Urban and rural population in Laos
Laos: Urban and rural population was 3.17 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.17 million
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
123rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.17 million
in 2025
All-time low
126,787
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Laos, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Laos is 3.17 million, 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, urban and rural population in Laos peaked at 3.17 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 126,787, 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.
Urban and rural population in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 126,787 | — |
| 1951 | 130,159 | +2.7% |
| 1952 | 133,673 | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 137,356 | +2.8% |
| 1954 | 141,201 | +2.8% |
| 1955 | 145,208 | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 149,381 | +2.9% |
| 1957 | 153,767 | +2.9% |
| 1958 | 158,186 | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 162,069 | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 166,499 | +2.7% |
| 1961 | 171,508 | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 177,113 | +3.3% |
| 1963 | 183,221 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 189,762 | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 196,776 | +3.7% |
| 1966 | 204,211 | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 213,209 | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 224,668 | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 238,129 | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 253,117 | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 269,083 | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 285,413 | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 301,410 | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 316,997 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 332,362 | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 347,183 | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 361,583 | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 376,059 | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 391,248 | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 407,771 | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 425,981 | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 445,986 | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 467,710 | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 491,077 | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 516,039 | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 542,008 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 568,791 | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 596,757 | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 626,167 | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 657,297 | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 690,511 | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 726,147 | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 764,627 | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 806,131 | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 851,755 | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 906,397 | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 971,065 | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 1.04 million | +7.4% |
| 1999 | 1.12 million | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 1.20 million | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 1.29 million | +7.1% |
| 2002 | 1.38 million | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 1.46 million | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 1.53 million | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 1.60 million | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 1.67 million | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.74 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 1.81 million | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 1.88 million | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 1.94 million | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 2.01 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 2.07 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 2.13 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 2.19 million | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 2.25 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 2.34 million | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 2.42 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 2.51 million | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 2.60 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 2.69 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 2.78 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 2.88 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 2.97 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 3.07 million | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 3.17 million | +3.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 3.17 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 48% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 3.17 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 722,007, 4.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 143,779 | 126,787 | 162,069 | 10 |
| 1960s | 196,510 | 166,499 | 238,129 | 10 |
| 1970s | 323,446 | 253,117 | 391,248 | 10 |
| 1980s | 508,829 | 407,771 | 626,167 | 10 |
| 1990s | 853,887 | 657,297 | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.56 million | 1.20 million | 1.88 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.25 million | 1.94 million | 2.60 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.93 million | 2.69 million | 3.17 million | 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 urban and rural population in Laos?
- Urban and rural population in Laos was 3.17 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3.17 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 126,787 in 1950.
- How does Laos rank for urban and rural population?
- Laos ranks 123rd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).