Demographics of Laos

Laos is a country in Southeast Asia. The country's population was estimated at about 7.43 million in 2021, dispersed unevenly across the country. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vientiane Prefecture, which includes Vientiane, the capital and largest city of the country, had about 569,000 residents in 1999. The country's population density is 23.4/km2.

Demographics of Laos
Population pyramid of Laos in 2020
Population7,749,595 (2022 est.)
Growth rate1.34% (2022 est.)
Birth rate20.9 births/1,000 population
Death rate6.37 deaths/1,000 population
Life expectancy68.15 years
 • male66.49 years
 • female69.88 years
Fertility rate2.35 children
Infant mortality rate37.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Age structure
0–14 years31.67%
15–64 years63.87%
65 and over4.46%
Sex ratio
Total0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.04 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityLaotian
Major ethnicLao (53.2%)
Languages of Laos. Four language families.
Ethno-linguistic groups in Laos (Lao-Tai, Mon-Khmer, Hmung-lu Mien, Sino-Tibetan)
A street market in Luang Prabang.

In March 2005, the total population was 5.62 million (2.82 million females, 2.80 million males) in the 2005 census, an increase of 1.047 million since the previous 1995 census.[1]

Overview
Population graph of Laos, number of inhabitants in millions between 1800 and 2021 (Our World in Data data, 2022)

The demographic makeup of the population is uncertain as the government divides the people into three groups according to the altitude at which they live, rather than according to ethnic origin. The lowland Lao (Lao Loum) account for 68%, upland Lao (Lao Theung) for 22%, and the highland Lao (Lao Soung, including the Hmong and the Yao) for 9%.

Ethnic Lao, the principal lowland inhabitants and politically and culturally dominant group, make up the bulk of the Lao Loum and around 60% of the total population. The Lao are a branch of the Tai people who began migrating southward from China in the first millennium A.D. In the north, there are mountain tribes of Miao–Yao, Austro-Asiatic, Tibeto-Burman Hmong, Yao, Akha, and Lahu who migrated into the region in the 19th century. Collectively, they are known as Lao Sung or highland Lao.

In the central and southern mountains, Mon–Khmer tribes known as Lao Theung or upland Lao, predominate. Some Chinese minorities remain, particularly in the towns, but many Laotian Chinese were forced to leave during 1975–80 when Laos followed the anti-Chinese policy of Vietnam.

The predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism. Animism is common among the mountain tribes. Buddhism and spirit worship coexist easily. There is a small number of Christians and Muslims.

The official and dominant language is Lao, a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group. Midslope and highland Lao speak tribal languages. French, once common in government and commerce, has declined in use, while knowledge of English—the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—has increased in recent years.

With a median age of 19.3, Laos has the youngest population of Asia.

Lao men drinking lauhai (in Lao) or bujkdong (in Khmuic), a type of Lao rice whiskey which is ancient khmuic rice beer.
A primary school in a village in northern rural Laos

Population

According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[2][3], the population of Laos increased from 1.7 million in 1950 to 7.4 million in 2021. Until the year 2000 the proportion of children 0–14 years of age was over 40% of the total population. Due to decreasing fertility rates this proportion decreased to 34.5% in 2010. The proportion of elderly people is still very low (3.9%), although the proportion doubled between 1950 and 2010.

Total population (thousands) Population aged 0–14
(%)		 Population aged 15–64
(%)		 Population aged 65+
(%)
1950 1,683 40.4 57.4 2.1
1955 1,897 41.4 56.2 2.4
1960 2,130 42.1 55.3 2.6
1965 2,391 42.2 54.9 2.9
1970 2 691 41.9 55.0 3.1
1975 3,042 42.1 54.7 3.2
1980 3,235 43.9 52.5 3.5
1985 3,648 44.0 52.4 3.6
1990 4,192 43.7 52.7 3.6
1995 4,795 43.6 52.8 3.6
2000 5,317 42.3 54.0 3.7
2005 5,753 39.1 57.1 3.8
2010 6,201 34.5 61.6 3.9

Structure of the population
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.III.2005):[4]
Age group Male Female Total %
Total 2,800,551 2,821,431 5,621,982 100
0–4 351 559 349 356 700 915 12.47
5–9 379 137 370 071 749 208 13.33
10–14 391 785 375 371 767 156 13.65
15–19 323 729 323 540 647 269 11.51
20–24 253 926 261 371 515 297 9.17
25–29 211 279 218 330 429 609 7.64
30–34 176 515 183 480 359 995 6.40
35–39 164 415 165 362 329 777 5.87
40–44 132 335 133 532 265 867 4.73
45–49 113 869 113 298 227 167 4.04
50–54 86 770 91 210 177 980 3.17
55–59 62 691 65 640 128 331 2.28
60–64 50 006 55 008 105 014 1.87
65–69 38 289 41 251 79 540 1.41
70–74 27 652 31 927 59 579 1.06
75–79 17 964 19 208 37 172 0.66
80–84 10 402 12 180 22 582 0.40
85–89 4 631 5 697 10 328 0.18
90–94 1 964 2 781 4 745 0.08
95–99 982 1 393 2 375 0.04
100+ 480 936 1 416 0.03
unknown 171 489 660 0.01
Age group Male Female Total Per cent
0–14 1,122,481 1,094,798 2,217,279 39.44
15–64 1,575,535 1,610,771 3,186,306 56.68
65+ 102 364 115 373 217 737 3.87
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.III.2015):
Age group Male Female Total %
Total 3,254,770 3,237,458 6,492,228 100
0–4 346 462 335 521 681 983 10.50
5–9 345 380 333 829 679 209 10.46
10–14 363 026 355 580 718 606 11.07
15–19 354 360 344 650 699 010 10.77
20–24 325 601 328 436 654 037 10.07
25–29 308 988 307 000 615 988 9.49
30–34 250 383 245 851 496 234 7.64
35–39 212 523 207 560 420 083 6.47
40–44 170 808 173 062 343 870 5.30
45–49 149 656 146 251 295 907 4.56
50–54 127 272 140 146 267 418 4.12
55–59 98 615 98 992 197 607 3.04
60–64 74 106 73 073 147 179 2.27
65–69 47 563 51 338 98 901 1.52
70–74 32 930 38 497 71 427 1.10
75–79 21 871 25 207 47 078 0.73
80–84 13 519 16 671 30 190 0.47
85–89 6 744 8 523 15 267 0.24
90–94 3 041 3 995 7 036 0.11
95+ 1 922 3 276 5 198 0.08
Age group Male Female Total Per cent
0–14 1,054,868 1,024,930 2,079,798 32.04
15–64 2,072,312 2,065,021 4,137,333 63.73
65+ 127 590 147 507 275 097 4.24
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Because of rounding, totals are not in all cases the sum of the respective components. Estimates or projections based on the 2015 population census.):[5]
Age group Male Female Total %
Total 3,622,996 3,608,214 7,231,210 100
0–4 392 890 376 310 769 200 10.64
5–9 397 353 389 566 786 919 10.88
10–14 371 259 362 687 733 945 10.15
15–19 355 474 346 423 701 896 9.71
20–24 346 620 342 462 689 083 9.53
25–29 327 955 325 732 653 687 9.04
30–34 293 003 292 362 585 365 8.09
35–39 254 782 251 614 506 396 7.00
40–44 208 008 206 509 414 517 5.73
45–49 173 373 172 659 346 031 4.79
50–54 143 504 149 136 292 640 4.05
55–59 117 622 123 171 240 793 3.33
60–64 90 651 97 330 187 982 2.60
65–69 62 968 66 823 129 791 1.79
70–74 40 691 45 525 86 216 1.19
75–79 23 916 28 997 52 912 0.73
80+ 22 928 30 908 53 836 0.74
Age group Male Female Total Per cent
0–14 1,161,502 1,128,563 2,290,065 31.67
15–64 2,310,991 2,307,398 4,618,389 63.87
65+ 150 503 172 253 322 756 4.46

Vital statistics

UN estimates
Period[6] Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR1 CDR1 NC1 TFR1 IMR1
1950–1955 80,000 37,000 43,000 44.8 20.9 23.9 5.94 167.1
1955–1960 87,000 40,000 47,000 43.2 20.1 23.1 5.96 160.1
1960–1965 96,000 44,000 52,000 42.4 19.3 23.1 5.97 153.5
1965–1970 107,000 47,000 60,000 42.3 18.7 23.6 5.98 147.0
1970–1975 122,000 52,000 70,000 42.5 18.1 24.4 5.99 140.5
1975–1980 132,000 54,000 78,000 42.2 17.2 25.0 6.15 132.4
1980–1985 145,000 56,000 90,000 42.2 16.2 26.0 6.36 122.6
1985–1990 165,000 56,000 109,000 42.1 14.4 27.7 6.27 107.6
1990–1995 180,000 53,000 127,000 40.0 11.9 28.1 5.88 88.3
1995–2000 170,000 48,000 122,000 33.6 9.4 24.2 4.81 70.8
2000–2005 154,000 44,000 110,000 29.9 9.1 20.8 3.90
2005–2010 144,000 39,000 105,000 28.1 7.9 20.2 3.40
2010–2015 25.6 7.0 18.6 2.93
2015–2020 23.8 6.5 17.3 2.70
2020–2025 21.4 6.2 15.2 2.48
2025–2030 19.3 6.2 13.1 2.30
1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Births and deaths[7]

Year Population Live births Deaths Natural increase Crude birth rate Crude death rate Rate of natural increase TFR
1976 2,886,000
1980 3,199,000
1985 3,618,000
1990 4,140,000
1995 4,605,000 41.3 15.1 26.2 5.40
2000 5,218,000
2005 5,619,000 34.7 9.8 24.9 4.50
2009 30.7 8.4 22.3 3.90
2010 6,256,000 29.9 8.0 21.9 3.70
2011 6,385,000 28.0 7.7 20.3 3.50
2012 6,514,000 28.1 7.4 20.7 3.40
2013 6,644,000 27.5 6.5 21.0 3.22
2014 6,809,000 26.6 6.3 20.3 3.03
2015 6,492,000 26.6 6.3 20.3 3.06
2016 6,787,000 24.6 7.7 16.9 2.90
2017 6,901,000 24.0 7.5 16.5 2.82
2018 7,013,000 23.3 7.4 15.9 2.76
2019 7,123,000 22.7 7.2 15.5 2.68
2020 7,231,000 21.2 7.0 14.2 2.50
2021 7,338,000 21.5 6.9 14.2 2.54

Fertility and births

Total fertility rate (TFR) and Crude birth rate (CBR):[8]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
2011–2012 25 3.2 20 2.2 26 3.6
2017 22 2.7 18 2.1 23 3.0

Total fertility rate and other related statistics by province, as of 2011–2012:[9]

Province Total fertility rate Percentage of women age 15–49 currently pregnant Mean number of children ever born to women age 40–49 Adolescent birth rate (Age-specific fertility rate for women age 15–19)
Vientiane Capital2.03.83.137
Phongsaly3.75.25.0145
Luang Namtha2.64.74.0124
Oudomxay3.63.95.7138
Bokeo3.64.95.0149
Luang Prabang3.15.45.395
Huaphan3.85.95.9137
Xayabury2.23.83.883
Xieng Khuang3.64.56.1101
Vientiane Province2.75.04.186
Borikhamxay2.83.94.479
Khammouane3.74.54.9108
Savannakhet3.56.35.499
Saravane4.37.56.0106
Sekong4.56.95.9107
Champasak3.65.74.770
Attapeu3.66.85.7107

Life expectancy
Period Life expectancy in
Years		 Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 40.9 1985–1990 52.4
1955–1960 42.4 1990–1995 54.9
1960–1965 44.0 1995–2000 57.5
1965–1970 45.5 2000–2005 60.3
1970–1975 47.0 2005–2010 63.2
1975–1980 48.4 2010–2015 65.4
1980–1985 49.9

Source: UN World Population Prospects[10]

Ethnic groups
Further information: List of ethnic groups in Laos
In Luang Prabang, a young woman at the time of a Hmong Meeting Festival.

Specialists are largely in agreement as to the ethnolinguistic classification of the ethnic groups of Laos.[11] For the purposes of the 1995 census, the government of Laos recognised 149 ethnic groups within 47 main ethnicities.[11] whereas the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) recently revised the list to include 49 ethnicities consisting of over 160 ethnic groups.[11]

The term ethnic minorities is used by some to classify the non-Lao ethnic groups, while the term indigenous peoples is not used by the Lao PDR.[11] These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 82 distinct living languages.[12]

Lao 53.2%, Khmu 11%, Hmong 9.2%, and other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26.6% (2015 census).[13]

Population of Laos according to ethnic group in 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015
Ethnic
group		 Language
family		 census 1985[14] census 1995[15] census 2005[15] census 2015[13]
Number  % Number  % Number  % Number  %
Lao Tai-Kadai 1,804,101 2,403,891 52.5 3,067,005 54.6 3,427,665 53.2
Khmu (Keummeu) Mon-Khmer 389,694 500,957 11.0 613,893 10.9 708,412 11.0
Hmong (Mong) Hmong-Mien 231,168 315,465 6.9 415,946 8.0 595,028 9.2
Thai (Tai) Tai-Kadai 1,459 215,254 3.8 201,576 3.1
Tai Nuea Tai-Kadai 14,799 11,622 0.2
Puthai (Phuthai or Phouthay) Tai-Kadai 441,497 472,458 10.3 187,391 3.3 218,108 3.4
Lü (Lue or Leu) Tai-Kadai 102,760 119,191 2.6 123,054 2.2 126,229 2.0
Katang Mon-Khmer 72,391 95,440 2.1 118,276 2.1 144,255 2.2
Makong (So) (Bru) Mon-Khmer 70,382 92,321 2.0 117,872 2.1 163,285 2.5
Akha (Kor) Sino-Tibetan 57,500 66,108 1.4 90,698 1.6 112,979 1.8
Yrou (Laven, Loven, Jru', Yuroo) Mon-Khmer 28,057 40,519 0.9 47,175 0.8 56,411 0.9
Xuay (Juk, Suai, Kui, Kuy, Suay, or Shuay) Mon-Khmer 49,059 45,498 1.0 42,834 0.8 46,592 0.7
Singsily (Phounoy) (Singsiri) Sino-Tibetan 23,618 35,635 0.8 37,447 0.7 39,192 0.6
Duon (Nhuon, Nghieu, San 33,240
Taoey (Ta-oy) Mon-Khmer 24,577 30,876 0.7 32,177 0.6 45,991 0.7
Nguan (Nguồn, Ngoaun, Nguane, Nguan or Nguane) Mon-Khmer 988 29,442 0.5 27,779 0.4
Iewmien (Yao, Ewmien, Mien, Ilmearn) Hmong-Mien 18,091 22,665 0.5 27,449 0.5 32,400 0.5
Phong Mon-Khmer 18,165 21,395 0.5 26,314 0.5 30,696 0.5
Brao (Larvae) Mon-Khmer 16,434 17,544 0.4 22,772 0.4 26,010 0.4
Katu Mon-Khmer 14,676 17,024 0.4 22,759 0.4 28,378 0.4
Oey (Oy or Oi) Mon-Khmer 11,194 14,947 0.3 22,458 0.4 23,513 0.4
Pray (Prai) Mon-Khmer 15,000[12] 0.3 21,922 0.4 28,732 0.4
Lamed (Lamet) Mon-Khmer 14,355 16,740 0.3 19,827 0.4 22,383 0.3
Lahu (Musir, Mussor, Lahoo, or Lahou) Sino-Tibetan 9,200 8,702 0.2 15,238 0.3 19,187 0.3
Kriang (Griang, Grieng, Ngae, or Ngeh) Mon-Khmer 8,917 12,189 0.3 12,879 0.2 16,807 0.2
Hor (Haw, Ho, Hoa, Chin Haw, Yunnanese, Yunnanese Chinese, or Panthay) Sino-Tibetan 6,361 8,900 0.2 10,437 0.2 12,098 0.2
Xingmoon (Puoc, Sing Mun, Xinhmun, or Xingmoun) Mon-Khmer 2,164 5,834 0.1 8,565 0.2 9,874 0.2
Jeng (Cheng, Ceng, Chieng, Chenh, Jeng) Mon-Khmer 4,540 6,511 0.1 7,559 0.1 8,688 0.1
Nhaheun (Nyaheun, Nahoen, Nha Heun, Nha Hon, Nya Hoen, Ngahearn, Nhahem) Mon-Khmer 3,960 5,152 0.1 6,785 0.1 8,976 0.1
Kmer (Khmer, Kamer, Khome) Mon-Khmer 169 3,902 0.1 5,825 0.1 7,141 0.1
Toum (Tum, Hung) Mon-Khmer 2,042 2,510 0.05 4,458 0.08 3,632 0.05
Xaek (Saek or Sairk) Tai-Kadai 2,459 2,745 0.06 3,733 0.07 3,841 0.05
Samtao (Sam Tao) Mon-Khmer 2,359 2,213 0.05 3,533 0.06 3,417 0.05
Sila (Sida or Syla) Sino-Tibetan 1,538 1,772 0.04 2,939 0.05 3,151 0.05
Tri (Chali, Cali, or So Tri) Mon-Khmer 20,902 20,906 0.5 26,680 0.05 37,446 0.6
Harak (Alak, Alack, Hahak) Mon-Khmer 13,217 16,594 0.4 21,280 0.04 25,430 0.4
Bid (Bit) Mon-Khmer 1,530 1,509 0.03 1,691 0.03 2,372 0.04
Lolo (Alu) Sino-Tibetan 842 1,407 0.03 1,691 0.03 2,203 0.03
Pako (Pacoh) Mon-Khmer 12,923 13,224 0.3 16,750 0.03 22,640 0.4
Lavy (Lavi) Mon-Khmer 584 538 0.01 1,193 0.02 1,215 0.02
Yae (Jeh, Gie, Yerh) Mon-Khmer 3,376 8,013 0.2 10,570 0.02 11,452 0.2
Sadang (Sedang, Sdang, Gayong) Mon-Khmer 520 786 0.02 938 0.02 898 0.01
Hanyi (Hayi or Hayee) Sino-Tibetan 727 1,122 0.02 848 0.02 741 0.01
Guan (Kuan or Tai Guan) Tai-Kadai 722 0.01 886 0.01
Oedou (Ơ Đu, Adoo) Mon-Khmer 649 0.01 602 0.01
Yang (Giáy, Nhang, Dang, or Niang) Tai-Kadai 4,630 0.1 616 0.01 5,843 0.1
Moy 534 0.01 789 0.01
Thin (Mal, Htin, or Thein) Mon-Khmer 13,977 23,193 0.51 514 0.01
Kree (Kri) Mon-Khmer 110 739 0.02 495 0.01 1,067 0.02
Trieng (Talieng, Tariang, Caliang, or Treang) Mon-Khmer 23,665 23,091 0.5 29,134 0.5 38,407 0.6
Kui (Yellow Lahu) Sino-Tibetan 6,493 6,268 0.1
Khir 1,639 0.04
Numbri (Yumbri, Mlabri, or Yhumbri) Mon-Khmer 67
Yung 6,160
Thaen 828 0.01
Mone (Meuang or Mon) 2,022 217 0.00
Vietnamese 12,086
Chinese 2,624
Thai 1,459
Cambodian 274
Burmese 185
Indian 44
French 13
Others & not stated 11,277 19,285 0.4 67,175 1.2
Total 3,584,803 4,574,848 5,621,982 6,446,690

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
Population pyramid 2016

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.39 years (2011 est.)
male: 60.50 years (2011 est.)
female: 64.36 years (2011 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective: Lao or Laotian

Religions: Buddhist 67%, Christian 1.5%, other and unspecified 31.5% (see Religion in Laos)

Languages: Lao (official), French, English, Vietnamese, and various ethnic languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73%
male: 83%
female: 63% (2005 est.)

See also

References
  1. "Population Census 2005". Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  2. "World Population Prospects 2022". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  3. "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX). population.un.org ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  4. "Demographic and Social Statistics". Unstats.un.org.
  5. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
  6. Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision
  7. "LAOSIS". Archived from the original on 2 November 2021.
  8. "Lao Social Indicator Survey 2011–12". Lao Statistics Bureau. 1 December 2012.
  9. Lao People's Democratic Republic Special, 2011–12 – Lao Social Indicator Survey (MICS/DHS) Final Report (English)
  10. "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations". Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  11. Indigenous Peoples Development Planning Document
  12. Ethnologue report for Laos
  13. "Results of Population and Housing Census 2015" (PDF). Lao Statistics Bureau. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  14. Schliesinger, Joachim. White Lotus Press. Bangkok. 2003
  15. UN Demographic Yearbooks

Sources
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