LAO
Data file updated Jun 27, 2026
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Country profile covering economy, demographics, military, quality-of-life signals, and historical trends.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Currency
- Lao Kip (LAK)
- Language
- Lao
- Government
- One-party socialist republic
- Internet Users
- 62.0%
- Unemployment
- 1.5%
- Smoking (15+)
- 17.9%
Population
7.53M
GDP
$19.14B
GDP per Capita
$2,542.0
Area
236,800 km²
Life Expectancy
68.9 years
HDI
0.6
Economy
5 metrics| GDP (USD) | $19.14B |
|---|---|
| GDP Per Capita (USD) | $2,542.0 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 1.5% |
| GINI Index (Income Inequality) | 38.8 |
| Currency | Lao Kip (LAK) |
Trade (Import/Export)
3 metrics| Exports | $5.3B |
|---|---|
| Imports | $6.7B |
| Trade Balance | $-1.4B |
Gold Reserves
1 metrics| Gold Reserves | 0.9 tonnes |
|---|
Society & Demographics
4 metrics| Life Expectancy (years) | 68.9 |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate (%) | 84.7% |
| Internet Users (%) | 62.0% |
| Human Development Index | 0.6 |
Military Strength
9 metrics| Active Personnel | 29,100 |
|---|---|
| Reserve Personnel | 100,000 |
| Total Military Personnel | 129,100 |
| Defense Budget (USD) | $30M |
| Tanks | 130 |
| Armored Vehicles | 405 |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 10 |
| Towed Artillery | 150 |
| Rocket Projectors | 32 |
Air Force
7 metrics| Total Aircraft | 35 |
|---|---|
| Fighters | 12 |
| Attack Aircraft | 8 |
| Transport Aircraft | 6 |
| Trainer Aircraft | 4 |
| Helicopters | 5 |
| Attack Helicopters | 0 |
Education
4 metrics| Education Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.9% |
|---|---|
| Universities | 8 |
| Primary Enrollment (%) | 98.5% |
| Secondary Enrollment (%) | 68.7% |
Healthcare
5 metrics| Healthcare Expenditure (% of GDP) | 2.7% |
|---|---|
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 1.8 |
| Hospital Beds per 1,000 people | 1.5 |
| Life Expectancy (Male) | 66.7 |
| Life Expectancy (Female) | 71.3 |
Cost of Living
12 metrics| Cost of Living Index | 28.5 |
|---|---|
| Rent Index | 12.8 |
| Groceries Index | 26.9 |
| Restaurant Price Index | 24.3 |
| Local Purchasing Power | 15.2 |
| Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant (USD) | $2.5 |
| Three-Course Meal for 2 (USD) | $12.0 |
| Monthly Rent - City Center (USD) | $250.0 |
| Monthly Rent - Outside Center (USD) | $150.0 |
| Monthly Utilities (USD) | $35.0 |
| Internet (60 Mbps, USD) | $25.0 |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (USD) | $0.4 |
Historical Data
Compare Lao People's Democratic Republic
Religious Composition
- Buddhist 64.7%
- Other 31.4%
- Unspecified 2.1%
- Christian 1.7%
- None 0.1%
Beverages per Person
- Coffee 22.6 kg/yr
- Tea 0.9 kg/yr
- Beer 41.4 L/yr
- Wine 0.1 L/yr
- Alcohol 5.9 L pure/yr
Per-capita — consumption where available, else FAOSTAT supply · alcohol = litres of pure alcohol (WHO)
Age Demographics
25.2
Median Age