Laos has experienced steady population growth over the past several decades. As of 2023, the country’s population is estimated to be around 7.5 million, up from approximately 4.6 million in 1990. This growth is driven by a relatively high birth rate and improvements in healthcare, which have contributed to a decline in mortality rates. However, the rate of population growth has been gradually slowing in recent years due to increasing urbanization, rising education levels, and greater access to family planning. Despite this, Laos remains one of the least densely populated countries in Southeast Asia, with much of its population concentrated in rural areas along the Mekong River and its tributaries.
| Year | Population | Population Density Per Square KM |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,885,984 | 8.2 |
| 1955 | 2,077,063 | 9 |
| 1960 | 2,309,365 | 10 |
| 1965 | 2,565,380 | 11.1 |
| 1970 | 2,844,851 | 12.3 |
| 1975 | 3,161,118 | 13.7 |
| 1980 | 3,293,159 | 14.3 |
| 1985 | 3,657,169 | 15.8 |
| 1990 | 4,210,452 | 18.2 |
| 1995 | 4,846,116 | 21 |
| 2000 | 5,397,406 | 23.4 |
| 2005 | 5,836,357 | 25.3 |
| 2010 | 6,393,271 | 27.7 |
| 2015 | 6,973,535 | 30.2 |
| 2020 | 7,539,569 | 32.7 |
| 2022 | 7,749,595 | 33.6 |
| 2023 | 7,852,377 | 34 |
| 2024 | 7,953,556 | 34.5 |
| 2025 | 8,052,913 | 34.9 |
| 2030 | 8,519,527 | 36.9 |
| 2035 | 8,934,325 | 38.7 |
| 2040 | 9,304,174 | 40.3 |
| 2045 | 9,634,704 | 41.7 |
| 2050 | 9,920,518 | 43 |
| 2055 | 10,151,597 | 44 |
| 2060 | 10,322,540 | 44.7 |
| 2065 | 10,433,753 | 45.2 |
| 2070 | 10,487,275 | 45.4 |
| 2075 | 10,485,676 | 45.4 |
| 2080 | 10,433,368 | 45.2 |
| 2085 | 10,334,701 | 44.8 |
| 2090 | 10,197,391 | 44.2 |
| 2095 | 10,030,714 | 43.5 |
| 2100 | 9,843,715 | 42.7 |
Data from US Census International Database