Lao PDR — Population growth
Population Growth (Annual %) for Lao PDR, 1961–2025.
Population growth for Lao PDR was 1.32% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 65 years, from 1961 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 2.87% in 1989. Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.83% per year.
Lao PDR ranks 77 of 217 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 35%. The median for East Asia & Pacific is 0.64%, so Lao PDR sits above it. It peaked in 1989 and has fallen 54% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 10%. Within East Asia & Pacific it ranks 6 of 37 economies; Timor-Leste (1.27%) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was up 13% in 1981. That is 10% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 112th of 216 in 1961 → 91st of 216 in 1970 → 114th of 216 in 1980 → 53rd of 216 in 1990 → 87th of 217 in 2000 → 89th of 217 in 2010 → 79th of 217 in 2020 → 77th of 217 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1961 to 2025
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.32% | -0.0 pp |
| 2024 | 1.36% | -0.0 pp |
| 2023 | 1.39% | -0.0 pp |
| 2022 | 1.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2021 | 1.44% | -0.1 pp |
| 2020 | 1.49% | -0.0 pp |
| 2019 | 1.53% | -0.0 pp |
| 2018 | 1.55% | -0.0 pp |
| 2017 | 1.57% | +0.0 pp |
| 2016 | 1.56% | +0.1 pp |
| 2015 | 1.46% | +0.1 pp |
| 2014 | 1.38% | -0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 1.41% | -0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 1.43% | -0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 1.45% | -0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 1.47% | -0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 1.5% | -0.0 pp |
| 2008 | 1.52% | -0.0 pp |
| 2007 | 1.55% | -0.0 pp |
| 2006 | 1.58% | +0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 1.51% | +0.1 pp |
| 2004 | 1.46% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 1.54% | -0.1 pp |
| 2002 | 1.61% | -0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 1.65% | -0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 1.68% | -0.1 pp |
| 1999 | 1.75% | -0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 1.85% | -0.2 pp |
| 1997 | 2.09% | -0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 2.33% | -0.1 pp |
| 1995 | 2.47% | -0.1 pp |
| 1994 | 2.62% | -0.1 pp |
| 1993 | 2.71% | -0.1 pp |
| 1992 | 2.77% | -0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 2.82% | -0.0 pp |
| 1990 | 2.85% | -0.0 pp |
| 1989 | 2.87% | +0.0 pp |
| 1988 | 2.86% | +0.0 pp |
| 1987 | 2.84% | +0.0 pp |
| 1986 | 2.81% | +0.0 pp |
| 1985 | 2.77% | +0.1 pp |
| 1984 | 2.7% | +0.1 pp |
| 1983 | 2.6% | +0.2 pp |
| 1982 | 2.45% | +0.2 pp |
| 1981 | 2.22% | +0.2 pp |
| 1980 | 1.97% | +0.2 pp |
| 1979 | 1.76% | +0.1 pp |
| 1978 | 1.68% | -0.1 pp |
| 1977 | 1.75% | -0.2 pp |
| 1976 | 1.96% | -0.3 pp |
| 1975 | 2.21% | -0.2 pp |
| 1974 | 2.38% | -0.0 pp |
| 1973 | 2.43% | +0.0 pp |
| 1972 | 2.42% | +0.0 pp |
| 1971 | 2.4% | +0.0 pp |
| 1970 | 2.38% | +0.0 pp |
| 1969 | 2.35% | +0.0 pp |
| 1968 | 2.33% | +0.0 pp |
| 1967 | 2.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 1966 | 2.28% | +0.0 pp |
| 1965 | 2.27% | +0.0 pp |
| 1964 | 2.25% | -0.0 pp |
| 1963 | 2.28% | -0.0 pp |
| 1962 | 2.28% | +0.0 pp |
| 1961 | 2.25% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Lao PDR’s Population growth in 1962?
2.28% (1962). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in annual %, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Lao PDR’s Population growth growing or shrinking?
Between 1961 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -41.3% in total — about 0.8% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SP.POP.GROW. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 1.32%; 2024: 1.36%; 2023: 1.39%; 2022: 1.41%; 2021: 1.44%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SP.POP.GROW — Population Growth (Annual %). Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.