Net migration in Laos
Laos: Net migration was -10,645 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Laos, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Laos recorded -10,645 for net migration in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.5% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Laos peaked at 0 in 1960 and was at its lowest, -40,120, in 2004.
That places Laos 154th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 | — |
| 1961 | 0 | — |
| 1962 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | -774 | — |
| 1974 | -6,000 | +675.2% |
| 1975 | -13,858 | +131.0% |
| 1976 | -21,738 | +56.9% |
| 1977 | -26,908 | +23.8% |
| 1978 | -27,208 | +1.1% |
| 1979 | -23,317 | -14.3% |
| 1980 | -17,339 | -25.6% |
| 1981 | -11,061 | -36.2% |
| 1982 | -6,184 | -44.1% |
| 1983 | -4,108 | -33.6% |
| 1984 | -2,698 | -34.3% |
| 1985 | -1,376 | -49.0% |
| 1986 | -475 | -65.5% |
| 1987 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 1988 | -80 | — |
| 1989 | -1,272 | +1490.0% |
| 1990 | -3,100 | +143.7% |
| 1991 | -5,390 | +73.9% |
| 1992 | -7,502 | +39.2% |
| 1993 | -9,390 | +25.2% |
| 1994 | -11,782 | +25.5% |
| 1995 | -14,279 | +21.2% |
| 1996 | -16,574 | +16.1% |
| 1997 | -32,288 | +94.8% |
| 1998 | -33,997 | +5.3% |
| 1999 | -36,632 | +7.8% |
| 2000 | -33,965 | -7.3% |
| 2001 | -33,552 | -1.2% |
| 2002 | -33,595 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | -36,572 | +8.9% |
| 2004 | -40,120 | +9.7% |
| 2005 | -24,138 | -39.8% |
| 2006 | -25,286 | +4.8% |
| 2007 | -27,233 | +7.7% |
| 2008 | -28,318 | +4.0% |
| 2009 | -29,545 | +4.3% |
| 2010 | -30,046 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | -30,538 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | -28,871 | -5.5% |
| 2013 | -27,492 | -4.8% |
| 2014 | -26,881 | -2.2% |
| 2015 | -12,991 | -51.7% |
| 2016 | -11,401 | -12.2% |
| 2017 | -10,400 | -8.8% |
| 2018 | -10,305 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | -10,305 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -10,305 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -10,305 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | -10,003 | -2.9% |
| 2023 | -10,003 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -10,284 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | -10,645 | +3.5% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's -10,645 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's -10,645 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -462, 23.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Laos changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | -1490.0% | -80 | -1,272 |
| 1974 | -675.2% | -774 | -6,000 |
| 1990 | -143.7% | -1,272 | -3,100 |
| 1975 | -131.0% | -6,000 | -13,858 |
| 1987 | +100.0% | -475 | 0 |
| 1997 | -94.8% | -16,574 | -32,288 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | -11,980 | -27,208 | 0 | 10 |
| 1980s | -4,459 | -17,339 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | -17,093 | -36,632 | -3,100 | 10 |
| 2000s | -31,232 | -40,120 | -24,138 | 10 |
| 2010s | -19,923 | -30,538 | -10,305 | 10 |
| 2020s | -10,258 | -10,645 | -10,003 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More financial sector data for Laos
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 2.3 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 1.68 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 2.3 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Laos?
- Net migration in Laos was -10,645 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 0 in 1960.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was -40,120 in 2004.
- How does Laos rank for net migration?
- Laos ranks 154th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.