Population in Laos
Laos: Population was 7.67 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
7.67 million people
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
104th
of 239 countries
All-time high
7.67 million people
in 2023
All-time low
242,857 people
in 1000
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Laos, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Laos recorded 7.67 million people for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 241 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Laos peaked at 7.67 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 242,857 people, in 1000.
That places Laos 104th out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Laos, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 242,857 people | — |
| 1100 | 274,285 people | +12.9% |
| 1200 | 305,714 people | +11.5% |
| 1300 | 337,142 people | +10.3% |
| 1400 | 368,571 people | +9.3% |
| 1500 | 400,000 people | +8.5% |
| 1600 | 500,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1700 | 600,000 people | +20.0% |
| 1710 | 610,000 people | +1.7% |
| 1720 | 620,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1730 | 630,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1740 | 640,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1750 | 650,000 people | +1.6% |
| 1760 | 660,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1770 | 670,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1780 | 680,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1790 | 690,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1800 | 470,000 people | -31.9% |
| 1801 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 470,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 470,895 people | +0.2% |
| 1820 | 472,695 people | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 475,406 people | +0.6% |
| 1822 | 479,039 people | +0.8% |
| 1823 | 483,602 people | +1.0% |
| 1824 | 488,208 people | +1.0% |
| 1825 | 492,858 people | +1.0% |
| 1826 | 497,552 people | +1.0% |
| 1827 | 502,291 people | +1.0% |
| 1828 | 507,076 people | +1.0% |
| 1829 | 511,905 people | +1.0% |
| 1830 | 516,781 people | +1.0% |
| 1831 | 521,703 people | +1.0% |
| 1832 | 526,673 people | +1.0% |
| 1833 | 531,689 people | +1.0% |
| 1834 | 536,753 people | +1.0% |
| 1835 | 541,866 people | +1.0% |
| 1836 | 547,027 people | +1.0% |
| 1837 | 552,237 people | +1.0% |
| 1838 | 557,497 people | +1.0% |
| 1839 | 562,807 people | +1.0% |
| 1840 | 568,168 people | +1.0% |
| 1841 | 573,579 people | +1.0% |
| 1842 | 579,043 people | +1.0% |
| 1843 | 584,558 people | +1.0% |
| 1844 | 590,126 people | +1.0% |
| 1845 | 595,746 people | +1.0% |
| 1846 | 601,421 people | +1.0% |
| 1847 | 607,149 people | +1.0% |
| 1848 | 612,932 people | +1.0% |
| 1849 | 618,770 people | +1.0% |
| 1850 | 624,664 people | +1.0% |
| 1851 | 629,808 people | +0.8% |
| 1852 | 634,993 people | +0.8% |
| 1853 | 640,221 people | +0.8% |
| 1854 | 645,490 people | +0.8% |
| 1855 | 650,801 people | +0.8% |
| 1856 | 656,155 people | +0.8% |
| 1857 | 661,552 people | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 666,992 people | +0.8% |
| 1859 | 672,476 people | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 678,004 people | +0.8% |
| 1861 | 683,576 people | +0.8% |
| 1862 | 689,193 people | +0.8% |
| 1863 | 694,854 people | +0.8% |
| 1864 | 700,561 people | +0.8% |
| 1865 | 706,314 people | +0.8% |
| 1866 | 712,113 people | +0.8% |
| 1867 | 717,958 people | +0.8% |
| 1868 | 723,850 people | +0.8% |
| 1869 | 731,796 people | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 741,854 people | +1.4% |
| 1871 | 754,084 people | +1.6% |
| 1872 | 768,546 people | +1.9% |
| 1873 | 785,302 people | +2.2% |
| 1874 | 802,422 people | +2.2% |
| 1875 | 819,914 people | +2.2% |
| 1876 | 837,785 people | +2.2% |
| 1877 | 856,045 people | +2.2% |
| 1878 | 874,701 people | +2.2% |
| 1879 | 893,762 people | +2.2% |
| 1880 | 913,237 people | +2.2% |
| 1881 | 933,135 people | +2.2% |
| 1882 | 953,465 people | +2.2% |
| 1883 | 974,235 people | +2.2% |
| 1884 | 995,457 people | +2.2% |
| 1885 | 1.02 million people | +2.2% |
| 1886 | 1.04 million people | +2.2% |
| 1887 | 1.06 million people | +2.2% |
| 1888 | 1.09 million people | +2.2% |
| 1889 | 1.11 million people | +2.2% |
| 1890 | 1.13 million people | +2.2% |
| 1891 | 1.16 million people | +2.2% |
| 1892 | 1.18 million people | +2.2% |
| 1893 | 1.21 million people | +2.2% |
| 1894 | 1.23 million people | +2.2% |
| 1895 | 1.26 million people | +2.2% |
| 1896 | 1.29 million people | +2.2% |
| 1897 | 1.32 million people | +2.2% |
| 1898 | 1.35 million people | +2.2% |
| 1899 | 1.37 million people | +1.5% |
| 1900 | 1.38 million people | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 1.38 million people | +0.3% |
| 1902 | 1.38 million people | -0.3% |
| 1903 | 1.37 million people | -0.9% |
| 1904 | 1.35 million people | -0.9% |
| 1905 | 1.34 million people | -0.9% |
| 1906 | 1.33 million people | -0.9% |
| 1907 | 1.32 million people | -0.9% |
| 1908 | 1.30 million people | -0.9% |
| 1909 | 1.29 million people | -1.1% |
| 1910 | 1.27 million people | -1.4% |
| 1911 | 1.25 million people | -1.6% |
| 1912 | 1.23 million people | -1.8% |
| 1913 | 1.20 million people | -2.0% |
| 1914 | 1.18 million people | -2.0% |
| 1915 | 1.16 million people | -2.0% |
| 1916 | 1.13 million people | -2.0% |
| 1917 | 1.11 million people | -2.0% |
| 1918 | 1.09 million people | -1.9% |
| 1919 | 1.07 million people | -1.9% |
| 1920 | 1.05 million people | -1.9% |
| 1921 | 1.03 million people | -1.9% |
| 1922 | 1.01 million people | -1.9% |
| 1923 | 988,003 people | -1.9% |
| 1924 | 969,177 people | -1.9% |
| 1925 | 950,709 people | -1.9% |
| 1926 | 932,594 people | -1.9% |
| 1927 | 914,823 people | -1.9% |
| 1928 | 897,392 people | -1.9% |
| 1929 | 884,787 people | -1.4% |
| 1930 | 876,948 people | -0.9% |
| 1931 | 873,816 people | -0.4% |
| 1932 | 875,334 people | +0.2% |
| 1933 | 881,443 people | +0.7% |
| 1934 | 887,596 people | +0.7% |
| 1935 | 893,791 people | +0.7% |
| 1936 | 900,030 people | +0.7% |
| 1937 | 906,312 people | +0.7% |
| 1938 | 912,638 people | +0.7% |
| 1939 | 929,604 people | +1.9% |
| 1940 | 957,965 people | +3.1% |
| 1941 | 998,524 people | +4.2% |
| 1942 | 1.05 million people | +5.4% |
| 1943 | 1.12 million people | +6.4% |
| 1944 | 1.19 million people | +6.4% |
| 1945 | 1.27 million people | +6.4% |
| 1946 | 1.35 million people | +6.4% |
| 1947 | 1.44 million people | +6.4% |
| 1948 | 1.53 million people | +6.4% |
| 1949 | 1.61 million people | +5.4% |
| 1950 | 1.68 million people | +4.5% |
| 1951 | 1.73 million people | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 1.77 million people | +2.4% |
| 1953 | 1.81 million people | +2.4% |
| 1954 | 1.85 million people | +2.3% |
| 1955 | 1.89 million people | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 1.94 million people | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 1.98 million people | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 2.03 million people | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 2.07 million people | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 2.12 million people | +2.3% |
| 1961 | 2.17 million people | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 2.22 million people | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 2.27 million people | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 2.32 million people | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 2.38 million people | +2.3% |
| 1966 | 2.43 million people | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 2.49 million people | +2.3% |
| 1968 | 2.55 million people | +2.4% |
| 1969 | 2.61 million people | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 2.67 million people | +2.4% |
| 1971 | 2.73 million people | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 2.80 million people | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 2.87 million people | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 2.94 million people | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 3.01 million people | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 3.06 million people | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 3.12 million people | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 3.17 million people | +1.7% |
| 1979 | 3.23 million people | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 3.29 million people | +2.0% |
| 1981 | 3.37 million people | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 3.45 million people | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 3.54 million people | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 3.64 million people | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 3.74 million people | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 3.85 million people | +2.9% |
| 1987 | 3.96 million people | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 4.07 million people | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 4.19 million people | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 4.31 million people | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 4.44 million people | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 4.56 million people | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 4.69 million people | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 4.81 million people | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 4.93 million people | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 5.05 million people | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 5.15 million people | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 5.25 million people | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 5.34 million people | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 5.43 million people | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 5.52 million people | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 5.61 million people | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 5.70 million people | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 5.78 million people | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 5.87 million people | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 5.96 million people | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 6.06 million people | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 6.15 million people | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 6.24 million people | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 6.33 million people | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 6.43 million people | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 6.52 million people | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 6.61 million people | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 6.70 million people | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 6.80 million people | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 6.91 million people | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 7.02 million people | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 7.13 million people | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 7.24 million people | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 7.35 million people | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 7.45 million people | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 7.56 million people | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 7.67 million people | +1.4% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 7.67 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 63% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 7.67 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.38 million people, 5.5× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | -31.9% | 690,000 people | 470,000 people |
| 1600 | +25.0% | 400,000 people | 500,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 242,857 people | 242,857 people | 242,857 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 274,285 people | 274,285 people | 274,285 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 305,714 people | 305,714 people | 305,714 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 337,142 people | 337,142 people | 337,142 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 368,571 people | 368,571 people | 368,571 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 400,000 people | 400,000 people | 400,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 500,000 people | 500,000 people | 500,000 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 600,000 people | 600,000 people | 600,000 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 610,000 people | 610,000 people | 610,000 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 620,000 people | 620,000 people | 620,000 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 630,000 people | 630,000 people | 630,000 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 640,000 people | 640,000 people | 640,000 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 650,000 people | 650,000 people | 650,000 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 660,000 people | 660,000 people | 660,000 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 670,000 people | 670,000 people | 670,000 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 680,000 people | 680,000 people | 680,000 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 690,000 people | 690,000 people | 690,000 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 470,000 people | 470,000 people | 470,000 people | 10 |
| 1810s | 470,090 people | 470,000 people | 470,895 people | 10 |
| 1820s | 491,063 people | 472,695 people | 511,905 people | 10 |
| 1830s | 539,503 people | 516,781 people | 562,807 people | 10 |
| 1840s | 593,149 people | 568,168 people | 618,770 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 648,315 people | 624,664 people | 672,476 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 703,822 people | 678,004 people | 731,796 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 813,442 people | 741,854 people | 893,762 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 1.01 million people | 913,237 people | 1.11 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.25 million people | 1.13 million people | 1.37 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.34 million people | 1.29 million people | 1.38 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.17 million people | 1.07 million people | 1.27 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 961,814 people | 884,787 people | 1.05 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 893,751 people | 873,816 people | 929,604 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.25 million people | 957,965 people | 1.61 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.87 million people | 1.68 million people | 2.07 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.36 million people | 2.12 million people | 2.61 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.96 million people | 2.67 million people | 3.23 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.71 million people | 3.29 million people | 4.19 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.85 million people | 4.31 million people | 5.34 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.83 million people | 5.43 million people | 6.24 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.77 million people | 6.33 million people | 7.24 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.51 million people | 7.35 million people | 7.67 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 101 Switzerland 8.87 million people compare
- 102 Sierra Leone 8.46 million people compare
- 103 Togo 8.22 million people compare
- 105 Hong Kong 7.44 million people compare
- 106 Turkmenistan 7.36 million people compare
- 107 Libya 7.31 million people 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)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 40.11 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 438,726 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Laos?
- Population in Laos was 7.67 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 7.67 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 242,857 people in 1000.
- How does Laos rank for population?
- Laos ranks 104th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.