Laos Population Pyramid (2026)
Laos has a population of 7,974,017 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 102nd-largest population in the world and 0.10% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 29.5% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.0%, with 100.9 males for every 100 females.
Laos Demographics
Laos has 8.0 million people in 2026, up 198.7% from 2.7 million in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 110,912 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 5.0% — the 65th-lowest of 194 countries.
Median age 25.3 — the 69th-lowest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen Z — 29.0% (2,315,075)
All generations in Laos →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Laos's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Laos has 100.9 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Men outnumber women by 37,169 (0.5% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:4,005,593
- Percentage:50.2%
Female Statistics
- Population:3,968,424
- Percentage:49.8%
- Ratio Format:1:0.991
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Laos indicates more males than females.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 160,077 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 165,066 | 22.1 | 2.49 | estimate |
| 2022 | 163,976 | 21.7 | 2.46 | estimate |
| 2023 | 163,043 | 21.3 | 2.42 | estimate |
| 2024 | 162,644 | 20.9 | 2.40 | projection |
| 2025 | 161,375 | 20.5 | 2.36 | projection |
| 2026 | 160,077 | 20.1 | 2.33 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (160,077 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Laos's median age is 25.3 years
Half the population is younger than 25.3 years, half is older — indicating a young society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 783,603 | 9.8% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 794,447 | 10.0% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 772,909 | 9.7% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 744,168 | 9.3% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 708,815 | 8.9% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 703,685 | 8.8% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 660,061 | 8.3% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 609,231 | 7.6% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 518,607 | 6.5% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 419,878 | 5.3% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 345,322 | 4.3% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 284,844 | 3.6% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 233,012 | 2.9% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 173,113 | 2.2% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 112,087 | 1.4% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 63,700 | 0.8% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 31,130 | 0.4% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 11,966 | 0.2% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 2,973 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 431 | 0.0% | Senior |
| 100+ | 36 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 3 (falling birth rate): 2.33 children per woman and 20.1 births per 1,000, with a low death rate (6.2). Read more about Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Laos Total Fertility Rate: 2.33 children per woman
Above the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.49 | 22.1 | |
| 2022 | 2.46 | 21.7 | ↓0.03 |
| 2023 | 2.42 | 21.3 | ↓0.04 |
| 2024 | 2.40 | 20.9 | ↓0.02 |
| 2025 | 2.36 | 20.5 | ↓0.04 |
| 2026 | 2.33 | 20.1 | ↓0.03 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Above global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 2.21
Laos's total fertility rate is 2.33 children per woman in 2026 (above replacement), above the replacement level of 2.1. Laos ranks 80 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −62.7% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Laos's population has increased by 373.4%.
The median age has increased from 18.8 in 1950 to 25.3 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Laos's Demographics
Laos has a stationary population pyramid — similar-sized bands from the youngest cohorts through the working ages.
Children under 15 make up 29.5% of the population and people aged 65 and over 5.0%.
The largest five-year age band is 5–9, at 10.0% of the population, compared with 9.8% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Laos's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
The working-age share is still rising, from 63.0% in 2016 to 65.6% in 2026 (dependency ratio 52.5).
Fertility Transition Stage
Laos is in a period of above replacement, with a total fertility rate of 2.33 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Laos's median age changed by +3.0 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 7,974,017 |
| Male Population | 4,005,593(50.2%) |
| Female Population | 3,968,424(49.8%) |
| Median Age | 25.3 years |
| Sex Ratio | 100.9 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 2,350,959(29.5%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 5,227,622(65.6%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 395,436(5.0%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 52.5 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 45.0 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 7.6 |
| Pyramid Type | Stationary |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Laos
How long the average person in Laos is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Laos is projected to grow to 9.8 million people by 2050 (+22.4% from 2026).
The median age rises from 25.3 in 2026 to 33.0 by 2050.
Laos's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 23.3%, growing from 2.7 million in 1970 to 3.3 million by 1980
The median age decreased by 0.9 years, indicating a younger demographic profile during this period
The youth population share expanded by 1.7 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 2.7M to 3.3M
- • Growth rate of 23.3% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 17.7 to 16.8 years (−0.9y)
- • 65+ share changed by +0.3 points; under-15 share by +1.7 points
How Does Laos Compare to Its Neighbors?
Laos has a younger population than Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar. Laos has a smaller population than Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laos
How does Laos rank globally by population?
Laos ranks 102nd in the world by population with 7.97 million people as of 2026, representing 0.10% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Laos's age structure reveal about its development?
Laos's age structure — 29.5% under 15, 65.6% working-age (15–64) and 5.0% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 3 of the demographic transition, with a stationary population pyramid. The median age is 25.3 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Laos?
Laos has 52.5 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Laos experiencing a demographic dividend?
Laos is in its demographic-dividend window. The working-age share is still rising, from 63.0% in 2016 to 65.6% in 2026 (dependency ratio 52.5). The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Laos's population?
Laos has more males than females, with 100.9 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Laos Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/laos
View UN World Population Prospects Data →