Urban population in Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lao People's Democratic Republic: Urban population was 40.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population in Lao People's Democratic Republic stood at 40.3%. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Lao People's Democratic Republic peaked at 40.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 1960.
Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 173rd of 217 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Lao People's Democratic Republic, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 7.8% | — |
| 1961 | 7.9% | +0.7% |
| 1962 | 8.0% | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 8.1% | +1.1% |
| 1964 | 8.2% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 8.3% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 8.4% | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 8.6% | +2.0% |
| 1968 | 8.8% | +2.9% |
| 1969 | 9.1% | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 9.5% | +3.8% |
| 1971 | 9.8% | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 10.2% | +3.5% |
| 1973 | 10.5% | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 10.8% | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 11.1% | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 11.3% | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 11.6% | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 11.9% | +2.3% |
| 1979 | 12.1% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 12.4% | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 12.7% | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 12.9% | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 13.2% | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 13.5% | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 13.8% | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 14.1% | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 14.4% | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 14.7% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 14.9% | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 15.2% | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 15.6% | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 15.9% | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 16.3% | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 16.8% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 17.3% | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 18.0% | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 18.8% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 19.9% | +5.5% |
| 1999 | 21.0% | +5.7% |
| 2000 | 22.2% | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 23.4% | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 24.5% | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 25.6% | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 26.5% | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 27.3% | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 28.0% | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 28.7% | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 29.4% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 30.0% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 30.6% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 31.2% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 31.7% | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 32.2% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 32.7% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 33.1% | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 33.8% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 34.5% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 35.2% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 35.9% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 36.6% | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 37.3% | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 38.1% | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 38.8% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 39.6% | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 40.3% | +1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.3% | 7.8% | 9.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.9% | 9.5% | 12.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.7% | 12.4% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.5% | 15.2% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.6% | 22.2% | 30.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.1% | 30.6% | 35.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.5% | 36.6% | 40.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Lao People's Democratic Republic
More climate change data for Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Share co2 vs population 0.0909 (2100)
- Urban population 3.17 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 3.2% (2025)
- Population, total 7.87 million (2025)
- Population growth 1.3% (2025)
- Annual Net Emissions/Removals 41.55 (2024)
- Temperature change with respect to a baseline climatology 2.03 (2024)
- Per capita CO₂ emissions vs. per capita energy use 3.14 tonnes per person (2024)
- Share global cumulative co2 including land 0.0959 (2024)
- Cumulative co2 including land 2.64 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- Urban population in Lao People's Democratic Republic was 40.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 40.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 1960.
- How does Lao People's Democratic Republic rank for urban population?
- Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 173rd out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lao People's Democratic Republic data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.