Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Laos
Laos: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 3.64 million people in 2050. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2050)
3.64 million people
Change on year
down 2.2%
World rank
84th
of 238 countries
All-time high
4.70 million people
in 2025
All-time low
242,857 people
in 1000
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Laos, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Laos is 3.64 million people, measured in 2050.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Laos peaked at 4.70 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 242,857 people, in 1000.
That places Laos 84th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Laos, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 242,857 people | — |
| 1100 | 274,285 people | +12.9% |
| 1200 | 305,710 people | +11.5% |
| 1300 | 337,130 people | +10.3% |
| 1400 | 368,530 people | +9.3% |
| 1500 | 399,867 people | +8.5% |
| 1600 | 499,500 people | +24.9% |
| 1700 | 598,200 people | +19.8% |
| 1710 | 608,226 people | +1.7% |
| 1720 | 617,940 people | +1.6% |
| 1730 | 627,607 people | +1.6% |
| 1740 | 637,222 people | +1.5% |
| 1750 | 646,776 people | +1.5% |
| 1760 | 656,258 people | +1.5% |
| 1770 | 665,659 people | +1.4% |
| 1780 | 674,965 people | +1.4% |
| 1790 | 684,161 people | +1.4% |
| 1800 | 693,230 people | +1.3% |
| 1810 | 771,379 people | +11.3% |
| 1820 | 849,137 people | +10.1% |
| 1830 | 926,430 people | +9.1% |
| 1840 | 1.00 million people | +8.3% |
| 1850 | 1.08 million people | +7.6% |
| 1860 | 1.15 million people | +7.0% |
| 1870 | 1.23 million people | +6.4% |
| 1880 | 1.30 million people | +6.0% |
| 1890 | 1.37 million people | +5.5% |
| 1900 | 1.44 million people | +5.1% |
| 1910 | 1.41 million people | -2.6% |
| 1920 | 1.45 million people | +2.8% |
| 1930 | 1.49 million people | +2.7% |
| 1940 | 1.52 million people | +2.6% |
| 1950 | 1.56 million people | +2.2% |
| 1951 | 1.60 million people | +2.4% |
| 1952 | 1.63 million people | +2.3% |
| 1953 | 1.67 million people | +2.3% |
| 1954 | 1.71 million people | +2.3% |
| 1955 | 1.75 million people | +2.3% |
| 1956 | 1.79 million people | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 1.83 million people | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 1.87 million people | +2.3% |
| 1959 | 1.91 million people | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 1.96 million people | +2.2% |
| 1961 | 2.00 million people | +2.2% |
| 1962 | 2.04 million people | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 2.09 million people | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 2.13 million people | +2.2% |
| 1965 | 2.18 million people | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 2.23 million people | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 2.27 million people | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 2.32 million people | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 2.37 million people | +2.0% |
| 1970 | 2.42 million people | +2.0% |
| 1971 | 2.47 million people | +2.0% |
| 1972 | 2.52 million people | +2.1% |
| 1973 | 2.57 million people | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 2.62 million people | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 2.67 million people | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 2.72 million people | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 2.76 million people | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 2.80 million people | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 2.84 million people | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 2.88 million people | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 2.94 million people | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 3.00 million people | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 3.07 million people | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 3.15 million people | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 3.22 million people | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 3.30 million people | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 3.39 million people | +2.5% |
| 1988 | 3.48 million people | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 3.56 million people | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 3.65 million people | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 3.74 million people | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 3.83 million people | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 3.92 million people | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 4.00 million people | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 4.08 million people | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 4.14 million people | +1.5% |
| 1997 | 4.18 million people | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 4.21 million people | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 4.22 million people | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 4.23 million people | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 4.23 million people | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 4.23 million people | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 4.24 million people | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 4.25 million people | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.27 million people | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 4.29 million people | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 4.32 million people | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 4.34 million people | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 4.37 million people | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 4.39 million people | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 4.42 million people | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 4.45 million people | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 4.48 million people | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 4.51 million people | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.55 million people | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 4.57 million people | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 4.60 million people | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 4.62 million people | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 4.64 million people | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 4.66 million people | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 4.67 million people | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 4.68 million people | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 4.69 million people | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 4.70 million people | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 4.70 million people | +0.1% |
| 2026 | 4.70 million people | -0.0% |
| 2027 | 4.69 million people | -0.1% |
| 2028 | 4.69 million people | -0.2% |
| 2029 | 4.67 million people | -0.2% |
| 2030 | 4.66 million people | -0.3% |
| 2031 | 4.64 million people | -0.4% |
| 2032 | 4.62 million people | -0.5% |
| 2033 | 4.59 million people | -0.6% |
| 2034 | 4.56 million people | -0.6% |
| 2035 | 4.53 million people | -0.7% |
| 2036 | 4.50 million people | -0.8% |
| 2037 | 4.46 million people | -0.9% |
| 2038 | 4.41 million people | -1.0% |
| 2039 | 4.37 million people | -1.0% |
| 2040 | 4.32 million people | -1.1% |
| 2041 | 4.26 million people | -1.2% |
| 2042 | 4.21 million people | -1.3% |
| 2043 | 4.15 million people | -1.4% |
| 2044 | 4.08 million people | -1.5% |
| 2045 | 4.02 million people | -1.6% |
| 2046 | 3.95 million people | -1.7% |
| 2047 | 3.88 million people | -1.9% |
| 2048 | 3.80 million people | -2.0% |
| 2049 | 3.72 million people | -2.1% |
| 2050 | 3.64 million people | -2.2% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 3.64 million people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.39 million people, 67% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 3.64 million people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 306,014 people, 11.9× the median. (37 countries reporting)
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 | 305,710 people | 305,710 people | 305,710 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 337,130 people | 337,130 people | 337,130 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 368,530 people | 368,530 people | 368,530 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 399,867 people | 399,867 people | 399,867 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 499,500 people | 499,500 people | 499,500 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 598,200 people | 598,200 people | 598,200 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 608,226 people | 608,226 people | 608,226 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 617,940 people | 617,940 people | 617,940 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 627,607 people | 627,607 people | 627,607 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 637,222 people | 637,222 people | 637,222 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 646,776 people | 646,776 people | 646,776 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 656,258 people | 656,258 people | 656,258 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 665,659 people | 665,659 people | 665,659 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 674,965 people | 674,965 people | 674,965 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 684,161 people | 684,161 people | 684,161 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 693,230 people | 693,230 people | 693,230 people | 1 |
| 1810s | 771,379 people | 771,379 people | 771,379 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 849,137 people | 849,137 people | 849,137 people | 1 |
| 1830s | 926,430 people | 926,430 people | 926,430 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1 |
| 1850s | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1.08 million people | 1 |
| 1860s | 1.15 million people | 1.15 million people | 1.15 million people | 1 |
| 1870s | 1.23 million people | 1.23 million people | 1.23 million people | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.30 million people | 1.30 million people | 1.30 million people | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.37 million people | 1.37 million people | 1.37 million people | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1.44 million people | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.41 million people | 1.41 million people | 1.41 million people | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1.45 million people | 1 |
| 1930s | 1.49 million people | 1.49 million people | 1.49 million people | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.52 million people | 1.52 million people | 1.52 million people | 1 |
| 1950s | 1.73 million people | 1.56 million people | 1.91 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.16 million people | 1.96 million people | 2.37 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.64 million people | 2.42 million people | 2.84 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.20 million people | 2.88 million people | 3.56 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.00 million people | 3.65 million people | 4.22 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.28 million people | 4.23 million people | 4.37 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.52 million people | 4.39 million people | 4.64 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.68 million people | 4.66 million people | 4.70 million people | 10 |
| 2030s | 4.53 million people | 4.37 million people | 4.66 million people | 10 |
| 2040s | 4.04 million people | 3.72 million people | 4.32 million people | 10 |
| 2050s | 3.64 million people | 3.64 million people | 3.64 million people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More population data for Laos
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3849 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5042 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 438,726 people (2100)
- Population density 40.11 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.9341 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.13 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Laos?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Laos was 3.64 million people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 4.70 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 242,857 people in 1000.
- How does Laos rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Laos ranks 84th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.