Laos

Country in Southeast Asia, Asia · ranked on 1,477 metrics

Rank among countries

Laos is a country in Asia with a population of 7,974,017 (103rd of 235). It ranks best for EPI Air Pollution (6th of 173), Unemployment Rate - CIA (8th of 184), Unemployment Rate (%) (8th of 181). It ranks lowest for Head of State Annual Salary (179th of 179), % of GDP per Year Spent on Education (114th of 118), Advanced Education (161st of 167).

Population
8M
103rd highest of 235
Density
34.5
180th highest of 235
Growth rate
1.28%
79th highest of 235
Area
236,800
84th highest of 235
Continent
Asia
Southeast Asia

Strengths and weak spotsPercentileWhere a place sits among all places, from 0 to 100. 100 is the best, 50 is the middle, 0 is the worst.More in the glossary →

Percentile on 437 metrics that rank at least half of all countries, given whether higher or lower is better.

Totals that track populationCounts like “number of burglaries” that mostly reflect how many people live somewhere, so big places rank high or low regardless.More in the glossary →

Best at

Highest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Individual Capital Gains Tax Rate (Standard Pct)2%
    Capital Gains Tax by Country
    1st of 150
  2. Depressive Disorder Rate2.51 per 100k
    Depression Rates by Country · 2023
    3rd of 202
  3. Heart Disease Age-Standardized Prevalence Rate - Male5,534 per 100k
    Heart Disease Rates by Country · 2023
    4th of 204
  4. Non-Melanoma New Case Rate - Male1.7 per 100k
    Male Skin Cancer Rates by Country · 2023
    tied 4th of 204
  5. Price Level (US = 100)22.4
    Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank) · 2025
    5th of 184
  6. Purchasing Power Parity$4,577 LCU/INT
    Purchasing Power Parity by Country · 2025
    5th of 182
  7. Non-Melanoma New Case Rate - All1.93 per 100k
    Skin Cancer Rates by Country · 2023
    tied 5th of 204
  8. Prostate Cancer Crude Rate2.4 per 100k
    Prostate Cancer Rates by Country · 2022
    6th of 185
  9. EPI Air Pollution9.03
    Environmental Performance Index by Country · 2026
    6th of 173
  10. Non-Melanoma New Case Rate - Female2.16 per 100k
    Female Skin Cancer Rates by Country · 2023
    7th of 204

Worst at

Lowest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Climate Change9.6
    Greenest (Most Eco-Friendly) Countries · 2024
    179th of 179
  2. Head of State Annual Salary$1,630
    What Country has the Highest Paid Government Leader?
    179th of 179
  3. EPI Score21.8
    Environmental Performance Index by Country · 2026
    177th of 177
  4. EIU Civil Liberties Score0.29
    Democracy Index by Country · 2024
    tied last of 162
  5. % Risk at 742.9%
    Liver Cancer Rates by Country · 2022
    183rd of 185
  6. % of Population at Risk and Poor ($5.5/Day)26.5%
    Flooding by Country · 2022
    137th of 140
  7. % of GDP per Year Spent on Education1.23%
    Education Spending by Country · 2023
    114th of 118
  8. Advanced Education10.19
    Social Progress Index by Country · 2025
    161st of 167
  9. Overall Democracy Index Score1.71
    Democracy Ranking by Country · 2024
    160th of 167
  10. Freedom of Expression Score GSoD0.14
    Countries with Freedom of Speech · 2024
    tied 162nd of 170

Profile by category

Average percentile per category, from the median line. Select a category to list its metrics.

Strongest category Geography (61), weakest Education (24). Select a category to list its metrics.

Notable facts

Where it ranks first or last among countries

Where it is

Shaded by population; select a place to open it

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Similar places

Closest percentiles on 60 widely reported measures from 12 categories, leaving out size and totals

  1. Cambodia77% similar
  2. Indonesia75% similar
  3. Philippines75% similar
  4. Venezuela75% similar
    Compared on 58 of 60
  5. Papua New Guinea74% similar
    Compared on 59 of 60

Cities in Laos

1 city with a report card, largest first

Quick answers

What is the population of Laos?
Laos has a population of 7,974,017, 103rd among 235 countries.
What does Laos rank best at?
Among countries, Laos ranks best for EPI Air Pollution (6th of 173); Unemployment Rate - CIA (8th of 184); Unemployment Rate (%) (8th of 181).
Where does Laos rank worst?
Laos ranks lowest for Head of State Annual Salary (179th of 179); % of GDP per Year Spent on Education (114th of 118); Advanced Education (161st of 167).
How many statistics does Rankodex have for Laos?
Rankodex ranks Laos on 1,477 statistics compared with other countries, compiled from World Population Review and the sources it cites.

Every metric

1,477 metrics with a value for this place, in 512 topics