Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Laos

Urban population share in Laos in 2025 — 40.3%. Ranked 172 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 32.5 pp.

2025 40.3% +0.8 pp vs 2024
World rank 172of 217
Period maximum 40.3%2025
Period minimum 7.8%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Laos, 1960–2025020406019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 7.8%1962: 8%1964: 8.2%1966: 8.4%1968: 8.8%1970: 9.5%1972: 10.2%1974: 10.8%1976: 11.3%1978: 11.9%1980: 12.4%1982: 12.9%1984: 13.5%1986: 14.1%1988: 14.7%1990: 15.2%1992: 15.9%1994: 16.8%1996: 18%1998: 19.9%2000: 22.2%2002: 24.5%2004: 26.5%2006: 28%2008: 29.4%2010: 30.6%2012: 31.7%2014: 32.7%2016: 33.8%2018: 35.2%2020: 36.6%2022: 38.1%2024: 39.6%2025: 40.3%
Change over the period: +32.5 pp Annual average: 0.5 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Laos

Laos 40.3%
World 57.8%
South-Eastern Asia computed 54.4%
Urban population share — Laos, by year Laos All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 40.3 +0.8 pp
2024 39.6 +0.7 pp
2023 38.8 +0.7 pp
2022 38.1 +0.7 pp
2021 37.3 +0.7 pp
2020 36.6 +0.7 pp
2019 35.9 +0.7 pp
2018 35.2 +0.7 pp
2017 34.5 +0.7 pp
2016 33.8 +0.7 pp
2015 33.1 +0.5 pp
2014 32.7 +0.4 pp
2013 32.2 +0.5 pp
2012 31.7 +0.5 pp
2011 31.2 +0.6 pp
2010 30.6 +0.6 pp
2009 30 +0.6 pp
2008 29.4 +0.7 pp
2007 28.7 +0.7 pp
2006 28 +0.7 pp
2005 27.3 +0.8 pp
2004 26.5 +0.9 pp
2003 25.6 +1.1 pp
2002 24.5 +1.2 pp
2001 23.4 +1.2 pp
2000 22.2 +1.2 pp
1999 21 +1.1 pp
1998 19.9 +1 pp
1997 18.8 +0.9 pp
1996 18 +0.7 pp
1995 17.3 +0.5 pp
1994 16.8 +0.4 pp
1993 16.3 +0.4 pp
1992 15.9 +0.4 pp
1991 15.6 +0.3 pp
1990 15.2 +0.3 pp
1989 14.9 +0.3 pp
1988 14.7 +0.3 pp
1987 14.4 +0.3 pp
1986 14.1 +0.3 pp
1985 13.8 +0.3 pp
1984 13.5 +0.3 pp
1983 13.2 +0.3 pp
1982 12.9 +0.3 pp
1981 12.7 +0.3 pp
1980 12.4 +0.3 pp
1979 12.1 +0.3 pp
1978 11.9 +0.3 pp
1977 11.6 +0.3 pp
1976 11.3 +0.3 pp
1975 11.1 +0.3 pp
1974 10.8 +0.3 pp
1973 10.5 +0.3 pp
1972 10.2 +0.3 pp
1971 9.8 +0.4 pp
1970 9.5 +0.3 pp
1969 9.1 +0.3 pp
1968 8.8 +0.3 pp
1967 8.6 +0.2 pp
1966 8.4 +0.1 pp
1965 8.3 +0.1 pp
1964 8.2 +0.1 pp
1963 8.1 +0.1 pp
1962 8 +0.1 pp
1961 7.9 +0.1 pp
1960 7.8

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.