Laos Demographics

Population of Laos (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of Laos

Laos Population
7,974,018
see live
Yearly Change
+1.28%
Global Share
0.10%
Global Rank
103

Median Age

The median age in Laos is 25.3 years (2026).

Fertility in Laos

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
2.33
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in Laos

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
69.7
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
72.0
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
67.5
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Laos


Infant Mortality
27.8
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
34.2
(per 1,000 live births)


Laos Urban Population

Currently, 41.1% of the population of Laos is urban (3,275,762 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in Laos is 35 people per km² (89 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 230,800 km² (89,112 sq. miles).

Largest Cities and Urban Localities in Laos

The 30 largest of 48 cities and urban localities, ranked by population at the census of March 1, 2015 (by Lao Statistics Bureau).

RankCity or Urban LocalityPopulation
1Vientiane620,157
2Savannakhet91,684
3Pakse68,093
4Luangprabang66,781
5Phonsavan48,643
6ThakhekMuang Khammouan38,388
7Muang Xay35,289
8Phiang34,442
9Sainyabuli31,482
10Phonhong30,805
11Ban Houayxay29,866
12Luangnamtha28,551
13Nambak27,814
14Paksane25,805
15Seno25,135
16Phonthong25,084
17Paklay23,039
18Vangvieng20,930
19Sekong20,116
20Laksao19,178
21Borikhane18,354
22Viengkham17,696
23Hongsa17,481
24Sam Neua17,461
25Saysetha17,264
26Attapeu15,986
27Sanasomboune15,825
28Champhone15,658
29Champasak15,440
30Houne15,205
See all 48 cities and urban localities in Laos

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.