Laos: Statistical Overview

Capital: Vientiane

Population

Total Population: 7,769,819

Natural Increase: 1.4%

Density: 33 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 39.6%

Ethnic Origins: The Lao make up about 53% of the population, with the Khmu, Hmong, Vietnamese/ethnic Chinese and over 100 other ethnic groups making up around 47% of the population. (Lao Statistics Bureau)

Official Language: Lao

Other Languages Spoken: French, English, and various ethnic languages

Business Language(s): English

Literacy Rate: 68.7%

Local Time:

It is %T:%M %A In Vientiane

Exchange Rate on :

National Currency: Lao Kip (LAK)

Country Overview

Area: 236,800 km²

Type of State: One-party parliamentary socialist republic.

Type of Economy: Variable income, mixed economy based on resources and services.
Laos is facing a difficult economic situation, with heavy debt, high inflation and currency devaluation which has direct consequences on the economy and the standard of living of the population.

HDI*: 0.617/1

HDI (World Rank): 147/192

Note: (*) The HDI, Human Development Index, measures a country's development in terms of quality of life. It mainly takes into account life expectancy, level of education and GDP per capita.

Telecommunication

Telephone Code:
To call from Laos, dial 00
To call Laos, dial +856

Internet Suffix: .la

Households with a computer: 13.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Mobile phone subscriptions: 64.8 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 63.6 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 96.5% of the Population

Foreign Trade in Figures

Foreign Trade Indicators	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Imports of Goods (million USD)	6,275	7,244	7,649	8,663	10,342
Exports of Goods (million USD)	7,695	8,198	8,370	9,386	12,377
Imports of Services (million USD)	252	738	947	1,267	1,359
Exports of Services (million USD)	125	406	1,327	1,732	1,711

Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation, Latest data available.

See the latest updates in the Country Profile for Laos.

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