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Laos: key facts and figures
Laos has 7.8 million people, Lao as an official language, the Laotian Kip and 9 public holidays a year. It ranks 36th of 176 countries for inflation.
7.8 millionpeople
LAKcurrency
Laoofficial language
+856calling code
Rightdriving side
Every figure shows how Laos differs
Population and Demographics
how many people live there, and how that is changing
7.8 millionPopulation
- Annual change+1.37%
- Fertility rate2.4 per woman#79
- Aged 65 and over4.67%#129
Economy
the size of the economy and how fast it is growing
$2,325Output per person
- Total economy$18.3 billion#135
- Real growth+4.5%#54
- Inflation7.7%#36
Human Development
health, schooling and income combined into one index
0.617Human Development Index
- Adjusted for inequality0.462#120
- Life expectancy69 years#134
- Mean schooling6.1 years#152
Currency
what money is used and its official code
Laotian KipCurrency
- ISO 4217 codeLAK
- SymbolLAK
- CapitalVientiane
Languages
which languages hold official status
LaoOfficial languages
- Text directionLeft to right
Practical Country Info
plugs, voltage, driving side and dialling
Type A, Type B, Type CPlug types
- Mains voltage230 V
- Driving sideRight
- Calling code+856
- Time zoneAsia/Vientiane
Public Holidays
official days off through the year
9Public holidays in 2026
- Jan 1New Year's Day
- Mar 8International Women's Day
- Mar 9Women's Day holiday Observed
Digital Adoption
how many people are online and how digital the state is
65.6%Internet use
- E-government index0.440#152
- Global rank#152
- E-government groupMiddle
Geography and Environment
terrain, climate and physical setting
LandlockedPhysical setting
- Highest pointMountainous interior and Mekong lowlands
- ClimateThe climate is tropical monsoon, with a pronounced wet season and dry season and cooler conditions in higher northern and eastern terrain.
Education
how the school system is structured
1.8%Secondary vocational share
- Upper-secondary gross enrolment33.3%
- Tertiary gross enrolment14.9%
- Youth literacy90.4%
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About this profile
Every figure on this page is a summary of a fuller page, and each links to it. Sources, data years and methodology notes sit on those pages rather than here. Where a subject carries no published figure for Laos, it is left off this profile rather than shown as empty.