Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) in Laos
Laos: Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) was 17,689 LCU per US$, period average in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
17,689 LCU per US$, period average
Change on year
up 26.0%
World rank
5th
of 209 countries
All-time high
17,689 LCU per US$, period average
in 2023
All-time low
10 LCU per US$, period average
in 1980
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Official exchange rate in Laos, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in LCU per US$, period average.
Analysis
In 2023, official exchange rate in Laos stood at 17,689 LCU per US$, period average. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of up 26.0% on the previous year and up 125.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, official exchange rate in Laos peaked at 17,689 LCU per US$, period average in 2023 and was at its lowest, 10 LCU per US$, period average, in 1980.
Laos ranks 5th of 209 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) in Laos, year by year
| Year | LCU per US$, period average | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 240 LCU per US$, period average | — |
| 1971 | 240 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 510 LCU per US$, period average | +112.5% |
| 1973 | 600 LCU per US$, period average | +17.6% |
| 1974 | 600 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 725 LCU per US$, period average | +20.8% |
| 1976 | 429.17 LCU per US$, period average | -40.8% |
| 1977 | 200 LCU per US$, period average | -53.4% |
| 1978 | 333.33 LCU per US$, period average | +66.7% |
| 1979 | 367.5 LCU per US$, period average | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 10 LCU per US$, period average | -97.3% |
| 1981 | 21.67 LCU per US$, period average | +116.7% |
| 1982 | 35 LCU per US$, period average | +61.5% |
| 1983 | 35 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 35 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 55 LCU per US$, period average | +57.1% |
| 1986 | 95 LCU per US$, period average | +72.7% |
| 1987 | 187.5 LCU per US$, period average | +97.4% |
| 1988 | 400.38 LCU per US$, period average | +113.5% |
| 1989 | 591.5 LCU per US$, period average | +47.7% |
| 1990 | 707.75 LCU per US$, period average | +19.7% |
| 1991 | 702.08 LCU per US$, period average | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 716.08 LCU per US$, period average | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 716.25 LCU per US$, period average | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 717.67 LCU per US$, period average | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 804.69 LCU per US$, period average | +12.1% |
| 1996 | 921.02 LCU per US$, period average | +14.5% |
| 1997 | 1,260 LCU per US$, period average | +36.8% |
| 1998 | 3,298 LCU per US$, period average | +161.8% |
| 1999 | 7,102 LCU per US$, period average | +115.3% |
| 2000 | 7,888 LCU per US$, period average | +11.1% |
| 2001 | 8,955 LCU per US$, period average | +13.5% |
| 2002 | 10,056 LCU per US$, period average | +12.3% |
| 2003 | 10,569 LCU per US$, period average | +5.1% |
| 2004 | 10,585 LCU per US$, period average | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 10,655 LCU per US$, period average | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 10,154 LCU per US$, period average | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 9,603 LCU per US$, period average | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 8,740 LCU per US$, period average | -9.0% |
| 2009 | 8,511 LCU per US$, period average | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 8,254 LCU per US$, period average | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 8,029 LCU per US$, period average | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 8,007 LCU per US$, period average | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 7,833 LCU per US$, period average | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 8,042 LCU per US$, period average | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 8,128 LCU per US$, period average | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 8,124 LCU per US$, period average | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 8,245 LCU per US$, period average | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 8,401 LCU per US$, period average | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 8,679 LCU per US$, period average | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 9,046 LCU per US$, period average | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 9,698 LCU per US$, period average | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 14,035 LCU per US$, period average | +44.7% |
| 2023 | 17,689 LCU per US$, period average | +26.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 17,689 LCU per US$, period average is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 117.39 LCU per US$, period average, 150.7× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Laos's 17,689 LCU per US$, period average is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 4.58 LCU per US$, period average, 3865.2× the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) (UNESCO) in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +161.8% | 1,260 LCU per US$, period average | 3,298 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1981 | +116.7% | 10 LCU per US$, period average | 21.67 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1999 | +115.3% | 3,298 LCU per US$, period average | 7,102 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1988 | +113.5% | 187.5 LCU per US$, period average | 400.38 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1972 | +112.5% | 240 LCU per US$, period average | 510 LCU per US$, period average |
| 1980 | -97.3% | 367.5 LCU per US$, period average | 10 LCU per US$, period average |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 424.5 LCU per US$, period average | 200 LCU per US$, period average | 725 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1980s | 146.6 LCU per US$, period average | 10 LCU per US$, period average | 591.5 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,695 LCU per US$, period average | 702.08 LCU per US$, period average | 7,102 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2000s | 9,572 LCU per US$, period average | 7,888 LCU per US$, period average | 10,655 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2010s | 8,174 LCU per US$, period average | 7,833 LCU per US$, period average | 8,679 LCU per US$, period average | 10 |
| 2020s | 12,617 LCU per US$, period average | 9,046 LCU per US$, period average | 17,689 LCU per US$, period average | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 2 Iran 42,000 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 3 Vietnam 24,165 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 4 Somalia 23,098 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 6 Indonesia 15,855 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 7 Uzbekistan 12,652 LCU per US$, period average compare
- 8 Guinea 9,565 LCU per US$, period average compare
More population data for Laos
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5042 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5042 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3849 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 9,776 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.13 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9341 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.511 (2100)
- Population density 40.11 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 438,726 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is official exchange rate in Laos?
- Official exchange rate in Laos was 17,689 LCU per US$, period average in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest official exchange rate recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 17,689 LCU per US$, period average in 2023.
- What is the lowest official exchange rate recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 10 LCU per US$, period average in 1980.
- How does Laos rank for official exchange rate?
- Laos ranks 5th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is official exchange rate rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 125.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release