Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Capital: Vientiane
Population: 7,664,993
Currency: Lao kip (LAK)
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar to the northwest. Its capital and largest city is Vientiane, located along the Mekong River. Laos is known for its mountainous terrain, dense forests, and biodiversity, including wildlife sanctuaries and UNESCO World Heritage sites like Luang Prabang. The country has a socialist government, with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party as the ruling party, and it remains one of the poorest countries in the region. The economy is based on agriculture, particularly rice, coffee, and cassava, along with mining and hydroelectric power. Laos is a member of the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
Growth Rate
1.375
%
Fertility Rate
2.421
children born/woman
Crude Death Rate
6.221
per 1,000 people
Life Expectancy
68.9
years
Total Population in Laos
This graph illustrates the total population of a country over time, while also depicting the sex ratio, which indicates the number of males per 100 females in the population.
Population Density
Population Growth Rate (%)
The population growth rate shows how fast a population is increasing or decreasing annually, influenced by birth rates, death rates, and migration in Laos.
Life Expectancy (Years)
Life expectancy indicates the average number of years a person is expected to live.
Median Age (Years)
Median age represents the midpoint of a population’s age distribution, helping to assess whether a population is young, aging, or balanced.
Infant Mortality
Infant mortality rate measures the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Net migration in 2023 (per 1000 people)
-1.305
(+0.018)
Net migration represents the difference between the number of people moving into a country and those leaving.
Fertility Rate
Fertility rate represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime
Births vs Deaths
This graph compares the number of births and deaths each year.
Crude Death Rate
Crude death rate measures the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Source
Data is sourced from The World Bank, the United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision), and other collated datasets, including national statistical offices, Eurostat (Demographic Statistics), and the United Nations Statistics Division (Population and Vital Statistics Report, various years).
Note: The information in the KPI is from 2023; any data beyond this year is an estimate from the United Nations.