Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Laos
Laos: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 3.17 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Laos, 1950–2025
Source: 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Laos is 3.17 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.3% on the previous year and up 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Laos peaked at 3.17 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 126,787 people, in 1950.
Laos ranks 123rd of 236 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 143,779 people | 126,787 people | 162,069 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 196,510 people | 166,499 people | 238,129 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 323,446 people | 253,117 people | 391,248 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 508,829 people | 407,771 people | 626,167 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 853,887 people | 657,297 people | 1.12 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.56 million people | 1.20 million people | 1.88 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.25 million people | 1.94 million people | 2.60 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.93 million people | 2.69 million people | 3.17 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
- 120 Mauritania 3.27 million people compare
- 121 Uruguay 3.24 million people compare
- 122 Liberia 3.21 million people compare
- 124 Qatar 3.10 million people compare
- 125 Puerto Rico 3.05 million people compare
More population data for Laos
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 2.4 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 2.4 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 80 people (1987)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 2.4 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 2.42 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 2.3 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Laos?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Laos was 3.17 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3.17 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 126,787 people in 1950.
- How does Laos rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Laos ranks 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.