Laos
Vientiane · Asia
Population
7.6M
Superficie
236,800 km²
PIB
$16.5B
PIB Par Habitant
$2,123.979
Espérance de Vie
69.0 yrs
Capitale
Vientiane
Laos is a country located in South-Eastern Asia, with its capital in Vientiane. As of 2025, it has a population of 7.6M and covers an area of 236,800 km². The economy of Laos has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $16.5B (World Bank, 2025), translating to a per-capita income of $2,123.979 with annual economic growth of 4.1%. Life expectancy in Laos stands at 69.0 years (World Bank, 2025), below the global average of 72 years. The official language is Lao, and the currency is the Lao kip (₭). Laos shares land borders with 5 countries.
How Large Is Laos's Economy?
Laos's GDP of $16.5B makes it a lower-middle-income economy by World Bank classification. GDP per capita of $2,124 is 81% below the regional average of 11,200 (World Bank, 2025). The most recent annual growth rate of 4.1% is above the global median of 3.1% (World Bank, 2025). The unemployment rate of 1.2% is 72% below the regional average of 4.2 (World Bank, 2025). Inflation of 23.1% is severely elevated at 23.1%, a rate that erodes household purchasing power. Laos's official currency is the Lao kip (₭). As a UN member, Laos participates in multilateral trade frameworks.
GDP
$16.5B
GDP Per Capita
$2,123.979
GDP Growth
4.1%
Unemployment
1.2%
Inflation
23.1%
Currencies
LAK
What Are Laos's Demographics?
With 7.6M people, Laos is a nation of 7.6M people. At 32 people per km², the country is sparsely populated. Life expectancy stands at 69.0 years, 3.0 years below the global average of 72 years. Infant mortality of 35.2 per 1,000 live births is 96% above the regional average of 18 (World Bank, 2025). The country's official language is Lao.
Population
7.6M
Life Expectancy
69.0 yrs
Infant Mortality
35.2 per 1k
Literacy Rate
—
Languages
Lao
CO₂ Per Capita
—
Where Is Laos Located?
Laos covers 236,800 km² (91,000 sq miles) and shares land borders with 5 countries. The country sits within the Asia region, South-Eastern Asia subregion, spanning Asia. Vientiane serves as the seat of government and administrative capital of Laos. The country spans 1 time zone. Recognized internationally by ISO codes LA and LAO, Laos is an independent sovereign state and a full UN member. Its 1 currency (LAK) reflects its participation in multilateral trade and monetary frameworks.
Area
236,800 km²
Region
Asia
Subregion
South-Eastern Asia
Capital
Vientiane
Timezones
UTC+07:00
Continents
Asia
Data sourced from World Bank Open Data. Last updated: March 2026.
How to Call Laos
The international calling code for Laos is +856. When calling from abroad, first dial your country's exit code (for example, 00 in Europe), then 856, then the local number. When dialing internationally, drop the leading trunk prefix "0" from the local number.
Country Code
+856
Exit Code
00
Trunk Prefix
0
Format
+856 20 XX XXX XXX
Mobile Prefixes
20
Example: To call a number in Laos from abroad, dial +856 20 55 555 555
Frequently Asked Questions about Laos
What is the population of Laos?
Laos has a population of 7.6M as of 2025, according to World Bank data. Life expectancy is 69.0 years.
What is the capital of Laos?
The capital of Laos is Vientiane. It serves as the country's administrative and political center.
What is the GDP of Laos?
Laos's GDP is $16.5B as of 2025 (World Bank). GDP per capita is $2,123.979. The economy grew at 4.1% in 2025.
What is the life expectancy in Laos?
The average life expectancy in Laos is 69.0 years (World Bank, 2025), below the global average of 72 years. The infant mortality rate is 35.2 per 1,000 live births.
What region is Laos in?
Laos is located in Asia, specifically in South-Eastern Asia. It is part of the continent of Asia.
What is the size of Laos?
Laos covers an area of 236,800 km² (91,429 square miles). The population density is approximately 32.3 people per km².
What currency does Laos use?
Laos uses the Lao kip (₭) with currency code LAK.
What language is spoken in Laos?
The official language of Laos is Lao.
Is Laos a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Laos is a member of the United Nations.
What is Laos's GDP?
Laos's GDP is $16.5B (World Bank, 2025). This places it among Asia's economies by total output.
What is Laos's GDP per capita?
Laos's GDP per capita is $2,124, which is 81% below the regional average of 11,200 (World Bank, 2025).
What is Laos's inflation rate?
Laos's inflation rate is 23.1%, severely elevated at 23.1%, a rate that erodes household purchasing power (World Bank, 2025).
What is the population density of Laos?
Laos has a population density of 32 people per km², making it sparsely populated.
What is the life expectancy in Laos?
Life expectancy in Laos is 69.0 years, 3.0 years below the global average of 72 years (World Bank, 2025).
What is the total area of Laos?
Laos has a total land area of 236,800 km² (91,000 sq miles). This measurement covers the country's total sovereign territory as recorded by international geographic databases.
How many countries does Laos border?
Laos shares land borders with 5 countries (identified by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes: MMR, KHM, CHN, THA, VNM). These borders define the country's overland connections to the wider region.
What is the calling code for Laos?
The international calling code for Laos is +856. To call Laos from abroad, dial your country's exit code (00), then 856, followed by the local number (drop the leading 0).
How do I call Laos from the US?
To call Laos from the United States, dial 011 + 856 + the local phone number (without the leading 0). For example: 011-856-20 55 555 555.
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Quick Facts
- Official Name
- Laos
- Capital
- Vientiane
- Region
- Asia · South-Eastern Asia
- Languages
- Lao
- Currency
- Lao kip (₭)
- UN Member
- Yes
- Independent
- Yes
- ISO Codes
- LA / LAO
More in Asia
Data sources: World Bank (2023), REST Countries API