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