Urban population in Laos
Laos: Urban population was 3.17 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Laos, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Laos is 3.17 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Laos peaked at 3.17 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 166,499, in 1960.
That places Laos 122nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 166,499 | — |
| 1961 | 171,508 | +3.0% |
| 1962 | 177,113 | +3.3% |
| 1963 | 183,221 | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 189,762 | +3.6% |
| 1965 | 196,776 | +3.7% |
| 1966 | 204,211 | +3.8% |
| 1967 | 213,209 | +4.4% |
| 1968 | 224,668 | +5.4% |
| 1969 | 238,129 | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 253,117 | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 269,083 | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 285,413 | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 301,410 | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 316,997 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 332,362 | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 347,183 | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 361,583 | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 376,059 | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 391,248 | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 407,771 | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 425,981 | +4.5% |
| 1982 | 445,986 | +4.7% |
| 1983 | 467,710 | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 491,077 | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 516,039 | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 542,008 | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 568,791 | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 596,757 | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 626,167 | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 657,297 | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 690,511 | +5.1% |
| 1992 | 726,147 | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 764,627 | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 806,131 | +5.4% |
| 1995 | 851,755 | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 906,397 | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 971,065 | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 1.04 million | +7.4% |
| 1999 | 1.12 million | +7.5% |
| 2000 | 1.20 million | +7.4% |
| 2001 | 1.29 million | +7.1% |
| 2002 | 1.38 million | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 1.46 million | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 1.53 million | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 1.60 million | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 1.67 million | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 1.74 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 1.81 million | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 1.88 million | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 1.94 million | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 2.01 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 2.07 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 2.13 million | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 2.19 million | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 2.25 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 2.34 million | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 2.42 million | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 2.51 million | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 2.60 million | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 2.69 million | +3.5% |
| 2021 | 2.78 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 2.88 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 2.97 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 3.07 million | +3.3% |
| 2025 | 3.17 million | +3.3% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 3.17 million is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 48% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 3.17 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 685,900, 4.6× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 196,510 | 166,499 | 238,129 | 10 |
| 1970s | 323,446 | 253,117 | 391,248 | 10 |
| 1980s | 508,829 | 407,771 | 626,167 | 10 |
| 1990s | 853,887 | 657,297 | 1.12 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.56 million | 1.20 million | 1.88 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.25 million | 1.94 million | 2.60 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.93 million | 2.69 million | 3.17 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More climate change data for Laos
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 11,464 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,980 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 8,484 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 11.25 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 303.01 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,806 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 581.36 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,224 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2.19 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 79.45 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Laos?
- Urban population in Laos was 3.17 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 3.17 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 166,499 in 1960.
- How does Laos rank for urban population?
- Laos ranks 122nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.