Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Laos
Laos: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 6,489 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Laos, 1975–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Laos stood at 6,489. That is the lowest value across all 51 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 11.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Laos peaked at 135,866 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 6,489, in 2025.
Laos ranks 72nd of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 55,510 | — |
| 1976 | 62,720 | +13.0% |
| 1977 | 78,970 | +25.9% |
| 1978 | 119,180 | +50.9% |
| 1979 | 128,770 | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 105,256 | -18.3% |
| 1981 | 89,990 | -14.5% |
| 1982 | 80,588 | -10.4% |
| 1983 | 85,043 | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 86,673 | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 99,303 | +14.6% |
| 1986 | 91,214 | -8.1% |
| 1987 | 78,894 | -13.5% |
| 1988 | 135,866 | +72.2% |
| 1989 | 133,496 | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 135,634 | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 122,328 | -9.8% |
| 1992 | 96,158 | -21.4% |
| 1993 | 74,500 | -22.5% |
| 1994 | 54,895 | -26.3% |
| 1995 | 58,197 | +6.0% |
| 1996 | 46,908 | -19.4% |
| 1997 | 37,369 | -20.3% |
| 1998 | 29,018 | -22.3% |
| 1999 | 21,393 | -26.3% |
| 2000 | 16,090 | -24.8% |
| 2001 | 12,625 | -21.5% |
| 2002 | 11,233 | -11.0% |
| 2003 | 10,360 | -7.8% |
| 2004 | 16,114 | +55.5% |
| 2005 | 24,441 | +51.7% |
| 2006 | 26,445 | +8.2% |
| 2007 | 10,012 | -62.1% |
| 2008 | 8,596 | -14.1% |
| 2009 | 8,397 | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 8,412 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 8,086 | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 7,981 | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 7,736 | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 7,476 | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 7,359 | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 7,229 | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 7,056 | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 6,943 | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 6,757 | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 6,665 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 6,778 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 6,653 | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 6,551 | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 6,556 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 6,489 | -1.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 6,489 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,568, 68% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 6,489 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73, 88.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +72.2% | 78,894 | 135,866 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 89,030 | 55,510 | 128,770 | 5 |
| 1980s | 98,632 | 78,894 | 135,866 | 10 |
| 1990s | 67,640 | 21,393 | 135,634 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,431 | 8,397 | 26,445 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,504 | 6,757 | 8,412 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,615 | 6,489 | 6,778 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
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 refugee population by country or territory of origin in Laos?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Laos was 6,489 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 135,866 in 1988.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,489 in 2025.
- How does Laos rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Laos ranks 72nd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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