)$1,8382021—WB
Mineral Rents (% of GDP)3.89%2021—WB
Oil Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Natural Gas Rents (% of GDP)0.00%2021—WB
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)5.4%2021—WB
Forest Rents (% of GDP)1.49%2021—WB
Industry Value Added (Current USD)$5.34B2025▲ 11.4%WB
GDP per Capita, PPP (Constant 2021 Intl $)$8,8732025▲ 3.2%WB
GDP per Capita (Constant 2015 US$)$2,8072025▲ 3.2%WB
▶Fiscal & Monetary16 indicators · 2022–2026 · IMF / WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Inflation, Consumer Prices (%)9.6%2026▲ 24.7%IMF
Govt Gross Debt (% of GDP)74.6%2026▼ 7.4%IMF
Fiscal Balance (% of GDP)0.4%2026▼ 75.0%IMF
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)0.2%2026▼ 98.2%IMF
Inflation, CPI (%, World Bank)7.7%2025▼ 66.5%WB
Government Revenue Excluding Grants (% of GDP)13.9%2022▲ 8.5%WB
Government Expense (% of GDP)10.3%2022▼ 4.2%WB
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)12.1%2022▲ 16.6%WB
Taxes on Goods & Services (% of revenue)53.9%2022▲ 9.2%WB
Taxes on International Trade (% of revenue)8.1%2022▲ 81.5%WB
Taxes on Income, Profits & Capital Gains (% of rev)19.3%2022▲ 23.9%WB
Net Investment in Nonfinancial Assets (% of GDP)4.3%2022▼ 8.2%WB
Total Reserves incl. Gold (USD)$2.21B2024▲ 25.0%WB
Total Reserves (months of imports)2.42024▲ 10.4%WB
Official Exchange Rate (per USD)20,167.332024▲ 14.0%WB
PPP Conversion Factor4,577.462025▲ 4.6%WB
▶Trade10 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Merchandise Exports (USD)$12.38B2025▲ 31.9%WB
Merchandise Imports (USD)$10.34B2025▲ 19.4%WB
FDI Inflows (% of GDP)6.0%2024▼ 46.7%WB
FDI Outflows (% of GDP)0.0%2022—WB
FDI Net Inflows (USD)$988.5M2024▼ 44.5%WB
Personal Remittances Received (USD)$246.6M2024▼ 14.1%WB
Personal Remittances Received (% of GDP)1.5%2024▼ 17.6%WB
High-Tech Exports (% of manufactured)7.4%2023▼ 22.0%WB
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)3.2%2024▲ 26.1%WB
Current Account Balance (USD)$531.4M2024▲ 31.4%WB
▶External Debt7 indicators · 2023–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
External Debt (% of GNI)115.4%2024▼ 6.1%WB
External Debt Stocks (USD)$17.84B2024▼ 1.2%WB
Total Debt Service (% of GNI)13.8%2024▲ 61.6%WB
Present Value of External Debt (USD)$8.60B2024—WB
Use of IMF Credit (USD)$198.3M2024▼ 2.8%WB
Net ODA Received (% of GNI)3.5%2023▼ 8.3%WB
Net ODA Received (USD)$514.8M2023▼ 5.9%WB
▶Finance4 indicators · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Financial Institution or Mobile-Money Account Ownership (Age 15+, %)37.7%2024▲ 0.9%WB
Account Ownership, Female (%)43.6%2024▲ 15.1%WB
Account Ownership, Male (%)31.7%2024▼ 13.7%WB
Firms Using Banks to Finance Investment (%)17.7%2024—WB
▶Business Environment1 indicator · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Time to Get Electricity (days)242024—WB
▶Private Sector6 indicators · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Firms Expected to Pay Bribes (%)26.4%2024—WB
Firms with Female Participation in Ownership (%)50.0%2024—WB
Firms with a Female Top Manager (%)50.7%2024—WB
Firms Offering Training (%)34.1%2024—WB
Time to Obtain an Operating License (days)202024—WB
Firms Competing with Unregistered Firms (%)49.5%2024—WB
▶People23 indicators · 2023–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Population7.9M2025▲ 1.3%WB
Population Growth (%)1.3%2025▼ 2.8%WB
Population Density (per km²)332023▲ 1.4%WB
Surface Area (sq km)236,8002023▲ 0.0%WB
Land Area (sq km)230,8002023▲ 0.0%WB
Urban Population (%)40.3%2025▲ 1.9%WB
Urban Population (total)3.2M2025▲ 3.3%WB
Rural Population (%)59.7%2025▼ 1.3%WB
Life Expectancy at Birth69.2 years2024▲ 0.4%WB
Life Expectancy, Male67.0 years2024▲ 0.4%WB
Life Expectancy, Female71.5 years2024▲ 0.4%WB
Fertility Rate (births per woman)2.42024▼ 1.0%WB
Birth Rate (per 1,000)20.92024▼ 1.6%WB
Death Rate (per 1,000)6.22024▼ 0.5%WB
Net Migration-10,6452025▼ 3.5%WB
Population Ages 0–14 (%)29.8%2025▼ 1.2%WB
Population Ages 15–64 (%)65.4%2025▲ 0.3%WB
Population Ages 65+ (%)4.8%2025▲ 3.0%WB
Age Dependency Ratio (%)53.0%2025▼ 1.0%WB
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (%)7.4%2025▲ 2.7%WB
Youth Dependency Ratio (%)45.7%2025▼ 1.5%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Male (per 1,000)198.32024▼ 1.2%WB
Mortality Rate, Adult Female (per 1,000)134.12024▼ 1.7%WB
▶Labor20 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Total Labor Force3.7M2025▲ 2.0%WB
Labor Force Participation (%)66.1%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Female Labor Force Participation (%)61.6%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Male Labor Force Participation (%)70.6%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Unemployment (%)1.2%2025▲ 1.1%WB
Female Unemployment (%)0.9%2025▲ 5.2%WB
Male Unemployment (%)1.4%2025▼ 1.0%WB
Youth Unemployment (%)2.4%2025▲ 9.5%WB
Employment in Agriculture (%)68.6%2025▼ 0.5%WB
Employment in Industry (%)7.4%2025▲ 0.2%WB
Employment in Services (%)24.0%2025▲ 1.3%WB
Labor Force Participation, Age 15+ (National Estimate, %)66.0%2022—WB
Vulnerable Employment (%)76.4%2025▼ 0.3%WB
Wage & Salaried Workers (% of total)22.9%2025▲ 1.1%WB
Part-Time Employment (%)14.4%2022—WB
Employers (% of total employment)0.8%2025▲ 0.4%WB
Labor Force, Female (% of total)46.7%2025▲ 0.0%WB
Employment to Population Ratio (%)65.3%2025▲ 0.1%WB
Self-Employed (% of total)77.1%2025▼ 0.3%WB
NEET Youth (% not in education/employment)22.5%2022—WB
▶Education21 indicators · 2014–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Education Spending (% of GDP)1.2%2023▼ 15.5%WB
Education Spending (% of govt expenditure)8.2%2024▼ 15.9%WB
Adult Literacy Rate (%)75.6%2023—WB
Female Literacy Rate (%)66.7%2023—WB
Male Literacy Rate (%)85.1%2023▼ 5.3%WB
Youth Literacy Rate (%)90.4%2023▼ 3.7%WB
Primary School Enrollment (%)93.1%2025▼ 0.8%WB
Secondary School Enrollment (%)50.5%2025▼ 2.5%WB
Tertiary School Enrollment (%)14.9%2023▲ 8.8%WB
Primary Completion Rate (%)85.2%2025▼ 2.3%WB
Lower Secondary Completion Rate (%)49.3%2025▼ 3.4%WB
Out-of-School Children, Primary82,2732025▲ 0.9%WB
Out-of-School Girls, Primary40,4812025▼ 0.6%WB
Primary School Teachers21,8452025▼ 8.6%WB
Secondary School Teachers35,5842022▼ 3.2%WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Primary222018—WB
Pupil-Teacher Ratio, Secondary182018—WB
Primary Education Spending (% of Education Budget)40.6%2014—WB
Persistence to Last Primary Grade (% of Cohort)82.1%2019—WB
Secondary Education Spending (% of Education Budget)38.6%2014—WB
Tertiary Education Spending (% of Education Budget)13.8%2014—WB
▶Health51 indicators · 2020–2025 · WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Health Spending (% of GDP)1.3%2023▼ 34.3%WHO
Health Spending per Capita (USD)$272023▼ 33.7%WHO
Government Health Spending (% of GDP)0.5%2023▼ 15.7%WHO
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending (% of total)44.8%2023▲ 56.3%WHO
Physicians (per 1,000 people)0.32022▲ 1.8%WHO
Nurses & Midwives (per 1,000)12023—WHO
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)1.72023▲ 32.6%WHO
Under-5 Mortality (per 1,000 live births)29.42024▼ 3.6%WHO
Neonatal Mortality (per 1,000)13.12024▼ 3.7%WHO
Maternal Mortality (per 100,000)1122023▼ 6.7%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Female (per 1,000)25.62024▼ 3.4%WHO
Under-5 Mortality, Male (per 1,000)32.92024▼ 3.8%WHO
Communicable, Maternal, Prenatal & Nutrition Causes (% of Deaths)27.0%2021—WHO
Cause of Death, Non-Communicable (%)62.9%2021▼ 6.7%WHO
Cause of Death, Injury (%)7.8%2021—WHO
Measles Immunization (% of children)69.0%2024▲ 0.0%WHO
DPT Immunization (% of children)67.0%2024▼ 9.5%WHO
HIV Incidence (per 1,000)0.162024▼ 5.9%WHO
Tuberculosis Incidence (per 100,000)1272024▼ 3.8%WHO
Stunting, Children Under 5 (%)32.8%2023—WHO
Overweight, Children Under 5 (%)2.8%2023—WHO
Current Tobacco Use, Male Adults (%)42.5%2024▼ 2.3%WHO
Current Tobacco Use, Female Adults (%)8.3%2024▼ 4.6%WHO
Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)4.62021▲ 15.7%WHO
Alcohol Consumption (liters per capita)10.82020—WHO
Life Expectancy at Birth (WHO)68.231894072021—WHO
Remaining Life Expectancy at Age 60 (WHO)17.184711522021—WHO
Healthy Life Expectancy at Birth (HALE)60.411803022021—WHO
Infant Mortality, Under Age 1 (WHO)27.1623402762024—WHO
Under-5 Mortality (WHO)29.3500559642024—WHO
Neonatal Mortality, 0–27 Days (WHO)13.1213628292024—WHO
Maternal Deaths (WHO Estimates)182.85495192023—WHO
Estimated Tuberculosis Incidence (WHO)1272024—WHO
TB Mortality, Excluding HIV (per 100K)8.22024—WHO
People Living with HIV230002025—WHO
Malaria Deaths (WHO Estimates)02024—WHO
Estimated Malaria Incidence (WHO)0.1330722682024—WHO
Diabetes Prevalence, Age 18+ (age-standardized, %)11.4962672022—WHO
DTP3 Immunization Coverage (WHO/UNICEF)672025—WHO
Measles First-Dose Coverage (MCV1, WHO/UNICEF)582025—WHO
Hepatitis B Three-Dose Coverage (HepB3, WHO/UNICEF)672025—WHO
Physicians (total)2,9302024▲ 17.0%WHO
Nursing & Midwifery Personnel10,6012024▲ 34.7%WHO
Dentists (total)6352024—WHO
Pharmacists (total)2,3122024—WHO
Child Wasting, Under 5 (survey, %)10.72023—WHO
Child Stunting, Under 5 (survey, %)32.82023—WHO
Child Underweight, Under 5 (survey, %)24.32023—WHO
UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1)642023—WHO
Road Traffic Death Rate (per 100K)16.42021—WHO
Current Health Expenditure per Capita (WHO, US$)27.417736052023—WHO
▶Energy & Environment17 indicators · 2021–2025 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
CO₂ Emissions per Capita, Excluding LULUCF (t CO2e)3.42024▼ 0.1%WB
CO₂ Emissions, Excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e)262024▲ 1.2%WB
Energy Use (kg oil eq. per capita)8812023▲ 4.0%WB
Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita)1,6652023▲ 31.7%WB
Renewable Electricity Output (%)63.3%2021—WB
Renewable Energy Consumption (%)49.2%2022▼ 4.5%WB
Access to Electricity (%)96.5%2024▲ 0.0%WB
Access to Clean Fuels for Cooking (%)11.1%2023▲ 7.8%WB
PM2.5 Air Pollution (µg/m³)262023▲ 2.5%WB
Forest Area (%)71.5%2023▼ 0.2%WB
Forest Area (sq km)164,9202023▼ 0.2%WB
Arable Land (%)5.3%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas (%)18.8%2025▲ 0.0%WB
Access to Basic Drinking Water (%)95.9%2024▲ 3.5%WHO
Access to Basic Sanitation (%)88.7%2024▲ 2.0%WHO
Urban PM2.5 Concentration (WHO)26.8846693122023—WHO
Air Pollution Mortality (household + ambient, age-standardized)192.5582021—WHO
▶Agriculture11 indicators · 2022–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Agricultural Land (%)9.9%2023▲ 1.2%WB
Cereal Yield (kg per hectare)4,1962024▲ 2.3%WB
Food Production Index (2014–2016=100)114.82022▲ 6.9%WB
Crop Production Index (2014–2016=100)113.72022▲ 8.7%WB
Livestock Production Index (2014–2016=100)183.22022▲ 1.1%WB
Land Under Cereal Production (hectares)1.0M2024▼ 4.3%WB
Total Fisheries Production (metric tonnes)78,7952024▲ 3.0%WB
Fertilizer Consumption (kg per hectare)77.42023▲ 33.2%WB
Agricultural Irrigated Land (%)19.3%2023▼ 1.2%WB
Annual Freshwater Withdrawals (% of internal)3.9%2022▲ 0.0%WB
Cereal Production (metric tons)4.3M2024▼ 2.1%WB
▶Technology10 indicators · 2018–2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Internet Users (%)65.6%2024▲ 1.9%WB
Mobile Subscriptions (per 100 people)652023▲ 2.2%WB
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions (per 100)2.72023▲ 14.2%WB
Secure Internet Servers (per million)301.72024▲ 10.1%WB
Patent Applications, Residents12018—WB
Patent Applications, Non-Residents582018—WB
Scientific Journal Articles722023▼ 12.6%WB
High-Technology Exports (USD)$147.0M2023▼ 28.1%WB
ICT Service Exports (% of service exports)3.5%2024▼ 53.6%WB
ICT Service Exports (USD)$60.8M2024▼ 39.4%WB
▶Infrastructure5 indicators · 2021–2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Air Transport, Passengers Carried842,2802023▲ 82.4%WB
Air Transport, Freight (million ton-km)11.72022—WB
Logistics Performance Index (1–5)2.402022—WB
Electricity from Oil (%)0.0%2021—WB
Electricity from Nuclear (%)0.0%2021—WB
▶Gender8 indicators · 2018–2025 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Women in Parliament (%)22.0%2025▲ 0.0%WB
Female Labor Force Participation, 15+ (%)61.5%2022—WB
Female Wage & Salaried Workers (%)18.2%2025▲ 1.5%WB
Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Female (%)100.1%2018—WB
Adolescent Fertility Rate (per 1,000)81.92024▲ 0.3%WB
Gross Intake to First Primary Grade, Total (%)102.2%2018—WB
Gender Parity Index, Secondary0.952021—WB
Gender Parity in Primary Education0.972021▲ 0.5%WB
▶Governance10 indicators · 2023 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Control of Corruption-0.972023▼ 0.8%WB
Government Effectiveness-0.642023▼ 7.7%WB
Political Stability0.812023▲ 3.2%WB
Regulatory Quality-0.932023▲ 6.0%WB
Rule of Law-0.832023▼ 3.5%WB
Voice & Accountability-1.632023▲ 1.6%WB
Control of Corruption (percentile rank)19.8%2023▲ 0.0%WB
Government Effectiveness (percentile rank)28.3%2023▼ 7.7%WB
Rule of Law (percentile rank)22.6%2023▼ 4.0%WB
Political Stability (percentile rank)75.4%2023▲ 1.8%WB
▶Military2 indicators · 2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Armed Forces Personnel129,0002020—WB
Armed Forces (% of labor force)4.1%2020—WB
▶Poverty & Inequality12 indicators · 2024 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Poverty at $3.00/day (2021 PPP, %)7.1%2024—WB
Poverty at $4.20/day (2021 PPP, %)22.5%2024—WB
Poverty at $8.30/day (2021 PPP, %)70.3%2024—WB
Poverty Headcount, National (%)15.0%2024—WB
Gini Index34.72024—WB
Income Share, Top 10%28.5%2024—WB
Income Share, Bottom 10%3.3%2024—WB
Income Share, Top 20%43.1%2024—WB
Income Share, Bottom 20%7.9%2024—WB
Growth in Survey Mean Income or Consumption, Total Population (%)1.6%2024—WB
Survey Mean Income or Consumption (2021 PPP $/person/day)7.882024—WB
Poverty Gap at $3.00/day (2021 PPP, %)1.5%2024—WB
▶Social Protection4 indicators · 2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Human Capital Index (0–1)0.462020—WB
Human Capital Index, Female0.472020—WB
Human Capital Index, Male0.452020—WB
Learning-Adjusted Years of School6.3 years2020—WB
▶Tourism6 indicators · 2020 · WB
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
International Tourism, Arrivals886,4002020—WB
International Tourism, Departures707,0002020—WB
Tourism Receipts (USD)$227.0M2020—WB
Tourism Expenditures (USD)$260.0M2020—WB
Tourism Receipts (% of total exports)3.5%2020—WB
International Tourism, Transport Services (USD)$14.0M2020—WB
▶Urban Development7 indicators · 2022–2025 · WB / WHO
IndicatorValueYearΔ YoYSrc
Urban Population Growth (%)3.2%2025▼ 1.5%WB
Population in Largest City755,9412025▲ 2.5%WB
Population in Largest City (% of urban)23.8%2025▼ 0.8%WB
Population in Slums (% of urban)54.8%2022▲ 151.6%WB
Rural Population Growth (%)0.1%2025▼ 54.5%WB
Access to Safely Managed Drinking Water (%)35.2%2024▲ 8.6%WHO
Access to Safely Managed Sanitation (%)71.4%2024▲ 2.1%WHO

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