China vs Laos: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | China | Laos | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 1.4bn2025 | 7.9m2025 | 2 · 102 |
| Area | 9,562,910 km²2024 | 236,800 km²2024 | 4 · 83 |
| Density | 150.12024 | 33.72024 | 76 · 167 |
| Urban share | 66.3%2025 | 40.3%2025 | 101 · 172 |
| Fertility | 1.012024 | 2.402024 | 210 · 81 |
| Aged 65+ | 14.9%2025 | 4.8%2025 | 68 · 152 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $19.5tn2025 | $18.3bn2025 | 2 · 138 |
| GDP per capita | $13,8622025 | $2,3252025 | 93 · 173 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $29,3332025 | $10,3832025 | 81 · 138 |
| GDP growth | 5.0%2025 | 4.5%2025 | 53 · 62 |
| Agriculture share | 6.7%2025 | 16.6%2025 | 95 · 45 |
| Industry share | 35.6%2025 | 29.2%2025 | 29 · 58 |
| Services share | 57.7%2025 | 43.6%2025 | 101 · 174 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 0.1%2025 | 7.7%2025 | 167 · 32 |
| Tax revenue | 7.0%2024 | 12.1%2022 | 133 · 108 |
| Military spending | 1.72%2025 | — | 78 · — |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 21.1%2025 | — | 145 · — |
| FDI inflows | 0.4%2025 | 7.7%2025 | 163 · 26 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 4.6%2025 | 1.2%2025 | 112 · 180 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 26.5%2025 | 22.0%2025 | 93 · 112 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 76.9%2024 | 14.9%2023 | 38 · 142 |
| Education spending | 3.9%2023 | 1.2%2023 | 105 · 178 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs2024 | 69.2 yrs2024 | 70 · 159 |
| Infant mortality | 4.12024 | 27.22024 | 154 · 53 |
| Health spending | 5.9%2023 | 1.3%2023 | 106 · 193 |
| Physicians | 3.112022 | 0.332022 | 56 · 137 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 91.6%2025 | 65.6%2024 | 47 · 132 |
| Fixed broadband | 47.22024 | 2.72023 | 9 · 154 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 96.5%2024 | 24 · 147 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 9.32 t2024 | 3.35 t2024 | 22 · 89 |
| Renewable energy | 15.2%2021 | 49.2%2022 | 122 · 50 |
| Forest cover | 24.0%2024 | 56.6%2024 | 122 · 41 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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