Laos
World Bank name: Lao PDR
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Region
- East Asia & Pacific
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 7.9 million (2025)
At a glance
- Prices in Laos rose 7.7% in 2025, faster than in most countries.
- Laos' economy grew 4.5% in 2025, faster than most economies.
- Output per person in Laos was US$2,325 in 2025, lower than in most countries.
- 1.2% of Laos' labour force had no job in 2025, a lower share than in most countries.
- Laos had 7.9 million people in 2025: about less than 0.1% of everyone on Earth, the 102nd largest population of 217 countries and territories.
- Laos had a current account surplus of 11.1% of GDP in 2025, higher than in most countries.
Inflation
2025Consumer prices, change over the year (yearly average)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Laos | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7.7% | 3.0% |
| 2024 | 23.1% | 3.0% |
| 2023 | 31.2% | 5.7% |
| 2022 | 23.0% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 3.8% | 3.5% |
| 2020 | 5.1% | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | 2.2% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | 2.3% |
| 2016 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
Economic growth
2025Real GDP, change over the year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Laos | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4.5% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 4.1% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | 4.3% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | 5.1% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | −3.8% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | 3.2% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 7.0% | 3.1% |
GDP per person
2025GDP divided by population, in US dollars at current prices
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Laos | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US$2,325 | US$7,882 |
| 2024 | US$2,124 | US$7,853 |
| 2023 | US$2,067 | US$7,862 |
| 2022 | US$2,046 | US$7,656 |
| 2021 | US$2,526 | US$7,269 |
| 2020 | US$2,584 | US$6,433 |
| 2019 | US$2,589 | US$7,037 |
| 2018 | US$2,545 | US$6,978 |
| 2017 | US$2,432 | US$6,548 |
| 2016 | US$2,303 | US$5,982 |
Unemployment
2025Share of the labour force without a job (ILO modelled estimate)
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Laos | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.2% | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 1.2% | 5.3% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 2.4% | 6.4% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | 5.4% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | 5.4% |
| 2017 | 3.3% | 5.6% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | 5.9% |
Population
2025Everyone living in the country, mid-year
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Laos |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 7.9 million |
| 2024 | 7.8 million |
| 2023 | 7.7 million |
| 2022 | 7.6 million |
| 2021 | 7.5 million |
| 2020 | 7.3 million |
| 2019 | 7.2 million |
| 2018 | 7.1 million |
| 2017 | 7.0 million |
| 2016 | 6.9 million |
Current account balance, % of GDP
Since 2000
Show the numbers
| Year | Laos | World median |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11.1% | −0.8% |
| 2024 | 3.2% | −1.3% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | −1.2% |
| 2022 | −3.0% | −3.0% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | −2.4% |
| 2020 | −1.6% | −1.7% |
| 2019 | −7.0% | −2.1% |
| 2018 | −9.1% | −2.9% |
| 2017 | −7.4% | −2.1% |
| 2016 | −8.7% | −2.8% |
No recent World Bank figure for Laos: government debt.
About these figures
All numbers are yearly. The world median is the middle value of all countries with a figure for the same year: half of them are above it and half below. Sparklines show Laos since 2000 or since its first figure.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), updated 2026-10-08. Original sources: Inflation: International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics; Economic growth: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; GDP per person: national statistical offices and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates; Unemployment: International Labour Organization, ILO modelled estimates (ILOSTAT); Population: United Nations Population Division (World Population Prospects) and national statistical offices; Current account balance: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments Statistics, with World Bank and OECD data. Yearly figures; recent years are often revised. All sources and terms.